The Latest Technical Methods and Tutorial for Carrot Field Management

Carrots prefer cool environmental conditions, have few pests and diseases, and are extremely widely adaptable. Good field management practices are an essential part of ensuring high yields, so how exactly should field management be carried out for carrot cultivation?

Weed Control Management

Carrots are light-loving, so weeding and thinning should be done early, and herbicides should be sprayed in time to prevent large-scale cultivation from forming a weed infestation. For every 667 sq m, use 750-1000 g of 25% nitrofen, first dissolve it in a small amount of water, then dilute it with 100-200 times water, and choose a sunny day to spray the ground after sowing and before emergence; the weed control rate for annual weeds reaches 90%. Alternatively, when the seedlings have 2 true leaves, use 100 g of prometryn plus 100 ml of acetochlor per 667 sq m, mixed with 50 kg of water, and spray. You can also apply only prometryn: after carrot sowing and before emergence, or when there are 1-2 true leaves, use 100 g of 50% prometryn wettable powder per 667 sq m, mixed with 60 kg of water, and spray for treatment. Its control effect on monocotyledonous weeds reaches 100%, its control effect on dicotyledonous weeds is 98%, and the inhibition rate on carrot seedling growth is only 1%. When applying, you must grasp the concentration well and must not overdose.

Density Management

On a sunny afternoon, pull out overly dense seedlings, inferior seedlings, and mixed seedlings. The first thinning is carried out when there are 1-2 true leaves, combined with shallow tillage and weeding, with a seedling spacing of 3-4 cm. The second thinning is carried out when there are 5-6 true leaves, with a seedling spacing of 10-12 cm.

Watering Management

Carrot seeds do not absorb water easily. When sown in different seasons, soil drought will delay emergence and cause missing seedlings and broken rows. From sowing to emergence, water continuously 2-3 times, and keep soil moisture at 70-80%. Carrots are relatively afraid of waterlogging, so drainage should be carried out in time after rain. When carrots grow to the thickness of a finger, that is, the fleshy root enlargement stage, it is the period of greatest water demand. Water should be done in time to prevent the center of the fleshy root from becoming lignified. Generally, water once every 10-15 days to prevent moisture from suddenly increasing or decreasing. Timely and appropriate watering is very important for improving carrot quality and yield and preventing the formation of cracked roots and forked roots.

Fertilization Management

Before soil cultivation, apply sufficient base fertilizer. Apply 3-4 t of organic fertilizer per 667 sq m, then deep plow after application. During carrot growth, topdress 2 times. To avoid “root burning,” carry it out in combination with watering, using water to carry the fertilizer. It should be dilute at the seedling stage and concentrated later. The first topdressing is carried out 20-25 days after emergence, when there are 3-4 true leaves. Apply 2-3 kg of ammonium sulfate, 3 kg of calcium superphosphate, and 1-2 kg of potassium chloride per 667 sq m. After 25 days, apply the second topdressing: 7 kg of ammonium sulfate, 3-4 kg of calcium superphosphate, and 3-4 kg of potassium chloride per 667 sq m.

Preventing Green Shoulders and Bolting in Carrots

In the early stage of fleshy root enlargement, about 40 days after sowing, carry out hilling so that the roots are buried in the soil but the crown is not buried, which can prevent the shoulder of the carrot fleshy root from being exposed above the soil surface and turning green under sunlight. When carrots enter the period of vigorous leaf growth, water and fertilizer amounts should be appropriately controlled, and intertillage and seedling restraint should be carried out to prevent excessive leaf growth and bolting. If bolting occurs, remove the bolt in time to prevent the fleshy root from becoming lignified and affecting quality.