What is the latest price of konjac seeds? With growing methods

Konjac is also known as konnyaku, moyu, ruotou, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Amorphophallus in the Araceae family. It has a cultivation history of more than 2,000 years in China. In ancient China it was called demon taro, and since ancient times it has had the name “intestine-clearing sand.” It is now commonly cultivated in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, southern Shaanxi and western Hubei. Let us take a look together at the price of konjac seeds and the growing methods!

How much is a jin of konjac seeds?

The price of konjac seeds is about 4-6 yuan per jin, but prices vary depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and market. In fact, the “seed” of konjac is not a botanical seed; its formation process is very special. The konjac “seed” propagated through sexual reproduction is morphologically a typical asexual organ——a small corm. The price of first-generation and second-generation seeds differs, prices in different places also differ, and the price fluctuates greatly.

Growing conditions for konjac

1. Soil: Konjac requires deep, loose and fertile sandy loam soil rich in organic matter and humus, neutral to slightly acidic, for planting. The most suitable PH (acidity and alkalinity) is 6.5-7.5, and it can generally grow at PH 5.5-6.5 or PH 7.5-8.

2. Humidity: Konjac requires sandy loam with good soil drainage, a low groundwater table and a soil moisture content of 50-65%, a relative air humidity of 55-70%, and annual rainfall of 1000-1500 mm.

3. Temperature: During the growth period, konjac requires an optimum temperature of 15-25°C. Above 35°C growth is inhibited, below 12°C the aboveground part naturally falls over, during dormancy it can tolerate -5°C, and below -8°C the underground tubers suffer freezing damage.

4. Light: Konjac is a shade-tolerant crop and is most afraid of direct light. It requires low sunlight intensity and short duration. The most suitable light intensity for the development of the aboveground part is 1/3 of sunlight, and root development needs dim light.

How to plant konjac seeds?

1. Land preparation and fertilization: After choosing a good planting site for konjac, deeply plow the land once in autumn and winter. During deep plowing, farmyard manure can be applied according to the actual situation. Before sowing, choose fine weather to prepare the soil and make beds, using deep furrows and high beds for planting, with a bed width of 1 m including the furrow and a bed height of 15-25 cm.

2. Seed taro selection: For konjac seeds, choose those with small and shallow bud hollows, plump corms, robust terminal buds, a ring of traces on the upper part of the tuber where fibrous roots have broken off or fallen off, smooth lower and bottom surfaces, no fibrous roots, no cracks, no scars, no injury or rot, and a weight of 300 grams.

3. Seed taro disinfection: Before sowing konjac seeds, use 10 million units of agricultural streptomycin soluble powder mixed with 20 kg of water (1000PPM) to soak the seed taro for 0.5-1 hour, then take them out and dry them in the air for 1-2 days. This can reduce the occurrence of diseases.

4. Planting time: Konjac seeds are generally sown only when the soil temperature at 10 cm stabilizes above 12°C. According to local climates, this is usually suitable from early March to late April, no later than early June, and they can also be planted before winter.

5. Sowing method: When planting konjac, adjacent rows should be placed in a staggered manner. Place the seed taro obliquely at 45 degrees in the furrow; on sloped land, place the terminal bud upward. If the seed taro is a rhizome, place the terminal buds continuously in one direction, then cover with soil, apply fertilizer on top of the soil, and cover with soil again over the fertilizer.

Planting management of konjac

1. Mulching management: After sowing konjac, vigorously collect various crop stalks, pod shells, dead leaves and other mulch materials to reach the standard of “no clumps of grass, no exposed ground.” Generally about 2000 jin of mulch is needed per mu. After September, pay attention to removing unmelted mulch.

2. Weed removal: The root system of konjac is shallow. To prevent intertillage and hoeing from cutting and injuring the developing young roots and underground stems and affecting normal plant growth, weeds can be pulled by hand, but you can only squat in the furrow to pull weeds. Do not step on the bed surface, to prevent crushing and injuring the underground rhizomes.

3. Clearing furrows and earthing up: Konjac fears both drought and waterlogging, so during the rainy season, especially after heavy rain, go to the field to inspect the planted plots, dredge the furrows and drain water, and ensure the water channels are unobstructed. While clearing the furrows, place the fine soil from the furrows onto the bed surface.

4. Scientific topdressing: Topdressing for konjac is mainly done at seedling emergence and leaf expansion with decomposed clear manure water. Dry pig manure residue can also be applied between plants and, after being washed into the soil by rain, absorbed and used by konjac roots. To avoid burning roots, it is best to use clear manure for topdressing. If the base fertilizer is insufficient, compound fertilizer can be applied as topdressing.

Pest and disease control of konjac

1. Soft rot

[Symptoms] It affects leaf stalks, corms and leaves. After being damaged, the tissues turn black, soften, and give off a foul odor, and the fruits may even rot and fall over in patches.

[Control] Strengthen cultivation management, regularly deep plow and prepare land, drain water and ventilate. When selecting seeds, carefully choose seed taro that is not rotten and has no wounds. Before sowing, it can be soaked in an appropriately proportioned agricultural streptomycin solution.

2. Southern blight

[Symptoms] It affects the base of the leaf stalk, thereby causing damage to the leaf stalk or corm.

[Control] Strengthen management and promptly drain accumulated water. Do not carry out continuous cropping or intercropping with peanuts, Solanaceae crops and soybeans. An appropriately proportioned Bordeaux mixture can be used to spray and disinfect the area around where the leaf stalks contact the soil surface during the period from konjac corm change to corm swelling.

3. Leaf blight

[Symptoms] It harms leaves. The pathogen has extremely strong infective ability, causing konjac to wither and die in patches.

[Control] The prevention and treatment measures for leaf blight are basically the same as those for soft rot.

4. Insect pests

[Symptoms] The main insect pests affecting konjac growth are sweet potato hornworm, konjac nematode, bean hawkmoth, etc.

[Control] During winter and spring, remove weeds and dead leaves, use intercropping of konjac and corn in the field, and manually use insecticides to remove pests. Also pay attention to choosing decomposed farmyard manure when using it.