The latest timing and methods for controlling excessive growth in sweet potatoes explained

In sweet potato production, factors such as excessive nitrogen fertilizer, too much water and fertilizer, and high temperature and rain can cause the vines to grow more and more vigorously, and can even lead to the phenomenon of only vines growing without tubers forming”. Therefore, controlling excessive growth in sweet potatoes is ultimately aimed at increasing yield and improving quality. So how should sweet potatoes be controlled from growing too vigorously? Let's take a look together.

1. Timing of growth control

At the first tuber enlargement of sweet potatoes, when the vines are about 35-45 cm long, the sweet potato is in the branching and tuber-setting stage, with branching above ground and tuber formation below ground, so growth should be moderately controlled at this time. The second growth control is generally 65-70 days after planting, when it is the hot and humid season and also the period of vigorous stem and leaf growth in sweet potatoes, but tuber enlargement is relatively slow, so growth control should be the focus at this time. The third growth control is around 85-90 days after planting, when sweet potato stem and leaf growth reaches its peak and preparations are made for the second tuber enlargement period, so timely growth control is needed at this time.

2. Lifting vines to control growth

Generally, when sweet potato vines are 40~50 cm long, lifting the vines for growth control has the best effect. Its main purpose is to prevent the growth of fibrous roots on sweet potato vines, control nutrient loss, and also effectively prevent excessive vine growth. Simply lift the sweet potato vines gently to avoid damaging the stems and leaves, just enough to prevent fibrous root growth. If instead you turn the vines over to control growth, reversing the vines can easily damage the sweet potato stems and leaves. If the stems and leaves face the ground, it may also affect sweet potato photosynthesis and cause reduced yield.

3. Cutting vines to control growth

Cutting vines to control growth is a commonly used method for small-scale rural planting. In the past, rural sweet potato vines were mainly used to feed pigs. Under high temperature and rainy summer conditions, sweet potato vine stems and leaves grow extremely fast, so the sweet potato vines would be cut to feed pigs. This not only controls excessive vine growth, but also allows the sweet potato vines to be used to feed pigs and save feed, achieving two goals at once.

4. Chemical growth control

For large-scale planting, chemicals are generally used to control growth, thereby achieving increased yield and income. Commonly used growth control agents include paclobutrazol, chlormequat, and others. If sweet potatoes receive too much nitrogen fertilizer, under high temperature and rainy conditions, the effect of chemical growth control is relatively poor. Therefore, to achieve high sweet potato yield, apply less nitrogen fertilizer and more potassium fertilizer.

  The above is an introduction to the timing and methods of sweet potato growth control. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.