Latest Technical Methods and Tutorial for the Management of Sichuan Pepper at the Seedling Stage
Sichuan pepper is one of the common seasonings in our daily life, with relatively high economic value and edible value. Its seed shell is hard, and the outside has a relatively thick oily wax layer, making it difficult for the seed to absorb water and germinate. This often causes uneven emergence or failure to emerge, so raising seedlings is relatively difficult. So how should Sichuan pepper be managed at the seedling stage? Let us learn about it together.
1. Thinning and Transplanting Seedlings
When the seedlings grow to 5-10 cm, thinning and final spacing should be carried out in time. In order to cultivate strong seedlings, the plant spacing should be kept at about 5 cm, and generally 20,000-30,000 plants are set per mu. After thinning, the seedlings can be transplanted with soil to areas where seedlings are missing, or transplanted to other seedbeds for cultivation. The best transplanting time is when the seedlings have 3-5 true leaves. Irrigate 2-3 days before transplanting to facilitate digging up the seedlings and protecting the roots. Transplanting on cloudy days or in the evening can increase the survival rate.
2. Cultivation and Weeding
Cultivation can loosen the soil, reduce water evaporation, and remove weeds, so as to prevent the soil from becoming compacted and help the growth of the seedlings. During the seedling growth period, cultivation should be carried out 3-4 times, and at the same time it is necessary to ensure there are no weeds in the nursery.
⟦NL>3. Fertilization and Irrigation
After the seedlings emerge, rapid growth begins in mid-May, and in mid-to-late June they enter the vigorous growth period, which is also the time when the largest amount of fertilizer and water is needed. Combined with irrigation, topdressing should be applied 1-2 times, mainly with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, to promote seedling growth. Generally, 20-25 kg per mu of ammonium sulfate, urea, or compound fertilizer is applied as topdressing. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied too excessively, so as not to make the seedlings unfavorable for overwintering. Before the seedlings emerge, flood irrigation should not be used, as it easily causes soil compaction, making it difficult for seedlings to emerge and resulting in a low emergence rate. If the soil is too dry, water can be sprayed appropriately. During the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage and waterlogging prevention, so as to avoid water accumulation causing root rot.
4. Pest and Disease Control
The main aboveground disease of Sichuan pepper is leaf rust, and the main insect pests are aphids and Sichuan pepper swallowtail butterflies. Leaf rust can be controlled by spraying carbendazim, insect pests can be controlled by spraying omethoate, and underground pests can be controlled by opening small trenches 3-5 cm deep between rows and scattering omethoate solution into them.
The above is an introduction to the management techniques for Sichuan pepper at the seedling stage. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.