Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Fertilization and Nutrient-Water Management in Cauliflower

Cauliflower, also known as cauliflower, cauliflower, or cauliflower, is a cruciferous vegetable and a variety of cabbage. The head of cauliflower is a white inflorescence, similar to the head of broccoli. Cauliflower is more nutritious than ordinary vegetables. It contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E, P, U, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Cauliflower has a tender texture and a sweet, delicious taste, and is very easy to digest and absorb after eating. Its tender stalk fibers become soft and tasty after cooking and stir-frying, making it suitable for middle-aged and elderly people, children, and those with weak spleen and stomach or poor digestive function. Especially during hot summer weather, when there is dry mouth and thirst, deep yellow urine, and hard or difficult-to-pass stools, simmering 30 grams of cauliflower in water and drinking it frequently has the effects of clearing heat, quenching thirst, promoting urination, and relieving constipation.

Cauliflower goes through the seedling stage, the rosette stage, and the curd-forming stage in its life cycle. Its nutritional characteristics are roughly similar to those of head cabbage. Throughout the entire growth period, it has a relatively large demand for nitrogen and a relatively low demand for phosphorus and potassium. According to research, for every 1000 kg of cauliflower produced, about 13.4 kg of nitrogen, 3.93 kg of P2O5, and 9.59 kg of K2O are absorbed, with an N, P, K absorption ratio of 1:0.3:0.7.

Cauliflower has different nutrient requirements at different growth stages. Before flower buds appear, nutrient absorption is low. With the appearance and expansion of flower buds, nutrient absorption increases rapidly. The peak curd expansion period is the time when cauliflower absorbs the most nutrients and at the fastest rate. Cauliflower also differs in its demand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium at different growth stages. The proportion of nitrogen fertilizer absorbed is high throughout the entire growth period, and it prefers nitrate nitrogen fertilizer. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are needed in greater amounts only during the curd formation stage.

Cauliflower is relatively sensitive to boron fertilizer and molybdenum fertilizer. Boron deficiency can easily cause the curd to turn brown or crack, while molybdenum deficiency can easily lead to “whip-tail disease”, that is, incomplete leaves with only the petioles remaining, affecting commercial value.

Fertilization of cauliflower:

According to the nutrient requirements of cauliflower, fertilization should be mainly based on base fertilizer. Among the main fertilizers, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers can be applied as base fertilizer and 3 topdressings, while phosphorus fertilizer should all be applied as base fertilizer.

1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: To meet the needs of cauliflower for fertilizer and water during early rapid growth and later growth stages, in addition to selecting fertile, loose loam soil with strong water and fertilizer retention, fully decomposed high-quality farmyard manure and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, etc., should also be used as base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be turned into the middle layer of the soil during land preparation. Generally, per 667 sq m (1 mu), apply 2500-3000 kg of high-quality barnyard manure, 15-20 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer (or 6 kg of urea, 20-25 kg of superphosphate, and 6-8 kg of potassium sulfate), and 0.5 kg of borax.

2. Reasonable topdressing: From transplanting cauliflower to curd maturity, generally 3 topdressings are needed. The 1st is at the rosette stage, applying 10-11 kg of urea and 5-6 kg of potassium sulfate per 667 sq m to promote flower bud and flower bud differentiation and curd formation. The 2nd is at the early stage of curd formation, applying 13-15 kg of urea and 6-8 kg of potassium sulfate per 667 sq m to promote rapid curd expansion and prevent hollow flower stalks. The 3rd is at the middle stage of curd formation, applying 8-10 kg of urea and 5-6 kg of potassium sulfate per 667 sq m. Combined with topdressing, attention should be paid to ensuring water supply and maintaining a certain level of soil moisture. Especially during the curd-forming stage, do not allow drought, otherwise it will inhibit curd formation and lead to reduced yield.

3. Foliar topdressing: Foliar topdressing is an effective supplementary measure in cauliflower cultivation, focusing on supplementing deficiencies of relevant nutrients or trace elements in the middle and late stages. If the soil is deficient in boron, a 0.1%-0.2% borax solution can be sprayed on the leaves at the early and middle stages of curd formation. If the soil is deficient in magnesium, a 0.2%-0.4% magnesium sulfate solution can be sprayed on the leaves 1-2 times. Cauliflower has a very small but highly sensitive requirement for molybdenum, and a 0.01% ammonium molybdate solution can be sprayed on the leaves during the curd formation stage. In short, according to the growth needs of cauliflower, timely foliar topdressing can effectively prevent premature aging, increase curd yield, and improve curd quality.

Nutrient-water management of cauliflower:

Cauliflower requires a lot of fertilizer, and fertilization cannot be interrupted during its growth period. Organic fertilizers should be used more often. Per mu, 5000-10000 kg of compost or 1500-2000 kg of sheep or cattle pen manure should be used. It can be spread on the bed surface after the transplanted seedlings resume growth. Nutrient absorption is greatest during curd formation, so topdressing should be applied in a timely manner. In addition, it is very sensitive to deficiencies of the trace elements boron and magnesium. When boron is deficient, the stem becomes hollow, the petioles crack, and the curd is not firm, with a rusty color and bitter taste. When magnesium is deficient, the old leaves at the base turn yellow. Its requirements for the three major fertilizer elements are roughly similar to those of cabbage, and its requirements for nitrogen and potassium are greater than those of cabbage.