Detailed Explanation of Soft-Seed Pomegranate Planting Techniques and High-Quality, High-Efficiency Cultivation Methods
AbstractMaterial selection and land preparation: Select robust, pest- and disease-free seedlings for planting, adopt a triangular arrangement, single-trunk training, and apply no less than 50 kg of farmyard manure per plant. Management and intercropping: Practice orchard grass cover, use grass to fertilize the field, maintain soil and water, and follow the principle of small amounts applied frequently for topdressing; before June, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, afterward nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applied together; after August, limit water and control nitrogen to promote tissue maturation. Training and pruning: Transform the clumping habit of soft-seed pomegranate and cultivate a single-trunk tree form.
Pomegranate is one of the fruits we often eat in daily life, and its nutritional value is very high; eating it appropriately is very good for our health. However, many people dislike eating pomegranates, mainly because spitting out the seeds is troublesome. The new soft-seed pomegranate variety solves exactly this problem. Let's take a look at its planting methods.
Soft-Seed Pomegranate Planting Techniques
1. Material selection and land preparation
One of the most critical factors in planting soft-seed pomegranate is temperature. Generally, areas with a minimum temperature above -17°C can grow soft-seed pomegranate; try to choose robust, pest- and disease-free seedlings for planting. Under extensive management, the density is generally controlled at 3 m×4 m or 3 m×3 m, while under intensive management the density is 2.5 m×2 m or 2 m×3 m, using a “triangular” arrangement and single-trunk training. When preparing the land, also note that organic fertilizer must be applied; generally apply no less than 50-75 kg of high-quality farmyard manure per plant.
2. Management and intercropping
Intercropping has a great influence on the later fruiting of soft-seed pomegranate; improper intercropping often causes delayed fruiting. Practice orchard grass cover, then use the grass to fertilize the field and maintain soil and water; this is conducive both to early fruiting and to long-term stable yield and improved quality. In daily management, topdressing should also be actively carried out; topdressing should be applied in small amounts and frequently, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main type before June, afterward nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applied together, and after August, limit water and control nitrogen to promote tissue maturation.
3. Training and pruning
During the soft-seed pomegranate growing period, appropriate training and pruning should also be carried out; the clumping habit of the pomegranate must be transformed and a single-trunk tree form cultivated. Specifically, keep only one trunk; new shoots sprouting below the main branches on the trunk and at the root crown should be removed (thinned out) as soon as possible. Retain as much as possible the branches growing above the main branches; for individual vigorous shoots within the canopy, try to transform and utilize them by branch bending during the flowering period, and this method of bending instead of pruning can be continued into the growth and fruiting period.
High-Quality and High-Efficiency Cultivation Methods for Soft-Seed Pomegranate
1. Choosing the orchard site
Soft-seed pomegranate is widely planted by many growers because of its strong adaptability and outstanding disease resistance, among other characteristics. Soft-seed pomegranate is mainly grown in southern China; southern China belongs to the warm temperate zone, with a marked continental monsoon arid climate, very distinct four-season climate, soil pH maintained at neutral, and nutrient-rich land; all these conditions are very suitable for the growth and development of soft-seed pomegranate.
2. Planting characteristics
One point rather critical for planting pomegranate is planting density; generally the spacing is controlled at 2 m by 3 m between plants in the field, planting from south to north, and before planting dig deep pits beneath them, fill with straw, decomposed chicken manure and other nutrients, mix thoroughly with the soil, and water to settle. During planting, treat the seedlings by digging and planting immediately; after planting, water appropriately to maintain the pomegranate's spreading habit.
3. Fertilization management
Appropriate and reasonable fertilization can also promote the growth of soft-seed pomegranate. Fertilizing the seedlings is generally done after autumn in combination with deep plowing, applying about 30 g of organic fertilizer and 500 g of calcium phosphate per seedling.
4. Appropriate watering
Watering pomegranate requires analyzing specific situations individually, but it must be ensured that watering is carried out after every fertilizer application, and irrigation should be done according to its different growth stages, such as irrigation at the bud-break stage and irrigation at the flowering stage, but in seasons with more rainfall, attention must be paid to drainage.
Is Soft-Seed Pomegranate Genetically Modified?
Soft-seed pomegranate is not a genetically modified food. Soft-seed pomegranate is the second-generation soft-seed pomegranate bred by researchers at the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences after more than 20 years of experimentation and observation on the Tunisian soft-seed pomegranate introduced to China from the country of Tunisia in 1986.
At present, among China's large pomegranate family, the Tunisian soft-seed pomegranate is the best; growers obtain very high economic returns from planting it. In the 6 years since this variety came on the market, the price per jin has basically reached 16 yuan, and the market still shows a situation of demand exceeding supply, while ordinary pomegranates generally sell for only 3-4 yuan per jin.
Soft-seed pomegranate has relatively vigorous vitality, and its adaptability to the environment is also very strong; relatively speaking, its planting method is still fairly simple. However, when planting, everyone must pay attention to planting density, so that plants are not too dense and affect yield.