A Detailed Explanation of the Latest Environmental Requirements for Growing Lotus Root
Lotus root is an aquatic crop, and mature lotus root is very fragile and breaks easily. Lotus root also has great demands on its growing environment, such as temperature, light, and so on. Below I will talk with everyone about the requirements of lotus root for its surrounding environment from four aspects: temperature, light, water, and soil. Let's take a look together!
1. Temperature
Lotus root is a temperature-loving crop that is not tolerant of cold or drought. When the temperature is below 15°C, the seed lotus root cannot sprout, and the minimum temperature for seed lotus root to sprout is 16°C. During the peak period of lotus root growth and development, the temperature must not be below 20°C or above 30°C, and the water temperature must be kept between 20-25°C, as only this can better promote the growth and development of lotus root. In the early stage of lotus root formation, the demand for temperature is relatively high, and high temperatures favor the swelling of the lotus root. After swelling, the diurnal temperature difference needs to be relatively large, around 20-25°C during the day and around 5-15°C at night. If it is below 5°C, the lotus root will be damaged by freezing.
2. Light
Lotus root is also a light-loving plant. Without light, lotus root growth will decline, the fruits will be small and fine, and it will lose its commercial value. During the growth period of lotus root, light must be fully sufficient, but it is not required to be direct sunlight. Sufficient light in the early growth stage is beneficial to the development of stems and leaves, and satisfying light during the flowering and maturity stage can favor flowering and fruiting, with the lotus root body developing robustly.
3. Water
What lotus root absolutely cannot lack is water. During the seed lotus root sprouting stage, the required water level is 5-10 cm. Entering the peak period of plant growth and development, water needs to be added substantially to 0.3-0.5 m. In the later stage of flowering and fruiting, the required amount of water gradually decreases again, all the way until the lotus root successfully overwinters. During overwintering, the soil needs to be kept moist or in a shallow-water state. If the water layer is too high, it will cause poor development of the lotus root, and the water level must not be higher than the lotus leaves. If it is higher than the lotus leaves, it can easily cause the lotus leaves to be unable to grow and even die.
4. Soil
Lotus root has very strict requirements for the soil environment. The lotus root field must be clay that is rich in organic matter, and the organic matter content must be above 1.5%. The pH value should be on the neutral side, between 6.0-7.5, with 6.5 being the most suitable. It is best if the soil contains multiple trace elements; the amount contained mainly depends on the variety, and different varieties require different substances.
The above four are the lotus root planting environment requirements compiled by the editor. Of course, they are not limited to these; for example, there is also wind. In the case of strong winds, the stems and leaves must be protected. Because the lotus root has small stems and large leaves, it is easily broken by wind. These are all points that need attention when planting lotus root. Lotus root is a very fragile plant, so it must be well managed in daily care to protect one's own interests.