How to Grow Chinese Yam? A Detailed Guide to Chinese Yam Cultivation Techniques

Chinese yam, also known as huai yam, is a common vegetable in our country. It is deeply loved by people because of its high nutritional value and simple ways to eat it. Some people even grind it together with other coarse grains into powder to eat as breakfast. Currently, it is being planted in many regions, so what are the Chinese yam cultivation techniques?

1. Land selection and soil preparation

Yam is suitable for plots with convenient drainage and irrigation, loose and fertile soil, and deep soil layers. Sandy loam or loam with good permeability is preferable. Clayey or overly hard soil is not suitable, as it will affect the growth and development of its tubers, causing branching or deformity, and affecting yield and quality. Before planting, deep plowing should be done in advance, using the sun to bleach the soil white, disinfect and sterilize it, and then prepare the beds. Generally, the bed surface is about 50 cm wide, the bed height is about 30 cm, and the ditch width is about 30 cm. The bed surface should be leveled and finely prepared.

2. Sowing

Before sowing, first select disease-free seed tubers, remove the soil, and cut them into tuber pieces about 5 cm long and weighing about 40-50 g. After cutting, apply lime or plant ash to the wounds. After the wounds dry, they can be sown. When cutting the pieces, be sure to disinfect the knife to avoid infection by pathogens. The sowing time is generally chosen around Qingming. Use the method of single plant in a single row, generally controlling the plant spacing and row spacing at 30×80 cm, planting about 2,800 plants per mu, and using about 130 kg of seed per mu. When planting, open furrows in the bed surface and apply fertilizer, applying compound fertilizer or farmyard manure into them, then cover with a layer of soil, and place the seed tubers into it.

3. Field management

(1) Seedling emergence management: After sowing, cover with plastic film. After covering with plastic film, tie and press the surroundings tightly. The plastic film should also be pressed down with soil clods to prevent it from being blown apart by wind. After seedlings emerge, break the film in time to prevent young leaves from touching the plastic film and being scorched. Black plastic film is preferred, as the effect is better. After seedlings emerge, set up supports and guide the vines in time. Fine bamboo poles can be used to build a human-shaped trellis. The supports should be inserted firmly and tied tightly to prevent them from being blown down by wind.

(2) Fertilizer and water management: In addition to applying base fertilizer at sowing, yam requires a relatively large amount of fertilizer during its growth period, so timely topdressing is also necessary. Generally, when the stems and vines cover the trellis, apply 25-35 kg of compound fertilizer and 10 kg of urea per mu as topdressing. During the growth period, spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate and urea solution multiple times to prevent premature leaf senescence. In summer, there is high temperature and frequent rain, and waterlogging is very likely. In order to prevent waterlogging damage, drainage should be done well. In July-August, during a continuous week of drought weather, irrigation should be done in time to keep the soil moist.

Overall, Chinese yam is very easy to grow. As long as you select good land and seedlings, disinfect them thoroughly, and finally plant the young seedlings at suitable spacing and do a good job with water and fertilizer management and other tasks, it will be fine.