How to fertilize cauliflower scientifically? Detailed technical points

Cauliflower is a kind of vegetable, belonging to a variety of cabbage. Cauliflower is a cruciferous plant, a one- or two-year herbaceous plant with broad leaves, an obtuse base, wavy edges, smooth and hairless, and yellow-white flowers. Leaves grow from the roots, the main stem and branch stems grow from the leaves, and the stems are covered with small granules that form a flower-like shape. The flower is a fleshy mass, overall much like a large flower, white and attractive. Cauliflower is tender and delicate in texture, sweet and delicious in taste, and very easy to digest and absorb after eating.

Cauliflower is a very popular vegetable. It is delicious, highly nutritious, and also has high medicinal value. Its vitamin C content is very rich, much higher than that of chili peppers. It also has anti-cancer effects, and its effects have been recognized by people all over the world. The average nutritional value and disease-prevention effect of cauliflower far exceed those of other vegetables, ranking first.

Vitamin C content is higher than that of chili peppers

The nutrients in cauliflower are not only high in content but also very comprehensive, mainly including protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamin C and carotene, etc. According to analysis, every 100 grams of fresh cauliflower curd contains 3.5 grams to 4.5 grams of protein, which is 3 times that of cauliflower and 4 times that of tomato. In addition, the mineral composition of cauliflower is more comprehensive than that of other vegetables. The contents of calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, etc. are all very rich, much higher than those of Chinese cabbage, which also belongs to the cruciferous family.

Many people think that tomatoes, chili peppers, etc. are the vegetables richest in vitamin C. In fact, the vitamin C content of cauliflower is higher than all of them, and also significantly higher than that of other ordinary vegetables. Moreover, the variety of vitamins in cauliflower is very complete, especially the rich content of folic acid, which is also an important reason why its nutritional value is higher than that of ordinary vegetables.

