Detailed Explanation of the Reasons for Turning Sweet Potato Vines and the Points to Note

Sweet potato is a common crop in our daily lives, nutritious and delicious. There are quite a few varieties of sweet potato. Sweet potato is a vine crop propagated by cuttings, and its main stem can grow to more than 1 m long, with stem nodes that readily produce adventitious roots. These adventitious roots will grow many small and few-in-number sweet potatoes, with relatively low quality. In sweet potato field management, whether or not to turn the vines gives many people a headache, so should sweet potato vines be turned? Let's take a look together.

I. Should sweet potato vines be turned?

When the sweet potato tubers are expanding, turning the vines is very necessary. Turning the vines can cut off the aerial roots on the sweet potato vines from contact with the soil, thereby reducing the absorption of nutrients by the sweet potato vines, preventing excessive vine growth, and preventing the vines from competing with the tubers for nutrients. It can also concentrate nutrients in the tuberous roots, promote the absorption of nutrients by the tuberous roots, promote tuberous root expansion and growth, and have an obvious yield-increasing effect.

II. Points to Note When Turning Sweet Potato Vines

1. Turn the vines early

It is advisable to turn the vines within one month after the potato vines have survived from cuttings, because at this time the potato stems have not yet formed tubers, and the potato vines are in the peak period of sprouting, so there is less damage to the stems and leaves when turning the vines. When turning the vines, choose a sunny afternoon or a cloudy day, as this can reduce water evaporation. It can be done at the same time as intertillage weeding and topdressing. If conditions permit, spread a layer of rice straw or weeds on top of the potato soil. This can both prevent the potato vines from “running roots” and help retain water and resist drought.

2. Turn the vines moderately

When turning the vines, be sure to pay attention to moderation. It is not advisable to “turn them over and over”; once is appropriate. In spring and autumn, the temperature is relatively high and the sunlight is relatively strong. This is precisely the period when the potato vines grow vigorously and also the period when the tuberous roots expand. If turning the vines at this time causes damage to the stems and leaves of the potato vines, and coupled with strong sunlight, the turned stems and leaves of the potato vines are very easily sunburned. If the vines are turned on rainy days, it is also very easy to cause the wounds on the vines to rot, thereby inducing various diseases and insect pests in sweet potato, which is not conducive to yield and quality.

The above is an introduction to the reasons for turning sweet potato vines and the points to note. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.