What are the propagation methods for jujube saplings? Teach you how to plant them correctly
The jujube tree is an important fruit tree in our country. Its root system is well developed, and some roots close to the ground can produce vigorous root-sucker seedlings. Propagating by dividing root-sucker seedlings is both simple and labor-saving, and is an important method for developing jujube trees. The division propagation of jujube root-sucker seedlings is carried out in the following two steps.
1. Root cutting to promote seedlings
Although jujube trees can produce root-sucker seedlings on their own, the number is relatively small. To stimulate the formation of root-sucker seedlings, the root-cutting method can be used. The specific method is: in spring, when the ground temperature rises and the root system begins to become active, dig a trench on one side of the crown projection area of a superior jujube tree. The trench should be 50 cm deep and 30 cm wide, with the direction of the trench parallel to the row direction of the jujube trees, cutting off jujube roots with a diameter of less than 1.5 cm (large roots are not disturbed, so as not to affect the tree vigor of the mother tree).
After the tree roots are cut, the latent buds on the small roots quickly sprout, extend upward out of the ground, and develop into seedlings. When the seedlings are about 30 cm tall, thin them out, removing the weak and keeping the strong. Then earth up, with a depth reaching 1/4 of the seedling being suitable, to promote new roots at the base of the new shoots. Combined with earthing up, fertilizer and irrigation can be applied to speed up seedling growth. Generally, the seedlings can grow to 60-100 cm tall in the same year. The size of root-sucker seedlings is related to the thickness of the cut roots.
2. Nursery cultivation
Root-sucker seedlings are generally uneven in size, and sometimes have few fibrous roots. Direct field planting has a low survival rate, grows unevenly, and is difficult to manage. Nursery cultivation is a method of concentrating root-sucker seedlings in a nursery, separating them by size, and cultivating them again into seedlings. After the jujube seedlings grow in the nursery for another year, the seedlings grow robustly, have good root systems, high quality, uniform size, and a high survival rate after planting.
1. Nursery site selection and land preparation. The nursery should be selected on flat sandy loam plots with convenient drainage and irrigation and fertile soil. The nursery land must not be continuously cropped. After applying sufficient base fertilizer, deep plow, and build irrigation and drainage channels according to the direction of the water source. Arid areas are suitable for low-bed cultivation, while places with more rain are suitable for high-bed cultivation.
2. Seedling selection. Root-sucker seedlings should be strictly selected for nursery cultivation with no crazy disease, scale insects, or other pests and diseases. Root-sucker seedlings with a stem diameter of 0.4-0.6 cm are best (seedlings that are too thin or too thick have a low emergence rate and poor growth after being cultivated in the nursery). After strict selection, prune the root-sucker seedlings, cutting off twin branches, branch forks, or excessively long roots. Keep 1 new shoot about 35 cm long per plant, and cut off the rest. Then grade them according to plant size and first heel them in.
3. Planting seedlings. After preparing the land, dig long longitudinal trenches. The trench length can be determined according to the nursery land. The trench width is 30 cm, the trench depth is 20 cm, and the spacing between trenches is 60-70 cm. Take out the heeled-in root-sucker seedlings and plant them in the trenches, with a plant spacing of about 30 cm, planting 3000-4000 plants per mu. Because jujube trees have secondary branches and a large branching angle, and root-sucker seedlings grow fast, the density should not be too high. If it exceeds 4000 plants, growth will be poor, branches and leaves will be closed, and they will be prone to diseases such as jujube rust. After planting the seedlings, cover with soil, firm it, and irrigate.
4. Seedling management. After the seedlings are planted, cut them back to the ground, cutting off the aboveground part 2-3 cm above the ground. After the basal buds sprout, select and keep 1 strong-growing bud, remove the other buds, and then carry out cultivation, weeding, topdressing, and pest and disease control according to conventional seedling-raising methods. Generally, after 1 year of nursery cultivation, when the seedlings are about 1 m tall and have grown many new roots, they can be dug out and planted.