A Detailed Guide to the Latest Fertilization Methods and Techniques for Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes could be said to have saved many people's lives in the past, so for the older generation today, they are not very eager to eat them. However, many young people are very interested in sweet potatoes, and the various processed foods developed and derived from sweet potatoes all have relatively large market demand. Therefore, the planting area of sweet potatoes is now very extensive. So how should we fertilize them during cultivation? Below, the editor brings you the fertilization methods for sweet potatoes. Let's take a look together!
1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer
Base fertilizer is the key fertilizer that ensures healthy growth of sweet potato seedlings during the seedling stage and even throughout the entire growth period. When applying base fertilizer, farmyard manure should be the main component, with compound fertilizer as the main supplement. Generally, the proportion of farmyard manure applied is about 70%, applying about 3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, combined with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer such as superphosphate. When applying base fertilizer, it is usually done together with land preparation work, fully mixing it into the soil and working it deep into the soil. Compound fertilizer is mainly applied in holes, making it convenient for sweet potato seedlings to absorb nutrients in time after surviving, thereby improving the survival rate of the seedlings.
2. Apply seedling-promoting fertilizer as a top dressing
Seedling-promoting fertilizer is mainly used to meet the nutrients needed for seedling growth and enhance the growth capacity of the seedlings. Seedling-promoting fertilizer is generally mainly nitrogen fertilizer, applied about 4 days after the seedlings are transplanted, together with the work of filling in gaps. When applying seedling-promoting fertilizer, pay attention to the application position; it must not directly touch the seedling roots, to prevent burning the roots and affecting seedling growth. It should be applied in holes about 10 cm away from the seedlings. At the same time, pay attention to controlling the amount used to prevent excessive application from causing fertilizer damage. After fertilization, cover with a layer of fine soil, then water thoroughly to promote seedling growth.
3. Apply vine-strengthening fertilizer as a top dressing
After sweet potatoes enter the vine-strengthening stage, their growth rate accelerates, the nutritional demand of the underground part increases, and tubers gradually form. So during this period, we should increase the leaf area of the plants and enhance photosynthetic capacity. Apply vine-strengthening fertilizer about one month after the sweet potato seedlings are transplanted. Vine-strengthening fertilizer is generally mainly nitrogen fertilizer and potassium sulfate. Control the amount of fertilizer according to soil fertility and seedling growth conditions. If the base fertilizer is sufficient and the seedlings are growing well, apply appropriately less to prevent excessive nutrients from causing excessive vegetative growth of sweet potatoes; otherwise, apply more to meet nutritional needs. Then, while topdressing, also do a good job of watering, strengthen intertillage and weeding, improve soil permeability, and prevent weeds from competing for nutrients.
4. Apply vine-promoting fertilizer as a top dressing
Vine-promoting fertilizer is mainly used to promote the growth of sweet potato vines, and is usually applied as a top dressing starting about 3 months after planting according to actual conditions. The fertilizer for vine promotion is mainly potassium fertilizer, which can effectively improve leaf growth capacity and promote the growth of sweet potato plant stems and leaves. Strengthen photosynthesis, increase the accumulation of photosynthetic substances in the plant, and provide sufficient nutrients for sweet potato tuber expansion. Similarly, pay attention to controlling the amount used to prevent excessive application from causing fertilizer damage. After topdressing, water once to make the fertilizer take effect earlier.
The above is a brief introduction to sweet potato fertilization methods. The fertilization work for sweet potatoes is very important for their growth. Improper fertilization will seriously affect the growth of sweet potatoes and reduce yield. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you everyone for reading and supporting.