What Causes Stunted Growth in Rapeseed? A Detailed Guide to Prevention and Control Methods
Rapeseed is a common vegetable. It can not only be pressed for oil, but is also a delicious vegetable with high economic value, and it is grown all over the country. During cultivation, stunted growth occasionally occurs. When stunted growth occurs, rapeseed stops growing, and in severe cases the stems wither and the roots rot, reducing yield. So why does stunted growth occur? Below, the editor brings you the prevention and control methods for stunted growth.
1. Drought and waterlogging damage
Drought in the climate and soil not only causes the plants to lack water and wilt, but also affects the roots' absorption of nutrients, causing nutrient deficiency symptoms, triggering purple and red leaves, and causing stunted growth. After transplanting, if the soil drains well but there is long-term rainy weather, the soil becomes waterlogged, causing waterlogging damage, making it difficult for the roots to breathe and causing oxygen deficiency, which triggers stunted growth.
Prevention and control methods: For stunted growth caused by drought, it can be solved by furrow irrigation or watering. For furrow irrigation, dig a ditch between the rows and fill it to two-thirds. Watering allows better control of moisture; simply water regularly to keep the soil moist. For stunted growth caused by waterlogging, drain water and prevent flooding in time. Especially in rainy weather, combine this with intertillage and loosening the soil to maintain soil permeability so the roots can breathe normally.
2. Fertilizer deficiency
When plants lack fertility during growth, they cannot grow normally, causing stunted growth. Generally, stunted growth caused by fertilizer deficiency is very easy to identify. First, the plants are shorter and smaller than normal plants, and the leaf color fades to yellow. In severe cases, the leaves at the base of the stem turn red and purple, and the leaves wither and yellow and fall off. This indicates nitrogen deficiency in the plants. If the upper half of the leaves is dark green and lusterless, while the lower half is purplish-red, then it is phosphorus deficiency. There are many other nutrient deficiency symptoms that will not be introduced one by one.
Prevention and control methods: If fertilizer is deficient, apply fertilizer to supplement nutrients. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before transplanting. For the base fertilizer, fully decomposed organic fertilizer can be used together with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Organic fertilizer contains extremely comprehensive elements, and applying enough organic fertilizer generally prevents nutrient deficiency symptoms. When stunted growth caused by fertilizer deficiency appears, topdress in time, combined with foliar spraying. The effect is excellent and can restore normal growth and development of the plants as quickly as possible.
3. Pests and diseases
The common pest that causes stunted growth is aphids. The larvae gather on the leaves of the seedlings and suck the leaf sap, causing the leaves to wilt and curl. Finally, the plants shrivel, the leaf color turns yellow, and the heart leaves do not unfold, but root growth is affected. The leaves' photosynthesis is extremely poor, nutrient synthesis is slow, and this can also trigger viral disease damage, making stunted growth very likely.
Prevention and control methods: Do a good job of preventing and controlling aphids. When aphid damage is found, spray with 3000-fold dilution of Yashijing. If viral disease symptoms appear, spray with 300-fold dilution of 5% Junduqing once a week for 2-3 consecutive times.
4. Inferior seedlings
During sowing and seedling raising, because the sowing density is relatively high and thinning is not carried out in time after emergence, or because the seedling age is too old at transplanting, tall-legged seedlings form after transplanting. The seedlings have fewer leaves during growth and stop growing.
Prevention and control methods: Pay attention to density when sowing. After emergence, thin and fill in seedlings reasonably according to density. Choose a suitable number of days for transplanting and remove diseased and weak seedlings. If tall-legged seedlings still appear after transplanting, strengthen intertillage and weeding, combined with fertilization, to promote their growth.
The above are the causes of stunted growth in rapeseed and the prevention and control methods. We hope this can help you. If you want to learn more about rapeseed cultivation knowledge, please follow us.