Detailed Explanation of the Latest Fertilization Methods for Lotus Root Cultivation
Cultivating lotus root requires fertile soil, which shows that lotus root growth consumes a large amount of nutrients, so when planting, you need to pay attention to how to apply fertilizer and how to do topdressing. What are the fertilizer requirement principles for lotus root, and how should fertilizer be applied according to the growth stage? What kind of fertilizer is suitable for use at each stage. Please continue reading our introduction below.
1. Fertilizer requirement principles
Lotus root needs a large amount of fertilizer. If it lacks fertilizer, the plant will be very small, the leaves will be small, and the lotus root will also be small. It needs early fertilization, but fertilization must not be excessive. Nutrients in the water are consumed relatively quickly, and the best practice is to fertilize the entire pond. Farmed fish and shrimp can improve the microenvironment, and their excrement can be used as fertilizer. Organic fertilizer is more suitable because the required fertilizer amount is large, it helps fertilize the pond, and the quality is good. Appropriately supplement calcium phosphate; phosphorus is very important for growth.
2. Base fertilizer use
For a field preparing to plant lotus root for the first time, apply base fertilizer two weeks before planting, deeply plow the soil 30 cm, and rake it level. Apply base fertilizer a few days before planting. Use about six thousand jin of human and livestock manure per mu, using fully decomposed farmyard manure. In addition, add some chemical compound fertilizer, about 100 jin. If it is a field that has already been planted with lotus root, applying three thousand jin per mu is enough. About 60 jin of compound fertilizer. Deep plow and fertilize, and plant in shallow water.
3. Fertilization stages
When leaves begin to grow, do one topdressing, applying two thousand jin of manure per mu. Prepare it in advance and ferment it well, then it can be applied. The second topdressing is when the plant has six leaves, with the same amount as the first fertilization. The third is topdressing before flowering, and this time the amount used increases, to about more than two thousand jin. Lotus root generally receives little base fertilizer and mainly relies on later topdressing.
4. Precautions
Do not fertilize at noon when the sunlight is strong. It is best to fertilize in the morning and afternoon. Fertilizing at lower temperatures is better because although the fertilizer has been fermented, the fertilizer concentration is too high and can affect growth all at once. Before fertilizing, release some water. The water in the pond is generally relatively deep, so the fertilizer cannot enter the soil, and later dissolves in the water, making it not very easy for the roots to absorb. Solid fertilizer is better absorbed than liquid fertilizer. Topdressing can be mixed with mud for easier absorption.
Lotus root cultivation requires a large amount of fertilizer, so sufficient base fertilizer must be applied, and fertilizer must be applied promptly at each stage. This ensures good growth.