What Causes Root Rot in Napa Cabbage? Causes and Control Methods
Root rot is a common disease when growing napa cabbage. Root rot causes napa cabbage to gradually wither and die, which seriously affects yield and quality and reduces farmers' economic returns. So what causes root rot in napa cabbage? And what should be done about root rot? Let's go through it in detail together.
1. Root rot caused by waterlogged roots
Napa cabbage is a semi-cold-tolerant vegetable. It likes mild and cool climates, tolerates neither cold nor heat, and also likes moist environments, but it does not tolerate waterlogging. During planting, if it is in a high-temperature or low-temperature environment, and then the rainy season arrives, with heavy rain causing excessive water accumulation in the soil, the root system will necrose due to lack of oxygen, resulting in waterlogged roots. In addition, if napa cabbage is in a high-temperature period during the early growth stage, high-temperature-type waterlogged roots will occur; conversely, in the late growth stage, if the temperature is too low, low-temperature-type waterlogged roots will occur.
2. Root rot caused by soft rot
Soft rot is also one of the causes of root rot in napa cabbage. When planted in higher terrain and plots prone to water accumulation, waterlogged roots make soft rot extremely likely to occur. In addition, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, or plants being bitten or damaged by insect pests, allows pathogens to invade and infect the plants with soft rot. Soft rot mainly harms the root and stem area. The petioles become water-soaked, the outer leaves lose water and wilt, and when the disease is severe, the root and stem rot. It is filled with yellow sticky matter, gives off a special foul odor, and causes the whole plant to rot.
3. Preventive measures for waterlogged roots
Choose plots with higher terrain and good drainage for planting, so as to avoid excessive soil water accumulation that leads to waterlogged roots. In the early growth stage, if high-temperature weather occurs, shading measures can be taken again to prevent high-temperature-type waterlogged roots; in the late growth stage, low temperatures can be raised through plastic film mulching and fertilization to prevent low-temperature-type waterlogged roots. During planting, cultivating and weeding can increase the plant's air permeability, allowing the root system to breathe and extend normally. In addition, in the late growth stage, cultivation can also raise low temperatures and reduce the chance of freezing injury. After rain, drain water in time to prevent waterlogging. When watering, strictly prohibit flood irrigation to avoid waterlogged roots.
4. Control methods for soft rot
Preventive measures for soft rot likewise avoid planting in low-lying, heavy clay plots, and the previous crop in the planting plot should avoid Solanaceae, cucurbit and fruit vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables. When the disease occurs, agricultural streptomycin sulfate or new streptomycin can be sprayed for control, once a week, and depending on the condition, continuous spraying 2-3 times is enough.
The above are the causes and control methods of root rot in napa cabbage. I hope it can help you. To learn more about vegetable cultivation knowledge, please follow us.