Key Field Management Techniques for Amomum villosum After Fruit Harvest

Late July to early August each year is the ripening and harvesting period for Amomum villosum. Proper field management after fruit harvest is an important measure for achieving stable and high yields year after year. The main management measures are described below.

Cutting Off Old Shoots

Amomum villosumAfter fruiting, the withered and old plants in the population have already declined in vigor. They not only consume water and nutrients but are also prone to pest and disease infection, affecting the growth of healthy plants in the population. Therefore, after fruit harvest, withered, old and weak plants as well as diseased plants should be cut down immediately and burned outside the field. Only 40-50 healthy plants should be left per sq m. This helps light penetration in the Amomum villosum field, reduces nutrient consumption and the occurrence of pests and diseases, and promotes robust plant growth.

Regulating Shade Density

Amomum villosum is a shade-loving plant. According to its growth and development habits, it can only grow and develop normally under conditions of 50% shade density. Too little or too much shade is unfavorable to its growth and development. Therefore, after fruit harvest each year, the shade density in the Amomum villosum field should be properly regulated. Where shade is excessive, shade trees in the field should be pruned or felled to reduce shade density. Where shade is insufficient, fast-growing tree species should be planted to increase shade density, which is beneficial for robust growth of the Amomum villosum plant population.

Fertilization

After flowering and fruiting, the Amomum villosum plant population has consumed a large amount of nutrients. In order to rapidly restore the vigor of the population and promote the growth of autumn shoots, laying a solid foundation for high yield in the following year, after fruit harvest and cutting of old shoots, apply 3000 kg of barnyard manure or compost, 30 kg of peanuts (or 50 kg of soybean cake), and 25 kg of superphosphate per mu. These fertilizers should be composted together until decomposed, then evenly broadcast into the Amomum villosum field. After application, earth up to cover 1/2 of the creeping stems. This fertilization is called shoot-promoting fertilizer. From late February to early March of the following year, apply 1000 kg of human waste and urine and 5 kg of urea per mu by splashing. This is called seedling-strengthening fertilizer, which promotes more shoot growth and stronger seedlings in Amomum villosum, laying the foundation for more flowers and fruits in the population.

Pest and Disease Control

Common pests and diseases include: (1) Leaf blight, which mostly occurs in plots with insufficient shade in autumn and winter. Control methods: regulate the shade density in the Amomum villosum field to around 50%; strengthen watering or irrigation during dry weather; spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl 1000-fold solution in the early stage of the disease. (2) Leaf spot, which is prone to occur after winter drought or frost. Control methods: after fruit harvest, remove diseased plants and leaves and burn them in a centralized manner; increase application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and spray water appropriately; spray with 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 800-fold solution in the early stage of the disease. (3) Stem borer, which damages the growing point of young shoots of Amomum villosum, causing dead hearts. Control methods: upon finding damaged young shoots, cut them off immediately and burn them in a centralized manner; during the adult egg-laying period, spray with 40% dimethoate 1000-fold solution or 90% trichlorfon 800-fold solution.