Detailed Explanation of the Latest Technical Points for Water and Fertilizer Management in Potatoes
The potato is a very common food vegetable in our country, and its planting area in our country is also very extensive. When planting potatoes, water and nutrients are extremely important for their growth. Therefore, when planting, we must do a good job in water and fertilizer management. So how exactly should it be done? Below, the editor brings you the key points for potato water and fertilizer management. Let's take a look together!
1. Water Management
Potatoes basically do not need watering during the seedling stage. If very dry conditions are encountered during the seedling hardening stage, then a small amount of water can be applied appropriately. When potatoes enter the early flowering stage, watering work should begin, because from the beginning of the early flowering stage until the time when potato stems and leaves stop growing, it is when tubers grow fastest, and the demand for water will also gradually increase. Moreover, if there is a lack of water during this period, it will also affect nutrient absorption. Soil moisture should be maintained at about 70%, and it should not be too much. If there is too much, it can easily cause potato plants to grow excessively, consume too many nutrients, and lead to undesirable phenomena such as premature senescence and lodging.
2. Watering Precautions
Although potatoes have a certain drought resistance, they should not be left dry for a long time, otherwise it will have a certain impact on potato quality and yield. When watering, we should do a good job in water management according to various factors such as weather, rainfall, and soil type. The amount of watering should not be too large, nor should it be too little. If it is too large, it will cause gaps in the soil, affect potato growth, prevent potatoes from breathing, and lead to nitrogen deficiency. It can very easily cause premature maturity of potatoes and a decline in yield. In addition, reasonable watering can also avoid soil deformities and avoid some unnecessary losses.
3. Fertilization Management
About half a month after sprouting, potatoes need to begin absorbing nutrients. At this time, the demand for nitrogen and potassium fertilizers is relatively large, while phosphorus fertilizer is relatively less needed. When potatoes grow to the tuber formation stage, the demand for nutrients will suddenly increase, and the speed of nutrient absorption will also become much faster. Nutrients at this time directly determine the yield and quality of potatoes. During the tuber bulking stage, the demand for potassium fertilizer is high, followed by nitrogen and phosphorus. Finally, during the maturity stage, one topdressing is still needed to ensure a certain level of nutrients, prevent root hypoxia from causing premature senescence, and avoid affecting normal growth.
4. Fertilization Precautions
When fertilizing, be sure to control the proportion and amount of each nutrient element, and do not over-apply or apply only one kind of fertilizer. This avoids poor potato growth caused by nutrient deficiency and can also very easily produce fertilizer damage, seriously hindering potato growth. This is especially true for nitrogen fertilizer. Although an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer can promote potato growth, attention should also be paid to excessive use. It will cause excessive vegetative growth of potatoes, lead to excessive nutrient consumption in potatoes, insufficient nutrients for tuber expansion, and cause a decline in yield.
The above is a brief introduction to the key points of potato water and fertilizer management. Potato water and fertilizer management is essential when planting potatoes. Therefore, everyone must pay close attention! That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!