The Latest Technical Guide to Torreya Management and Care

Torreya, commonly known as the "concubine tree," is a tree species native to China and a rare economic tree species in the world, mainly growing in the humid environment of the south. It is mainly distributed in Anhui, Zhejiang and other areas of China. Torreya is grafted from wild Torreya. With the discovery of its nutritional value, its economic value has also become higher and higher, and it has become a poverty-alleviation project in Anhui, Zhejiang and other places. Torreya has a three-year growth period, during which many problems occur and meticulous management is needed. Below is the management and care technique required when planting Torreya.

1. Tending management

In the first year after planting, the most important thing is to do a good job of drought resistance, cooling and seedling protection during the high summer temperatures. The Torreya tree is a tree species relatively prone to sunscald damage, so a shade shed should be built to shade the tree body. The shade shed is best made of mesh material, because this not only provides shade but also does not hinder light transmission inside the shed. In winter, Torreya should be prevented from frost injury. During the second tending, some weeds can be used to cover the root area of the tree body to keep the roots warm. After spring arrives, bury the weeds into the soil to prevent pests and diseases, and they can also serve as fertilizer for the tree. At least twice a year, tending should be carried out on the tree body, once in summer and once in autumn. Do not dig deeply and damage the roots, to prevent soil erosion. During tending, it can be done together with fertilization, and organic fertilizer should be used as much as possible.

2. Water and fertilizer management

Torreya has a relatively large demand for water and fertilizer during its growth process. In August every year, a comprehensive tending operation should be carried out on the plantation, and the method can continue to use hole tending and cut tending. Use weeds to cover the root area of the tree body to reduce water evaporation caused by high summer temperatures. Growers with the means can establish an irrigation system in the plantation and apply the needed fertilizer and water through the irrigation system in the plantation. The irrigation system should preferably use drip irrigation. Every spring, apply organic fertilizer comprehensively once, preferably farmyard manure. The fertilizer must be fully decomposed, and the fertilizer should be buried in the soil.

3. Shaping and pruning

To increase the yield of Torreya, shaping and pruning are indispensable. To achieve high and abundant yields of Torreya, the height and branches and leaves of the Torreya tree must be well controlled. If the tree grows too tall, its demand for nutrients will become higher, and it will fail to bear fruit, wasting fertilizer for nothing. Being too tall will also cause certain difficulties for picking, but if it grows too low, the fruiting rate will decline again. Therefore, after the Torreya trees form a stand, the tree body should be properly pruned, and the height of the crown should not be lower than 4 m or higher than 5 m. The crown width should maintain multiple trunks. After shaping, it should still be pruned, cutting off overly dense, thin and weak, and diseased branches.

4. Loosening soil and weeding

Loosening soil and weeding is also an indispensable part when planting Torreya trees. Loosening the soil allows the tree roots to spread and extend better, but be careful never to cut the tree roots when loosening the soil. If the tree roots are cut, it will have a certain impact on the tree body's nutrient absorption and will also reduce the final yield. Weeding is to prevent some weeds from competing with Torreya seedlings for nutrients, water, and sunlight. In winter, the soil around the tree can be fully plowed once in combination with fertilization. Planting some legume crops around it can not only improve the permeability of the soil, but also, like weeds, be turned into the soil as fertilizer.

The above is the management and care technique for planting Torreya trees. Torreya trees have a relatively long growth time, so farmers need patience and care. Special attention should be paid to the pests and diseases that may occur during this period, such as termites, Torreya small leaf roller moths, etc. These will greatly reduce the yield of Torreya, and if not handled in time, can even lead to total crop failure in severe cases. If you want to learn more related information, please continue to follow Qinnong Network!