What causes strawberry plants to go into "resting" decline? The latest solutions are here
During cultivation, strawberries may show poor plant growth, which is unfavorable for flower bud differentiation. In production terms, this is what is called "resting decline" (xie yang), and this phenomenon is extremely detrimental to strawberry production. So what causes strawberry resting decline? Let's take a look together.
I. Causes of resting decline
1. Weak seedling root system
The quality of strawberry seedlings directly affects strawberry growth. Generally, qualified seedlings have more than 12 roots and 4-5 functional leaves, and are free of pests and diseases, while low-quality seedlings take a long time to recover after planting and grow weakly.
2. Improper fertilizer and water management
Applying organic fertilizer that is not fully decomposed in the early stage damages the strawberry root system, and the root absorption capacity is low in summer, thus affecting the normal growth of the plant. Fertilizer and water management during the fruiting period is equally important. Prolonged watering will affect normal growth, and excessive watering will cause the ground temperature to be too low, which is also unfavorable for root growth.
3. No fruit thinning
Many farmers, in order to increase yield, neglect plant growth and are often reluctant to thin fruit, leaving too many fruits, which causes the plant load to be too heavy. Many farmers even keep deformed fruits, so reproductive growth and vegetative growth are seriously imbalanced, causing the plant to grow weakly with small leaves, and in severe cases premature aging.
4. Untimely harvesting
If mature fruits are not harvested in time, they will weigh down the plant, which only consumes excessive plant nutrients. In addition, when fruits mature, many farmers generally dare not water in order to prevent fruit rot. At this time, strawberries are in flower bud differentiation and have a high demand for water and nutrients. If a large number of mature fruits cannot be harvested in time, watering and fertilizing cannot be carried out, so strawberry growth is hindered and the plants become weak.
5. Improper pesticide use
Strawberries are relatively sensitive to triazole-type pesticides. Frequent use of this type of pesticide during the strawberry growing season can easily cause strawberry plants to become dwarfed and yellowed, and increase the rate of deformed fruit. In addition, excessive use of swelling agents can also cause strawberry resting decline, making leaves dull and lusterless, and in severe cases causing premature aging.
II. Solutions
1. Strengthen fertilizer and water management
During continuous cloudy days, low temperatures and cold wave weather, try not to water, so as to avoid a drop in ground temperature that is unfavorable for strawberry growth. When fertilizing, do not apply only high-potassium fertilizer. Before fruit swelling, apply balanced fertilization, and in the late fruit-swelling stage, use low-nitrogen high-potassium fertilizer.
2. Timely harvest
In winter and spring when the temperature is relatively low, fruits can be harvested when maturity reaches 85%. After early spring when the temperature rises again, harvesting can be appropriately advanced. Before harvesting, pick as much as possible and do not let the fruit weigh down the plant. Control the harvesting time to the morning, and do not harvest under direct sunlight.
3. Temperature management
The suitable growth temperature for strawberry roots is 15-20, while the suitable growth temperature for strawberry plants is between 20-25 degrees. The suitable temperature for flower bud differentiation is between 2-25 degrees. Below 5 degrees or above 25 degrees, flower bud differentiation does not occur. The suitable temperature during the flowering period is 20-25 degrees, which is favorable for pollen and flower buds, and 14-21 degrees is favorable for anther dehiscence.
4. Fruit thinning
Generally, vigorous plants usually retain 7-9 fruits, while plants with average growth retain 5-6 fruits, and weak plants retain 2-3 fruits. If the plant is too small, measures to thin flowers and fruits are generally adopted to promote plant growth. In production, flowers and fruits should be thinned in time to reduce nutrient loss. Generally, high-order flower clusters are thinned first, followed by deformed fruits, and finally the number of fruits to retain is determined according to plant growth.
The above is an introduction to the causes of strawberry resting decline and the solutions. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.