A Detailed Guide to the Latest Key Points for Water Chestnut Cultivation
The water chestnut is also called the Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis). It is an aquatic herbaceous plant that can be harvested for many years. It is often eaten as a fruit, but it can also be used as a vegetable. It is deeply loved by everyone, but the only rather troublesome thing is peeling it, so a sales model of buying and peeling on the spot has appeared on the market. The water chestnut has a strong ability to adapt to the environment and can be grown in many places, but there are still some points to note when planting. So below let us learn together about the key points for water chestnut cultivation.
1. Seeds
The selection of water chestnut seeds is the most basic condition for the yield and quality of water chestnuts, so when choosing water chestnut seeds we should try as much as possible to select those with relatively large size, very plump, evenly colored, and with a relatively smooth surface and no damage as seeds for planting. At the same time, before planting, seed soaking and sprouting are also needed, as this can improve the seedling emergence rate and growth speed of the seeds.
2. Soil
Choosing suitable soil for planting is a relatively basic external condition for high water chestnut yields. Although the water chestnut has very good adaptability to soil, in order to increase the yield, it is still best to choose black soil with sufficient water sources and convenient irrigation and drainage for planting. The second point is that the soil pH should be moderate, neither too acidic nor alkaline, as this will affect the normal growth of the water chestnut.
3. Time
The water chestnut is a plant that likes warmth, light, and moisture, so its growth requires sufficient water, relatively high temperatures, and sufficient sunlight. Therefore, the planting time is very important. We can sow as early as possible, as this can effectively increase its yield. In general, it is best to plant immediately after the early rice harvest is completed. The planting time is generally around July or August, and at the latest it must not exceed October, otherwise it will seriously affect the planting yield.
4. Density
When planting, there is another point we need to note, which is the planting density. If the planting density is too high, then the water chestnut yield will not be high, but if the planting density is too low, then the land resources will not be fully utilized. So generally planting is done at a row spacing of 30 to 50 cm and a plant spacing of about 30 to 35 cm. The second point is that when planting, care should also be taken not to plant too deeply or too shallowly. If too deep, it will be difficult to harvest later, while if too shallow, lodging of seedlings is likely to occur.
5. Water and Fertilizer
The water chestnut is an aquatic plant, and its growth cannot be separated from water. Generally, after planting, the water level in the field should be maintained at about 5 to 6 cm, and then as the water chestnut grows, the water level should be gradually deepened, but at the highest it must not exceed 20 cm, otherwise it is very prone to disease and lodging. Finally, one week before harvest, the water in the field should be drained and the field should be sun-dried, which makes harvesting easier. The water chestnut differs greatly from many crops in cultivation in that its base fertilizer must be applied sufficiently, because basically no topdressing is carried out afterward. So we can apply fertilizer specifically according to the fertility of the soil. Generally, 5,000 jin of organic fertilizer and 50 jin of phosphate fertilizer per mu are sufficient.
6. Pests and Diseases
The water chestnut basically has no pests or diseases. The main things to watch for are physiological red tail and blight. For physiological red tail, the main measure is to strengthen field fertility management, and spraying an appropriate amount of foliar fertilizer can treat it. For blight, carbendazim can be used for treatment.