Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Air Potatoes
The air potato is a variety that loves fertilizer and can only be produced in fertile soil, and right below its roots grows the yam. We all know that the edible value of yam is very high, but in fact the air potato is no worse in comparison, and it can also be made into many snacks. If you want the air potato to grow well, planting techniques are very important.
Planting Methods for Air Potatoes
1. Seed selection. The seed tubers are required to have bright color, plump apical buds, thick tubers, few tumors, few roots, no pests or diseases, no rot, no frost damage, and a weight of about 150 grams. When sowing with air potato segments, the diameter is required to be more than 3 cm and the length 15-20 cm.
2. Sprouting. 15-20 days before sowing, take out the air potato segments stored in layers, place them in a 25-28 degrees C environment and cover with 3-5 cm of sand to sprout. When sprouting, a sunny bed or small arched shed can be used, and the sunny bed or small arched shed must always be kept closed and insulated. When the young sprouts of the air potato emerge from the sand, they can be sown.
3. Sowing time. The air potato is not tolerant of frost, so the sowing period should be after the last frost. Generally, seedlings are raised around Qingming Festival the following year, that is, sowing in mid-to-late April.
4. Sowing. First use a hoe to open a furrow along the marked rows, with a furrow depth of 8-10 cm, find the plastic sleeve, then place the seed tubers horizontally above the cut of the plastic sleeve, then water. After the water seeps away, first cover the seed tubers with moist soil, then cover with a layer of dry soil. After the water has soaked through the dry soil, use dry soil to level the planting furrow.
Fertilization Techniques for Air Potatoes
1. Base fertilizer. After choosing the field, before plowing apply 2000 kg-4000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 60 kg-80 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer, then plow the soil to a depth of 30 cm and harrow it fine.
2. Topdressing. During the seedling stage, mainly use nitrogen fertilizer, applying 10 kg-15 kg per mu of high-nitrogen-potassium compound fertilizer. In early July, apply 20 kg-25 kg per mu of high-nitrogen-potassium compound fertilizer, and spray once with 0.25% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. From late July onward, spray 0.25% potassium dihydrogen phosphate 2-3 times. In early August, apply 20 kg-30 kg per mu of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer. During the tuber filling stage, soil topdressing is usually not used; instead, spray 0.25% potassium dihydrogen phosphate once to prolong the vine growth period.
Watering Techniques for Air Potatoes
The air potato prefers clear weather, lower air humidity and higher soil temperature, and needs watering 5-7 times in its lifetime. When sufficient bottom moisture has been applied, the first watering is generally done when the seedlings have basically emerged fully, to promote emergence and rooting. The second watering should be earlier rather than later, applying it before the first watering has dried. Afterward, according to rainfall conditions, water once every 15 d. In the rainy season, after each heavy rain, accumulated water should be drained promptly and water replacement irrigation should be carried out to lower soil temperature, replenish soil air, and prevent disease and seedling death.
Pest Control for Air Potatoes
1. Air potato anthracnose damages stems and leaves, causing stem blight and leaf drop. Control method: soak seed tubers for 10 minutes in 1:1:150 Bordeaux mixture. When seedlings emerge fully, spray the first treatment with 50% carbendazim 600 times dilution, and spray a second time after 10 days. If disease is found in July-August, use 65% zineb wettable powder 500 times dilution, 50% thiram wettable powder 800-1000 times dilution, or 50% thiophanate-methyl 700-800 times dilution, spraying 2-4 times depending on severity, alternating sprays. Each interval is 8-10 days, and the spray should be reapplied after rain.
2. Short-bodied nematode disease causes plant stunting, and in severe cases the whole plant turns yellow and dies. When tubers are damaged, small tumors of varying sizes appear, affecting yield and quality. Control method: treat the soil with chemicals before sowing. Use 5 kg per mu of 5% fosthiazate granules mixed with 100 kg of moist fine soil, open furrows and broadcast evenly on both sides of the seed tubers, or broadcast evenly while preparing the land and work it into the soil 25-30 cm deep.
3. Sawflies bite and eat air potato leaves, causing severe leaf loss and affecting photosynthesis, which reduces tuber yield. Spray stems and leaves with 2% deltamethrin 3000 times dilution or 90% crystal trichlorfon 1000 times dilution.
4. White grubs bite and eat the tubers, making them impossible to cook soft and causing a bitter taste. Use soil treatment for control. Use 50% phoxim at 250-300 ml per mu, add 25 kg of fine soil, mix well and scatter into the ridges. After application, immediately turn it into the 20 cm soil layer, then sow the air potato seeds.
Planting air potatoes is the same as planting yams, because they are a crop grown from the same root. When planting, choose good varieties; those that are plump, well colored, and free of insect holes should be preferred. The land should be fertilized first when planting, and additional fertilizer should be applied later. If the soil is not fertile, it is very difficult for air potatoes to be produced!