How to Grow Shallow-Water Lotus Root? Key Points of Cultivation Technique Explained

First, select a field with strong fertilizer and water retention capacity, convenient irrigation and drainage, and a soil pH of 6 to 7, and select seed lotus roots that are robust, plump, have more than two nodes, have full and intact terminal buds, and have no damage on the lotus root body or nodes. Then, prepare the field, disinfect the seed lotus roots, and sow when the average temperature reaches 15°C or the water temperature in the pond stays above 5°C. Finally, all that remains is to carry out good management of the lotus root field.

1. Selecting the field: Select a field with strong fertilizer and water retention capacity, convenient irrigation and drainage, and a soil pH of 6 to 7. After selecting the field, plow it first and build up and firm the field ridges, apply base fertilizer, and harrow it level in time so that the field soil becomes muddy.

2. Selecting seed lotus roots: Select robust, plump seed lotus roots with at least more than two nodes, full and intact terminal buds, a relatively thick and sturdy rear node, and no damage on the lotus root body or nodes. After selecting the seed lotus roots, dilute 50 g of 50% carbendazim wettable powder with water, spray the liquid, and seal the seed roots for 24 hours for disinfection.

3. Sowing time: Sow when the average temperature reaches 15°C or the water temperature in the pond stays above 5°C. If sowing is too early and the temperature is too low, sprouting will be slow and the lotus roots will easily rot; if sowing is too late, the later yield will be affected.

4. Sowing method: Use your hands to open a slanted furrow 13 to 15 cm deep, tilt the seed lotus root downward with the lotus head facing down and the rear end slightly raised above the water surface. The planting density is 0.8 m between plants and 2 m between rows, with the lotus heads arranged in a crisscross pattern, that is, the first plant's lotus head facing left and the second plant's lotus head facing right.

5. Lotus root field management

(1) Seedling growth period: Keep the field water level at 5-10 cm; from sowing until the first standing leaf emerges, remove water weeds in time; after the first standing leaf emerges, apply topdressing in time, applying 30 kg of superphosphate per mu, and afterward spray the plants with water once every half month using a sprayer.

(2) Vigorous stem and leaf growth period: The field water level should be kept at 25-30 cm; after the “rear handle leaf” appears, apply topdressing in time, applying 30 kg of urea per mu; feel the soil once every half month, and weed and remove floating leaves in time.

(3) Pest control: The main pests in lotus root fields are the tobacco cutworm and aphids. For the tobacco cutworm, use 100 g of 90% trichlorfon per mu diluted with water and sprayed for control; for aphids, use 10 g of 50% pirimicarb wettable powder diluted with water and sprayed for control.