How to Prevent Chilling Injury in Cowpeas? A Full Guide to Remedies
After entering March, temperatures gradually rise, but cold air also appears from time to time, bringing sharp drops in temperature. In this situation, if vegetable production management is not strict, crops are very likely to suffer chilling injury or even be frozen to death directly, greatly affecting yield. Below, taking the cowpea as an example, the editor will explain the prevention and remedial measures for chilling injury in cowpeas.
I. Preventive Measures
1. Choose cold-tolerant varieties
For spring planting of cowpeas, it is best to choose varieties with relatively strong cold tolerance, such as Sheng 906, Jiajiale No. 4, and Xinza No. 12.
2. Cultivate strong seedlings
Cowpea production is mainly done by direct sowing, but at present seedling raising and transplanting are advocated, especially for early spring greenhouse cultivation. Raising seedlings and transplanting can prevent the vegetative growth of seedlings from being too late, promote flowering and pod setting, and also effectively avoid early spring low-temperature freezing injury. During the seedling raising process, fertilizer, water and temperature should be reasonably controlled to cultivate strong seedlings. Before transplanting, low-temperature hardening should be carried out to enhance the stress resistance of seedlings after planting.
3. Pay attention to weather forecasts
From mid-March to the end of April is the period when cowpeas are prone to chilling injury. At this time, close attention should be paid to weather forecasts, and before the temperature drops, thermal insulation materials such as film should be added in advance. At the same time, spray a low-concentration potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the leaves to improve the cold resistance of the plants. If cowpeas are cultivated in open fields, on the afternoon of the day before the chilling injury arrives, the planting area can be covered with rice straw and plastic film, which can also provide excellent insulation and prevent the occurrence of chilling injury.
II. Remedial Measures
1. Nourish and protect the roots
After chilling injury occurs, timely carry out intertillage and earth banking to loosen the soil and raise the ground temperature. Especially under conditions of low temperature and insufficient light and high soil moisture, root rot is very likely to occur, so carbendazim can be used as a root drench for control. Combined with later watering, apply organic fertilizer as a top dressing to promote early and abundant new root growth, improve the plant's ability to absorb fertilizer and water, and reduce the impact of later chilling injury on the plants.
2. Spray water on the leaves
After cowpeas suffer chilling injury, the root system's ability to absorb fertilizer and water is weakened, the water balance is disrupted, and the plants are very prone to losing water and wilting. Therefore, attention should be paid to temperature changes. Once chilling injury is confirmed, spray a large amount of clean water on the plants in time, which can effectively prevent the plants from wilting and alleviate the degree of chilling injury.
3. Supplement nutrients
In addition to spraying, timely nutrient supplementation is also very important to maintain the balance of plant metabolism. Foliar fertilizers such as glucose and amino acids can be sprayed, and plant growth regulators such as brassinolide can also be sprayed to stimulate leaf expansion and internode elongation and promote the plants to recover as soon as possible. At the same time, combined with watering and fertilizing, apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate at 2-3 kg per mu by flushing to improve the stress resistance of the plants.
4. Prevent and control diseases
After suffering chilling injury, the resistance of cowpeas will decline significantly, especially in open-field cultivation. At this time, it is exactly the seedling stage, and the plants are small and weak, making them highly susceptible to disease infection. Therefore, when spraying fertilizer on the leaves, fungicides can be mixed in and sprayed at the same time. At the same time, promptly prune dead branches and fallen leaves to avoid mildew and induce diseases.
The above is an introduction to the prevention and remedial measures for chilling injury in cowpeas. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.