Detailed Explanation of the Method for Raising Jujube Seedlings by Root Cutting and Returning to the Nursery

To raise jujube seedlings by root cutting and returning them to the nursery, first select plants of excellent quality and free from pests and diseases as mother plants. Before budbreak, dig a trench 30-40 cm wide and 40-50 cm deep around the outer edge of the mother plant's canopy to cut the jujube roots, and use scissors to trim the cut root wounds smooth. Apply decomposed organic fertilizer, about 75 kg per plant, mix it with moist soil, fill it into the trench and tread it firm. If conditions permit, it is best to irrigate thoroughly once. Then cover with a layer of loose soil to conserve moisture. After the jujube roots are stimulated, a large number of clustered root-sucker seedlings will appear on the ground near the trench in May-June. Management of the root-sucker seedlings should be strengthened in a timely manner. After budbreak, remove excess buds; the principle is to remove the dense and keep the sparse, and remove the weak and keep the strong, generally with a plant spacing of about 15 cm, so as to ensure normal growth of the seedlings.

The second step is root cutting and returning to the nursery. Carry this out after leaf fall in autumn and before sprouting in spring. Dig out the sucker seedlings near the mother plant's canopy, grade them, tie them in bundles of 50-100 plants, soak the roots for 7-8 hours in 50 mg/kg indolebutyric acid or ABT rooting powder to promote root formation. Apply sufficient base fertilizer to the nursery land, level it and make beds 1 m wide, plant 2 rows per bed with a row spacing of 30 cm. When planting, cut apart the clustered root-sucker seedlings and plant them separately; each small seedling should preferably have 3-5 fibrous roots. After planting, tread firm and irrigate. Strengthen management during the growing season to promote seedling growth. In the autumn of the same year, the jujube seedlings raised can be lifted from the nursery. They may also be extended to the next year for lifting from the nursery as needed.