Lotus Root Seed Selection and Seed Saving Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Lotus root is a vegetable crop of the water lily family, and it is loved by many people in China. Lotus root is rich in nutrients; it can not only be stir-fried but also eaten raw. In addition, the side products and various snacks processed from lotus root are very popular. At present, the planting area of lotus root is relatively wide, and when planting lotus root, the most important work is seed selection and seed saving. So today, the editor has brought you the seed selection and seed saving techniques for lotus root. Let's take a look!
1. Seed selection techniques
Asexual seed selection
The lotus root planting area in China is very extensive, and there are also very many lotus root varieties in China. Therefore, asexual seed selection has become the main seed selection method for lotus root. For example, in recent years, varieties bred from excellent asexual lines include Zhehu No. 1, Kexuan No. 1, and others. Asexual seed selection mainly relies on growers to identify some high-yielding, good-quality, strongly growing, low-incidence excellent individual plants, and then send them to the relevant local agricultural departments. Professionals conduct research and asexual propagation, and then they are promoted.
Sexual hybridization
Sexual hybridization is a method for researching new lotus root varieties, and it has now also been applied to lotus root breeding in China. Sexual hybridization can effectively combine the different excellent qualities of parent plants to breed high-yielding, excellent, early- and late-maturing and other high-quality varieties. In fact, it is not very different from asexual seed selection, but skilled growers can carry it out themselves. At present, new lotus root varieties developed in China through sexual hybridization include Yangou No. 1, Xiangbailian No. 1, and others. Lotus root seed selection can be done through self-breeding or outsourcing, but its quality must be guaranteed.
2. Seed saving methods
If you want to obtain lotus root seeds or lotus seeds with high yield and good quality, then you must pay special attention to the seed saving work for lotus root. When saving seeds, seed lotus roots generally overwinter in the lotus field. During overwintering, a layer of water level must be maintained in the lotus field to avoid water shortage, which would cause the soil to dry out and crack. If the water level cannot be guaranteed, then a layer of straw should be spread over the lotus field for insulation. Then in the winter of the second year, dig out the seed lotus roots, preferably planting them immediately after digging. When digging lotus roots, it is not advisable to dig them all out; for about every four dug out, one should be retained as a seed lotus root for the next year.
3. Precautions for seed saving
The planting method for lotus root grown for seed saving is similar to field planting; the main difference is the planting and harvesting time. After the field lotus root is harvested, the seed-saving field still needs continued management, especially field water management and pest and disease control. As just mentioned, the seed-saving field also needs to maintain a certain water level in winter, and the water level should be controlled at about 4 cm. When digging seed roots, the method is the same as digging field lotus roots; pay attention to the force used and ensure the seed lotus roots remain intact. Prevent the buds from being injured, which would reduce the sprouting ability of the seed lotus roots or even cause them to lose the ability to sprout.
The above is a brief introduction to lotus root seed selection and seed saving techniques. There are very many propagation methods for lotus root. When saving seeds, we should reasonably choose the propagation method according to the field conditions, technology, and environment, ensure the yield of seed lotus roots, and improve planting benefits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.