How to Grow Lotus Root in Dry Land? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Method

Lotus root is a vegetable that many people greatly enjoy, and the dryland cultivation technique for lotus root is an emerging planting technique. It frees lotus root cultivation from dependence on ponds, but in dryland planting, water management is also crucial. So today we are mainly going to learn about the technique for growing lotus root in dry land. Let's take a look together.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

When growing lotus root in dry land, the requirements for the planting site are also relatively high. Generally speaking, it is best to choose a plot with abundant water sources, good water quality, and deep soil. Next, the drainage and irrigation conditions for planting should be good, and the soil fertility should be relatively sufficient. When preparing the land, we need to level the planting site and ensure that it does not leak water or fertilizer, while also making drainage holes and water inlets. After preparing these, choose clay loam rich in humus, crush it, mix it with organic fertilizer and apply it, then plow and level the land again.

2. Selecting Lotus Root and Arranging Lotus Root

The selection of lotus root for planting is also very important. Generally, whole lotus roots with attached daughter lotus roots are chosen as seed lotus roots. This kind of lotus root is beneficial to the growth of new plants, and at the same time it also provides a certain guarantee for the yield and quality of the lotus root. Generally, in May, the lotus roots can be arranged, divided into water planting and dry planting, with about 400 to 500 jin of seed lotus root needed per mu. Finally, plant them with a row spacing of two cm, and the lotus roots should be closely connected to one another. For water planting, just fill with about three to four cm of water before arranging the lotus roots, while for dry planting, first open furrows, then arrange the lotus roots, and afterward add water.

3. Field Management

Field management for dryland lotus root cultivation mainly consists of water level regulation, plant adjustment, topdressing, and pest and disease control. About eight to ten days after arranging the lotus roots, the field does not need too much water, generally about five to six cm is enough. After the lotus roots sprout and grow floating leaves, we then need to regulate the field water and keep it at about twenty-five cm. Water promptly during relatively dry weather, and drain promptly during the rainy season. About one month after the lotus roots survive, we need to remove the floating leaves and adjust the plants accordingly to ensure concentrated nutrient supply. When the base fertilizer has been applied sufficiently, during the growth stage of the lotus root we need to topdress about twice. This is mainly with decomposed manure, combined with the use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. When applying fertilizer, lower the water level, wait for the fertilizer to seep into the soil, and then add fresh water.

4. Precautions

There are also many points to note when using dry land to grow lotus root. First of all, we need to pay attention to the issue of site selection. The base of the planting site should be filled and leveled with lime, cement, and the like. Secondly, the soil quality of the planting site is best if it is clay loam. Also, the selected seed lotus root should be a whole lotus root, preferably with daughter lotus roots, as this helps new buds emerge. Finally, arrange the lotus roots around Labor Day, neither too early nor too late, while also paying attention to later field management work.

The above are methods for growing lotus root in dry land, and this method of growing lotus root is now very widespread in many places. So if you really want to learn, you can also go on site to experience and understand it, which will be of great help in improving the yield and quality of lotus root.