What are the key field management points for chicory? A detailed explanation of the latest management techniques
Chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, and it is also a plant that combines medicinal and edible uses, with its leaves usable as lettuce. Its roots are rich in aromatic substances such as inulin, and it is a main raw material for coffee, helping to promote human digestion. And the aboveground parts and roots also have medicinal effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach, and promoting diuresis. So how should field management be carried out when growing chicory? Let's take a look together below!
1. Water management
The usual sowing time for chicory happens to be summer. Summer has high temperatures and plenty of rain. Although chicory has relatively strong waterlogging resistance, drainage work still needs to be done well; otherwise, it is also prone to adverse phenomena such as waterlogging damage and viral diseases. However, from emergence to the final thinning stage, chicory should be watered at least about five times. Then water reasonably according to chicory's growth conditions and weather and other factors. In the early stage, keep the soil alternating between dry and moist. In the later stage, control moisture to prevent excessive water from causing chicory to grow excessively. After entering the enlargement stage, increase the amount and frequency of watering to promote the enlargement of the fleshy roots. About 7 days before harvest, stop watering to improve chicory's storability.
2. Thinning and final thinning
When chicory seedlings grow to about 3 and 5 true leaves, they should be thinned once each time. When thinning, the principle should be to keep the strong and remove the weak. Ensure each seedling has sufficient growing space, avoid seedlings growing too crowdedly, and promote seedling growth. At the final thinning, carry out the final stand establishment, control row and plant spacing well, and reasonably adjust planting density. After thinning and final thinning, do watering work well, and pay attention to intertillage and weeding. Improve soil quality, enhance permeability, promote seedling growth, and prevent weeds from competing for the nutrients needed for chicory seedling growth.
3. Reasonable topdressing
Chicory has relatively large nutrient requirements, so when planting, we also need to do topdressing work well. After final thinning, topdress once promptly. First dig the topdressing furrows, then apply an appropriate amount of decomposed farmyard manure into each topdressing furrow. The position of the topdressing furrows should be prevented from being too close to the chicory roots, to prevent the heat generated by the fertilizer from burning the roots and affecting chicory growth. After each fertilization, water once, then carry out one intertillage, keeping the depth at about 8 cm. Then during the enlargement stage, if not much topdressing was applied earlier, then a heavy application is needed once, and then topdress reasonably according to chicory's growth conditions.
4. Pest and disease control
Chicory has relatively strong disease resistance, and the incidence of pests and diseases is also relatively low. However, when grown in greenhouses, it will still be threatened by certain pests and diseases, commonly including viral diseases, whiteflies, and others. Therefore, we still need to do good work in pest and disease control, strengthen field management, do well in basic work such as water and fertilizer, disinfect regularly, and reduce the base number of pests and disease pathogens in the greenhouse. Frequently observe chicory growth conditions. When whitefly disease is found, trap and kill promptly, then use pesticides such as buprofezin for control. Be sure to carry out corresponding control according to the specific pests and diseases, and do not use pesticides blindly, to prevent phytotoxicity.
The above is a brief introduction to the key field management points for chicory. Chicory management is actually relatively extensive. However, it should not be overly neglected, because changes in natural factors such as environment and weather will cause certain harm to chicory growth, so everyone must pay close attention. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.