A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods for Lotus Root Seedlings

Lotus root is the swollen rhizome of the lotus plant in the Nymphaeaceae family. It tastes mildly sweet and crisp, can be eaten raw or cooked, and has considerable medicinal value. Its roots, leaves, flowers and fruits are all treasured. It is suited to growing in hot, rainy seasons. South of the Yangtze River it is mostly planted in early March to early April, while in the Beijing area it is mostly planted in early May. Let us take a look below at how lotus root seedlings are planted!

Cultivation Conditions for Lotus Root

1. Temperature: Lotus root seed rhizomes can only sprout above 15°C. During the vigorous growth period the temperature should be 20-30°C, with a water temperature of 21-25°C. During the early stage of rhizome formation the temperature requirement is also relatively high, while in the later stage a large day-night temperature difference is required. During dormancy it should be kept above 5°C, as below 5°C it is prone to freezing damage.

2. Light: Lotus root is a sun-loving plant and does not tolerate shade. It requires ample light during the growing period, and is not strict about day length. Ample light in the early stage favors the growth of stems and leaves, while ample light in the later stage favors flowering, fruiting and the plumping of the rhizome.

3. Water: During the sprouting and growth stage of lotus root, a water level of 5-10 cm is suitable. During the vigorous growth stage a water level of 30-50 cm is required. Afterwards, as the plant flowers, fruits and forms rhizomes, the water level should gradually be lowered. For dormant overwintering, the soil only needs to be fully moist or kept under shallow water.

4. Soil: For lotus root growth, loam and clay loam rich in organic matter are most suitable. The organic matter content should be at least above 1.5%, and the soil pH should be between 5.6 and 7.5, with 6.5 being the most suitable. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should all be given equal importance.

Planting Methods for Lotus Root

1. Select Good Varieties: For seed rhizomes, choose shallow-layer lotus root varieties that are unblemished and disease-free, with good varietal traits, large individual size, intact growing tips, complete tail ends, complete terminal and lateral buds, thick and plump rhizome nodes, and early maturity and high yield, and try to make them uniform in size.

2. Fertilize and Prepare the Field: It is better to choose a fertile field with a relatively deep mud layer, convenient drainage and irrigation, and where rice was planted the previous year for planting lotus root. 15 days before planting lotus root, apply per mu 2000-3000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 150 kg of cake fertilizer, 70 kg of superphosphate, and 80 kg of quicklime.

3. Planting Time: Choose a sunny afternoon and first arrange the seed rhizomes in the field according to the required row and plant spacing, then dig trenches by hand according to the size of the rhizome and plant them. The front end of the seed rhizome should slope downward, with the rear end slightly exposed above the soil surface, which helps it receive light and air and promotes sprouting.

4. Planting Method: The depth of entry into the mud should be such that the mud covers the rhizome and rhizome buds. When planting along the edges near the field ridges, be careful that all rhizome heads face toward the center of the field. When the field is level and the mud is settled, open trenches or pits for planting.

Field Management of Lotus Root

1. Weeding and Leaf Removal: About one month after lotus root is planted, when the floating leaves gradually wither, remove the withered leaves. Before the rows close, weed in conjunction with topdressing. When weeding, walk on both sides of the curled leaves. When flower buds appear or flowers open, often bend the flower stalks over but do not break them off.

2. Reasonable Topdressing: When there are 3-5 standing leaves, apply per mu 25-30 kg of high-nitrogen-and-phosphorus compound fertilizer. When standing leaves fill the field, apply per mu 30-35 kg of high-nitrogen-and-potassium compound fertilizer. When the terminal leaves appear, apply per mu 15-20 kg of high-potassium compound fertilizer or 10-15 kg of pure potassium fertilizer.

3. Adjust the Water Level: From planting to before sprouting, irrigate with shallow water of about 5-10 cm to raise the ground temperature and help seedling emergence. As standing leaves and branches grow, gradually deepen the water layer to 15-20 cm. During the rhizome formation period and before harvest, shallow water should be irrigated.

4. Straighten the Rhizome Heads: In June, lotus root vines grow rapidly in all directions and need manual vine management. At noon, dig open the mud, lift up the vines, turn the heads toward empty ground, and bury them back into the soil.

5. Maturity and Harvest: When most of the aboveground standing leaves have withered and yellowed and the rhizomes are fully mature, they can be harvested successively. Lotus root harvest is divided into green-leaf lotus root and withered-leaf lotus root. Green-leaf lotus root is mostly harvested in August, while withered-leaf lotus root is harvested from after the beginning of autumn to March-April of the following year.

Pest and Disease Control of Lotus Root

1. Insect Pests: Lotus root insect pests include aphids, tobacco cutworms, and slug moths, which can be sprayed with 90% trichlorfon at 800-1000 times dilution or 40% dimethoate at 2000 times dilution. Water maggots suck the sap of lotus root roots, stems and leaves and can be driven out and killed by applying lime, at 10-15 kg per mu.

2. Fusarium Wilt: Keep the lotus root field clean and prevent oil pollution from contaminating the field. Sewage and soapy water can also cause lotus leaves to wither and die, and lotus root is very sensitive to herbicides, so herbicides must never be applied in lotus root fields.

3. Viral Disease: When controlling lotus root viral disease, choose disease-resistant varieties and promptly control aphids (the transmission vector). In the early stage of the disease, spray 1.5% plant disease spirit emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.

4. Black Spot Disease: In the early stage of the disease, remove diseased leaves and spray for control. You can use 70% thiophanate-methyl at 1000 times dilution, or 65% zineb at 600 times dilution, or Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:166-200 times dilution, spraying once every 10 days for a total of 2-3 sprayings.

5. Soft Rot: For severely affected fields, implement a 2-3 year crop rotation. You can use 70% thiophanate-methyl at 1000 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil at 800 times dilution to spray and seal the seed rhizomes. When the disease occurs, mix 0.5 kg of 75% chlorothalonil with 30 kg of dry soil and spread it evenly into the shallow-water field.