Detailed Explanation of White Lotus Root Planting Techniques and Management Methods

When planting white lotus root, varieties should be selected according to local conditions and cultivation requirements. For field lotus root, choose varieties with a short growth period, shallow water, and early maturity; for pond lotus root, choose varieties with a long growth period, deep water, and late maturity. Planting is generally done around Grain Rain, and before planting the soil should be prepared and sufficient base fertilizer applied. In lotus root fields, attention should be paid to water level regulation, topdressing, weeding, leaf removal, and pest and disease control.

I. Selection of Varieties

White lotus root is currently mainly divided into white-flowered lotus and red-flowered lotus. The white-flowered lotus has white petals, thick and round rhizomes, and a white or pale yellow skin. Its flesh is crisp and tender with a sweet taste, good quality, and high yield, and it can be eaten raw or cooked. It has strict requirements for environmental conditions, poor adaptability, shallow soil penetration, and is not tolerant of deep water. The red-flowered lotus has red petals, slender rhizomes that are slightly grayish, no sweet taste, poorer quality, and lower yield. It has less strict requirements for environmental conditions, strong adaptability, deep soil penetration, and tolerance of deep water, and can grow well in large lakes and relatively barren soil. When planting, suitable varieties should be selected according to local natural conditions and cultivation requirements. For field lotus root, it is advisable to choose varieties with a short growth period, shallow water, and early maturity; for pond lotus root, it is advisable to choose varieties with a long growth period, deep water, and late maturity.

II. Planting

White lotus root extends through the soil, and loose soil is favorable for growth. Lotus root fields need deep plowing and ridging, and before planting lotus root, the soil should be plowed, harrowed, and leveled again. When growing lotus root in lakes, the water level is relatively deep and cultivation is difficult, so land preparation is generally not carried out. For newly opened lotus ponds, deep plowing can be done in the summer of the previous year when the water level is relatively shallow, and in the spring of the following year mud mounds can be made for planting according to the planting spacing. Field lotus root should not be continuously cropped, while pond lotus root is mostly continuously cropped. White lotus root has a high fertilizer requirement, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied, with fertilizer added successively in combination with land preparation.

III. Regulation of Water Level and Temperature

When planting white lotus root, the water level should be regulated according to the growing season. Generally, at the early stage of planting, a shallow water level of 3-6 cm should be maintained to raise the soil temperature and facilitate germination. If the water level of pond lotus root can be controlled, the principle of irrigation and drainage from shallow to deep and then from deep to shallow should also be followed, with particular attention paid to preventing a sudden rise in water level that submerges the standing leaves and causes reduced yield.

IV. Weeding

The timing and frequency of weeding depend on the growth of white lotus root and the amount of weeds. Generally, weeding in the lotus root field should begin when floating leaves appear. During weeding, the soil between the rows can be stirred, and the weeds can be buried in the soil. Weeding in lotus root fields is generally carried out 2-3 times, until lotus leaves cover the water surface.

V. Pest and Disease Control

The main disease of white lotus root is rot disease, caused by Fusarium in the soil. In severe cases, the plants wither and there is no harvest. Control of lotus root rot disease is extremely difficult. The main control measures are avoiding continuous cropping, appropriately reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, and disinfecting with lime before planting.

When planting white lotus root, the most important thing is to choose varieties and planting methods according to the actual local conditions. If the choice is incorrect, yield may be reduced.