What causes deformed radish roots? A detailed guide to prevention and control methods
Radish is a common vegetable in our daily lives, rich in nutrients and deeply loved by people, but during the growth of radish, abnormal growth of the fleshy root can occur, seriously affecting the yield of radish. So what causes deformed radish roots? How should they be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look together.
1. Overdense planting
If planting is too dense, the root systems of the radishes will squeeze against each other, causing the main root to bend and the lateral roots to grow vigorously, ultimately resulting in deformed radish root systems.
Prevention and control methods: Plant at a reasonable density, using the hill sowing method, with a plant-to-row spacing of 20×25 cm per hill. When sowing, generally sow 5-7 seeds per hill, and they must be spread out. When the seedlings grow to 2-3 true leaves, thin them promptly, leaving 2 plants per hill. When they grow to 5 true leaves, final thinning should be done, leaving one strong seedling per hill.
2. Heavy clay soil
If the cultivation soil contains impurities such as bricks, perennial roots, waste plastic film, etc., or if the soil itself is relatively heavy and clayey, the growth of radish will be hindered, thereby producing deformed roots.
Prevention and control methods: Choose deep soil rich in organic matter, sandy loam or loam for planting. Before planting, prepare the land so that the soil is loose, level, and free of obstacles such as crushed stones and perennial roots.
3. Improper fertilization
If undecomposed organic fertilizer or farmyard manure is applied during planting, the fertilizer will release a large amount of heat during fermentation and decomposition, thereby burning the growth nodes of the main root, causing the root system to fork. In addition, if radish lacks boron, the root system will also show twisted and deformed growth.
Prevention and control methods: When applying base fertilizer, be sure to ensure that organic fertilizer and farmyard manure are fully decomposed before application. When topdressing later, also pay attention not to let fertilizer come into direct contact with the root system, so as to avoid burning. For boron deficiency, an appropriate amount of borax can be added to the base fertilizer; generally 1 kg per mu is enough to meet the boron demand of radish throughout the entire growth period.
4. Underground pests
Many underground pests can also cause deformed roots, such as white grubs, mole crickets, wireworms, cutworms, etc. If they are not properly controlled, they will continuously gnaw on the main root of radish, causing the lateral roots to swell and producing deformed roots.
Prevention and control methods: Underground pest control must be thorough. When preparing the land, plow the soil deeply, remove weeds and leftover plant residues, and eliminate pest sources. Where conditions permit, poisoned soil can be spread to kill them. During pest outbreaks, insecticides such as trichlorfon and dichlorvos can be used for root drenching, but pay attention to the concentration.
The above is an introduction to the causes of deformed radish roots and the prevention and control methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.