What are the causes of and control methods for sweet pepper plant death?
Sweet pepper is a common vegetable with high medicinal value and economic benefits, but during cultivation the phenomenon of plant death has become increasingly serious, severely affecting sweet pepper yields and bringing huge losses to growers. So what are the causes of sweet pepper plant death? How should it be controlled? Let's learn together.
1. Soil compaction
After watering, the soil retains a high water content for a long time, causing soil compaction, which leads to poor soil permeability. The root system of sweet pepper is relatively shallow, and soil compaction will cause its roots to suffocate from lack of oxygen, resulting in serious plant death. Most vegetable growers use mechanical operations when plowing, which causes the subsoil to become especially compacted and uneven. Even if the surface soil is level, after irrigation, small areas of standing water between the ridges will form and cause plant death.
Control method: When preparing the land, be sure to plow carefully and intensively to ensure the soil is loose and has good air permeability. Also pay attention to the watering method; do not water too much at one time. After watering, a shallow hoeing can break up the compacted state of the soil.
2. High temperature and high humidity
When the ground temperature is too high and the humidity is relatively high, the base of the plant's stem develops ring-shaped rot around its circumference, leading to the death of the entire plant. This situation generally occurs in June-July, during the high-temperature season. At this time the seedlings are short, have few leaves, and cannot form effective shade. The ground temperature is relatively high, and combined with relatively high humidity, stem base rot is extremely likely to occur under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions.
Control method: When planting in summer, a shade net must be used. At the same time, pay attention to high temperatures; appropriate watering can replenish water and lower the temperature. When humidity is relatively high, strengthen ventilation to reduce humidity and avoid stem base rot and death.
3. Improper fertilization
During cultivation, improper fertilization causes root burn and plant death. Sweet pepper cultivation generally does not require concentrated fertilization, and incompletely decomposed chicken manure and soybean cake must not be applied, as they can easily cause fertilizer burn and lead to plant death.
Control method: Farmyard manure must be fully decomposed and fermented before application, and after fertilizing, turn and level the ground. After ridging, irrigate and seal the greenhouse; this can both disinfect the soil and create adequate soil moisture, and can also avoid root burn that leads to plant death.
4. Diseases
⟦NL>There are three common diseases that cause sweet pepper plant death: first, phytophthora blight; second, sclerotinia rot; and third, bacterial soft rot. All three diseases may cause sweet pepper plant death in the later stages.
Control method: An effective preventive measure against plant death is to act in the early stages of disease. As long as the rot has not reached halfway around the plant, use a blade to remove the rotted part of the plant, then mix a fruit-setting hormone and thiophanate-methyl and apply it to the removed area. The diseased area must be cleaned thoroughly.
The above is an introduction to the causes of and control methods for sweet pepper plant death. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.