The Latest Key Points to Note When Growing Chinese Yam
Chinese yam is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and has the effects of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the lungs, benefiting the stomach and tonifying the kidneys, consolidating the kidneys and boosting essence, and prolonging life. It is one of the medicinal food ingredients commonly used in our daily life. It is grown over a very wide area in our country, but there are many precautions to note when growing it. Let's take a look below.
1. Soil
Chinese yam is a deep-rooted plant, and its underground rhizome can reach more than 1 m in length, so choose a planting area with a low groundwater table to avoid affecting rhizome growth. The soil requirements of the planting site are also very strict; it is suitable to choose loose-textured, well-drained sandy loam. The looseness of the soil is extremely important for the elongation and expansion of the Chinese yam rhizome. Sandy soil is loose, has good aeration, and warms up quickly, which is beneficial for early seedling development and later tuber elongation. If planted in relatively hard soil, tuber elongation is hindered, which very easily causes deformed tuber growth and seriously affects the yield and quality of Chinese yam.
2. Seedling Treatment
When planting, there are three methods of preparing seedlings. The first is to use the Chinese yam head, taking the section of the tuber with a bud, 20-40 cm in length, as seed; the second is to cut the Chinese yam into small sections of 8-10 cm as seed; the third is to use the aerial bulbils of Chinese yam. Among these three, the best is to use aerial bulbils for raising seedlings, followed by the Chinese yam head, but the Chinese yam head is suitable for growing for 1-2 years as seed, and those over 3 years are not suitable. Using Chinese yam tubers as seedlings is a relatively advanced cultivation method; it can not only solve the problem of insufficient Chinese yam tubers and ensure stable yield, but also prevent variety degeneration. Before planting, the seedlings must be disinfected and sterilized, and after cutting into sections, a layer of plant ash and lime should be stuck to both ends to reduce the possibility of pathogen invasion.
3. Fertilizer and Water Management
Chinese yam has a relatively large fertilizer requirement. A general yield of 2000-2500 kg per mu consumes 11 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 8 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 9 kg of potassium fertilizer. Therefore, in addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer before planting, chemical fertilizers should also be used in combination during growth; a compound fertilizer mainly of phosphate and potassium fertilizers with an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be chosen. Chinese yam prefers clear weather and relatively low air humidity. Generally, only 5-7 waterings are needed throughout the entire growth period. When sufficient bottom moisture has been applied, it should not be watered much during the seedling stage; generally, water once when the seedlings emerge evenly to promote emergence and rooting. After that, watering depends on the watering conditions; water once during drought, and in the rainy season, drainage measures should be taken well to avoid disease or seedling death.
4. Intertillage and Weeding
If Chinese yam encounters cloudy and rainy weather during the seedling stage, the soil very easily becomes compacted, which affects the emergence of young buds and, in severe cases, causes emergence failure, so loosen the soil and break up compaction in time. After each watering or rainfall, also carry out intertillage and loosening in time to maintain good soil permeability and speed up tuber expansion. In addition, weeds should also be removed in time during planting. Before emergence, acetochlor can be used for soil-closing weed control to prevent weeds from competing for nutrients and water.
The above is an introduction to the precautions for growing Chinese yam. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.