The Latest Field Management Methods and Techniques for Mustard

Mustard is an annual herbaceous plant of the Brassicaceae family. Its plants are relatively tall, and at their tallest they can grow to about 1.5 m. Every part of the mustard plant has value: the leaves are edible, the seeds can be used in medicine, and they are also the main raw material for mustard condiment, as well as an oilseed crop. Mustard is cultivated to some extent in all parts of our country, so how should mustard cultivation be managed? Below, the editor brings you the field management methods for mustard. Let's take a look!

1. Seedling stage management

After mustard is sown and emerges, it grows very quickly, so after emergence we need to do a good job of thinning the seedlings, starting when the seedlings grow 1 true leaf. Expand the planting spacing to avoid overly dense growth in the middle and later stages, which causes leggy seedlings. Then, when the seedlings grow 2-3 true leaves, carry out final thinning, preserving the characteristics of the seedlings, ensuring the seedlings have enough space and uniform emergence, and increasing yield. Mustard plants are tall, so planting should not be too dense, to prevent excessive vegetative growth.

2. Cultivation and weeding

During mustard growth, the soil must be kept sufficiently loose and well aerated, so we need to regularly cultivate and weed, improving soil oxygen content and water and fertilizer retention, and promoting mustard growth. Although mustard has relatively strong growth ability, we still cannot relax the weeding work, because weeds are very strong at competing for nutrients and will seriously hinder mustard growth. Throughout the entire growth period of mustard, cultivation and weeding should be carried out at least twice, creating a good environment for mustard growth.

3. Timely topdressing

Fertilizer is the key to ensuring high mustard yields, especially for soil with insufficient base fertilizer or relatively poor soil. Before the rows close, each time you hill up the soil, you need to apply one topdressing. Pay attention to the concentration and amount of fertilizer, usually based on 20 kg per mu, with urea and potassium chloride as the main fertilizers. Be careful with the application method: it should be evenly sprinkled in the furrows, and the mustard roots must not come into contact with the fertilizer, to prevent the fertilizer from releasing heat and burning the roots, which would affect mustard growth.

4. Water management

Mustard has little water demand at the seedling stage; rainfall alone can meet the water needs of the seedling stage, but if it does not rain for a long time, appropriate watering is still needed. Especially in long-term drought conditions, watering at least once a day is necessary. Water shortage at the seedling stage not only affects growth but also increases the incidence of various pests and diseases. In the middle stage of mustard, the principle is not to water unless there is drought, to avoid excessive vegetative growth. In the later stage, keep the soil moist to promote the expansion of the roots and stems.

5. Pest and disease control

Mustard has relatively strong growth ability and disease resistance, so the incidence of diseases during growth is not high. However, it will be threatened by some insect pests, such as aphids, cabbage caterpillars, and so on, and these pests can in turn trigger some diseases. Therefore, pest and disease control is still management work we need to do well in planting: reduce sources of pathogens in the field, strengthen field management, and deal with pests promptly once found. Most pests can be sprayed and killed with common insecticides on the market. But we mainly rely on prevention; as long as every management task in the planting process is done well, effective prevention can be achieved.

The above is a brief introduction to mustard field management methods. To promote mustard growth, after the seedlings are finally thinned, we can appropriately spray growth regulators. This enhances photosynthesis in mustard leaves, increases nutrient accumulation, and promotes mustard growth, but pay attention to the dosage and do not overdo it, otherwise mustard will show excessive vegetative growth, which is counterproductive and leads to reduced yield.