Scientific fertilization techniques for cauliflower

1. Fertilization principles. The so-called formula fertilization technique for cauliflower is a fertilization technique that moves from traditional experience-based fertilization methods to scientific quantitative fertilization in cauliflower cultivation. It is based on the fertilizer requirement patterns of the cauliflower crop, the soil fertilizer supply performance and the fertilizer effect, and proposes before sowing the reasonable ratio, amount and corresponding fertilization techniques of organic fertilizer, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizers, and various microelement fertilizers. 1. Fertilizer requirement characteristics: Because cauliflower has a long growth period, it has a large demand for nutrients. The greatest demand is for nitrogen and potassium, and during curd formation it needs relatively more phosphorus. In addition, the demand for boron, magnesium, calcium and molybdenum is also relatively large. According to research, for every 1000 kg of cauliflower curd produced, about 7.70-10.80 kg of pure nitrogen, 2.10-3.20 kg of phosphorus pentoxide, and 9.20-12 kg of potassium oxide are required. Before budding, nutrient absorption is small. After budding, the demand for nutrients gradually increases. By the peak stage of curd expansion, the demand for nutrients is greatest and the absorption rate is fastest. Therefore, during flower bud differentiation and curd development, sufficient supply of phosphorus and potassium nutrition must be ensured. 2. Soil requirements: The most suitable soil for cauliflower growth is sandy loam and loam with rich organic matter, a pH of 5.50-6.60, and strong water and fertilizer retention capacity. The soil moisture is required to reach 70%-80%, and the most suitable relative air humidity is 80-90%. 3. Fertilization techniques: ① Base fertilizer: Early-maturing varieties have a short and rapid growth period and high nutrient requirements in the early stage. Organic fertilizer is mainly livestock and poultry manure, combined with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer; medium and late-maturing varieties are the opposite, mainly using compost and barnyard manure, combined with phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizers. The amount per mu is 1000-2000 kg of human and animal manure or 3000-5000 kg of barnyard manure, combined with 20-25 kg of 45% compound fertilizer. ② Topdressing: During the seedling stage, apply 15 kg/mu of ammonium sulfate as the first topdressing combined with watering. After 20 days, apply the second topdressing with 400-500 kg/mu of decomposed dried manure or chicken manure and water. When the flower bud diameter reaches 2-3 cm, apply the third topdressing with 20-25 kg of 45% compound fertilizer. In the later stage, foliar spraying of 0.20% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.20% borax can be carried out according to specific conditions. 2. Fertilization principles 1. Organic fertilizer as the main component, chemical fertilizer as a supplement: In cauliflower fields, applying only chemical fertilizer results in higher nitrate residues than applying only organic fertilizer. Therefore, for pollution-free cauliflower production, fertilizer use must be based mainly on organic fertilizer, supplemented by mineral chemical fertilizers and trace element fertilizers, and formula fertilization should be strongly strengthened. 2. Limit the use of nitrogen fertilizer: Nitrogen fertilizer is used in relatively large amounts in cauliflower production, and it is a necessary variety throughout the entire growth period. When nitrogen fertilizer is sufficient, the plant grows vigorously, the leaves are dark green, and the yield is high. If nitrogen fertilizer is lacking, the stems and leaves are narrow and small, the leaves turn yellow, and both yield and quality decline. However, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer can also cause a sharp increase in nitrate content in the vegetable body and make pests and diseases more likely to occur. 3. Promote balanced fertilization: In cauliflower cultivation, cauliflower sown at different times has different priorities for the demand for each element. Nitrogen fertilizer is often used as a leaf fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer as a fruit fertilizer, and potassium fertilizer as a root fertilizer. If only one kind of fertilizer is applied, it will have adverse effects on the overall growth of cauliflower. 4. Prohibit immediate marketing of cauliflower after nitrogen fertilization: After the last topdressing of nitrogen fertilizer on cauliflower, there must be a safe interval before the product is harvested and marketed. It should only be marketed on the 8th day after the last topdressing of nitrogen fertilizer. 5. Strongly advocate root-external topdressing. Plants mainly rely on roots to absorb nutrients, but leaves and tender stems can also directly absorb nutrients from a solution sprayed on their surface. Therefore, it should be strongly advocated. Urea, superphosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and some trace elements are all suitable for root-external topdressing. 6. Determine the fertilization period according to the physiological characteristics of cauliflower. Cauliflower needs relatively few nutrients at the seedling stage, and needs more nutrients during the vigorous growth and product formation stages. Organic fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer are generally used as base fertilizer before cauliflower sowing and planting, and quick-acting nitrogen and potassium fertilizers can be used as topdressing during the middle of cauliflower growth. The number of topdressings can be determined according to the growth and development of cauliflower. Generally, 1-2 topdressings are applied every 15-20 days. 3. Types of fertilizers used for cauliflower. In pollution-free cauliflower production, the fertilizers allowed for cauliflower are basically divided into 4 major categories: ⑴ Organic fertilizers: including human and animal excreta, compost, waterlogged compost, biogas fertilizer, green manure, crop straw, mud fertilizer, cake fertilizer, plant ash, furnace slag, etc. Except for plant ash and furnace slag, all the others should be fully decomposed before application. (After high-temperature fermentation, organic manure can 100% kill pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli, reduce volume and weight by 1/2-1/3, and facilitate field transportation and use. In addition, undecomposed organic fertilizer will continue to ferment after being applied to the field, which can easily burn the vegetable roots.) ⑵ Biological bacterial fertilizer: including humic acid fertilizers, rhizobium fertilizers, phosphorus bacteria fertilizers, compound microbial fertilizers, etc. ⑶ Inorganic fertilizers: such as ammonium sulfate, urea, superphosphate, potassium sulfate and other nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizers that contain neither chlorine nor nitrate nitrogen, as well as cauliflower special fertilizers produced in various places. ⑷ Trace element fertilizers: that is, fertilizers mainly prepared from trace elements and beneficial elements such as copper, iron, boron, zinc and molybdenum. The general principle of cauliflower formula fertilization is to fertilize according to the needs during the growth process: whatever nutrient is lacking, apply the corresponding fertilizer; however much is lacking, apply that much fertilizer. All localities should promote cauliflower formula fertilization techniques and advocate the use of cauliflower special fertilizer. This can not only coordinate the contradiction between soil and crop nutrient supply and demand, reduce waste caused by blindly applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, but also avoid phosphorus enrichment and excessive potassium consumption in the soil, which is conducive to maintaining soil nutrient balance, thereby improving soil fertility and laying the foundation for the sustainable development of cauliflower production.