What are the planting time, seed prices and planting methods for lotus root?
Lotus root originated in India and was introduced to China very early. At present, the lotus root price market is relatively decent, and its planting area has expanded accordingly. So when is the best time to plant lotus root? What are the seed prices and planting methods for lotus root?
1. When is the best time to plant lotus root?
The planting time of lotus root is related to both region and temperature. Generally, the best time suitable for planting lotus root is March and April each year. The most suitable temperature for lotus root growth is around 20 to 30 degrees, so the earliest temperature for planting lotus root must also reach above 15 degrees, otherwise the survival rate is not high.
The temperature difference between southern and northern China is somewhat large, so the south generally plants lotus root in February and March, while the north is a little later and only starts planting in April and May.
2. What is the seed price of lotus root?
The price of lotus root seeds is about 20 to 30 yuan per jin. Prices vary greatly depending on variety, place of origin, quality, etc., but production is mostly based on asexual propagation, such as propagation by daughter lotus roots, propagation by terminal buds, etc.
3. What are the planting methods for lotus root?
1. Variety selection
Choose suitable varieties with disease resistance, high quality and good marketability, such as Elian No. 4, No. 5 and Xin'elian No. 1.
2. Soil preparation
It is advisable to choose clay loam with fertile soil, deep soil layers, loose texture and strong fertilizer and water retention. Generally, it should be plowed to a depth of 30cm and raked level, with 4000-5000kg of farmyard manure applied per mu, or 20-30kg per mu of 48% Anze compound fertilizer.
3. Lotus root seed preparation
Whole lotus roots and daughter lotus roots can be used as seed. Generally, the smallest lotus root segment is required to have one terminal bud, two internodes and three nodes. It may appropriately carry mud, and from digging to planting it is best not to exceed 10 days.
4. Planting period
The germination temperature of seed lotus root is 12—15℃. Generally, it is suitable to plant when the seed lotus root sprouts between Qingming and Lixia.
5. Field planting
With a hole spacing of 1.3 m and a row spacing of 1.8 m, insert the seed lotus root obliquely into the mud at a 20-degree angle to 5-10cm, with the base exposed above the mud and the lotus root head facing inward. Planting holes in different rows should be staggered from each other in a plum-blossom arrangement. The seed rate is 200-300kg per mu.
6. Lotus field management
(1) Water management
A water layer should be maintained in the field all year round. At the early planting stage (April-May), the water layer should preferably be 3-5cm. During the vigorous growth period (July-August), it can be gradually deepened to 15-20cm. During the lotus root formation period (September-October), shallow water is again suitable, preferably 5-10cm.
(2) Weeding
When weeding, drain the field to shallow water, and the pulled weeds can then be buried in the soil. Manual weeding is advocated, and herbicides should be used with caution.
(3) Topdressing
Generally, topdressing is done 3 times. The first time, at 1-2 standing leaves (about 25 days after planting), apply 2000kg of human excrement and urine or 15kg of urea per mu. The second time, at 5-6 standing leaves (about 40 days after planting) when the rows are about to close, apply 20-25kg of 48% Anze compound fertilizer and 10-15kg of urea or 2000kg per mu of decomposed human excrement and urine. The third time, when the terminal leaves appear, apply 15kg of urea or 2000kg of human excrement and urine per mu.
(4) Turning lotus runners
Lotus runners close to the field ridge can be turned back into the field to prevent them from extending into neighboring fields. Places in the field that are too dense can also be appropriately turned toward sparse places so that lotus roots form evenly.
(5) Leaf removal and flower breaking
To maintain ventilation and light penetration in the field, dead leaves, yellow leaves and old leaves can be removed in time. To prevent nutrient consumption, after budding the flower stalks can be bent but not broken, so as to prevent rainwater from soaking in.
(6) Pest and disease control
Common diseases mainly include rot disease (lotus plague) and brown spot, and pests mainly include lotus root maggots and cotton leafworms. For rot disease, agricultural control is important: disease-resistant or disease-free varieties can be selected, crop rotation can be adopted, field disinfection with 75% chlorothalonil, less nitrogen fertilizer, and application of decomposed human excrement and urine can be used for control. For brown spot, at the early stage of disease, 32.5% Amimiao Shou 1500-fold solution can be sprayed for control. For lotus root maggots, after planting lotus root each year, 5% Zidan granules can be broadcast in the lotus field at 3-5 jin per mu. For cotton leafworms, during the peak hatching period of eggs, 6% Liangtai 750-fold solution can be sprayed for control.
Overall, lotus root is widely cultivated throughout China and is suitable for growing in hot and rainy seasons. If everyone wants to choose to grow lotus root, they still need to comprehensively consider their own local regional environment