What to Do When Sweet Potatoes Grow Excessively? The Latest Management Methods Are Here
Sweet potato is a very common food crop in our country and is grown over a very large area in China. Although the method of growing sweet potatoes is simple, many problems often arise during cultivation that affect the yield and quality of the sweet potatoes. Excessive growth is one of the most common problems. So how should excessive growth in sweet potatoes be managed? Below, the editor will give you a brief introduction. Let's take a look!
1. Reasonable fertilization
During the sweet potato growing period, we should apply sufficient fertilizer to provide adequate nutrients for growth. If fertilization is improper, it can very easily cause excessive growth in sweet potatoes. When fertilizing, pay attention to balanced fertilization of both the aboveground and underground parts. For the underground part, crack fertilizer should be the main type to prevent cracking of the sweet potatoes. When fertilizing the aboveground part, the fertilizer should be mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and an appropriate amount of urea may be added. Never over-apply nitrogen fertilizer; applying too much nitrogen fertilizer is the main key cause of excessive growth in sweet potatoes.
2. Reasonable growth control
When growing sweet potatoes, in order to prevent excessive vine growth, we should appropriately spray some growth-control agents before the sweet potatoes close their rows. The growth-control agents can include uniconazole, chlormequat, and others. The dosage must be controlled well; spraying a small amount about 3 times can effectively inhibit the growth of stems and vines, reduce nutrient consumption, and promote the enlargement of the tuberous roots. When applying growth-control agents, we should apply them reasonably according to the growth condition of the sweet potato plants. Do not spray excessively, to avoid stopping the growth of the sweet potatoes and outsmarting oneself, which would instead affect the growth and development of the sweet potatoes.
3. Proper vine lifting
When sweet potatoes are growing, we should properly do the vine-lifting work according to the actual condition of the sweet potato plants. The operation method of vine lifting is very simple; just lift the stems and vines of the sweet potato plants slightly upward. The main purpose is to make the lateral roots of the plants separate from the soil and prevent the lateral roots from continuing to grow. It can also achieve the purpose of drying the ridge soil and improving soil permeability. However, when lifting vines, pay attention to the weather; after rain, vine turning must not be carried out. Otherwise, it can easily damage the stems and leaves, affect the distribution of stems and leaves, thereby reducing photosynthesis of the plants and causing a reduction in sweet potato yield.
4. Water management
Sweet potatoes have relatively strong drought tolerance and do not have high water requirements. Although they need a certain amount of water during the growing period, remember never to water too much. If there is standing water, promptly drain it out of the field. Prevent standing water from causing root suffocation in sweet potato plants, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the roots and affects nutrient and water absorption. Avoid the stems and vines absorbing too much water, which causes excessive growth and affects the normal growth of sweet potatoes. Then appropriately increase the proportion of potassium fertilizer to concentrate nutrients in the sweet potato tuberous roots and promote their enlargement.
The above is a brief introduction to how to manage excessive growth in sweet potatoes. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!