How to Fertilize Chinese Kale (Gai Lan)? Latest Technical Method Tutorial
Chinese kale (Gai Lan, Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is a biennial or annual herbaceous plant of the genus Brassica in the cruciferous family, with a long history of cultivation, and has the effects of promoting diuresis and resolving phlegm, detoxifying and dispelling wind, relieving fatigue, and clearing the heart and improving eyesight. When growing Chinese kale, mastering its fertilization techniques is crucial, so how should Chinese kale be fertilized? Come take a look at the detailed introduction below with the editor.
1. Fertilization Principles
Chinese kale is eaten fresh for its vegetative organs, so in order to increase yield, fertilization must be based mainly on base fertilizer, supplemented by topdressing. Generally, topdressing begins after planting out, and the principle for topdressing is light application in the early and late stages, and heavy application in the middle stage. Water and topdress during the seedling growth period to promote vegetative growth of the plant, increase leaf area, and lay the foundation for the flower stalks.
2. Apply Sufficient Base Fertilizer
Base fertilizer should be applied according to the soil fertility status and expected yield. If it is a plot with medium fertility and the current yield is 1500-2000 kg, apply 2500-3000 kg per mu, plus 15-21 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer as base fertilizer. Note that farmyard manure must be fully decomposed to avoid causing plant death. Plots with better soil fertility should be given less, while plots with poor fertility should be given more, to ensure the nutritional needs of Chinese kale throughout the entire growth period.
3. Timely Topdressing
Chinese kale needs timely and repeated topdressing throughout the entire growth period, from the seedling stage until harvest. During the seedling stage, adopt the method of frequent light application, generally topdressing once a week, mainly with thin manure water. After planting out, in order to ensure the yield and quality of the main stalk, apply heavy fertilizer to promote stalk development, generally applying 10 kg of urea and 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu every 7-10 days. In order to avoid fertilizer damage to the roots, use the method of drenching. After harvesting the main stalk, topdress promptly to promote the development of side stalks, with the same method and amount as the stalk-promoting fertilizer.
4. Precautions
Chinese kale has a large leaf area and high transpiration, but its root system is relatively shallow, so in order to increase yield, supplying sufficient nitrogen fertilizer is extremely important. During the rapid growth period of Chinese kale, if nitrogen fertilizer is insufficient, it will have a huge impact on its yield and quality. According to practice, providing sufficient nitrogen fertilizer during the growth period of Chinese kale is the key to its high yield. With insufficient nitrogen fertilizer, the plant is short, the leaves are small, and the basal leaves are prone to turning yellow and falling off, but if nitrogen fertilizer is excessive, it is prone to disease infestation.
The above is an introduction to the fertilization techniques for Chinese kale. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.