How to manage sweet potatoes during the root-bulking stage to increase yield? Practical measures shared

The root-bulking stage of sweet potatoes is the key period for yield formation. It is now August, which is exactly the root-bulking stage of spring- and summer-planted sweet potatoes, and also the period of greatest fertilizer demand. The following methods can be used to strengthen management, and they have a clear yield-increasing effect, generally increasing yield by about 18-20% per 667 sq m, with significant economic benefits as well.

1. Spraying foliar fertilizer. For plots with severe premature aging, nitrogen fertilizer spraying should be the main approach; otherwise, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be reasonably combined. The amount applied can be determined according to the weather conditions at the time. Generally, when there has been a long clear spell without rain, the spraying amount can be smaller, and if rain occurs after spraying, it should be reapplied promptly. Each application uses 30-75 grams per mu, sprayed with 15 kg of water, once every 7-10 days.

2. Hole fertilization. Using a wooden peg, make a hole about 30 cm deep 20-30 cm away from the main root, put in an appropriate amount of three-element compound fertilizer, and seal it with moist soil. If one hole is made on each side of the ridge, the effect is even better.

3. Crack fertilization. When cracks appear in the ground as the sweet potatoes bulge, use 500 grams of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per 667 sq m, add 400 kg of water, or 2.5 kg of urea and 10 kg of superphosphate, add 500 kg of water, and prepare a fertilizer solution to pour into the cracks, 0.7-1 kg per plant. Half a month later, per 667 sq m use another 100 kg of plant ash added to 500 kg of water (soaked for 4 hours), and pour the filtered clear liquid into the cracks, then seal them tightly.

4. Irrigate in drought and drain in waterlogging. The sweet potato bulking stage often encounters autumn drought, and if watering is not done in time, yield will be affected. To ensure increased yield, 2-3 irrigations can be given during this period. If autumn waterlogging occurs, drainage should be carried out in time to avoid soil oxygen deficiency and prevent it from affecting root bulking.

5. Pinch off the tips and promote branching. When the sweet potato seedlings have survived, remove all the seedling tips, which can shorten the vines, increase branching, increase green leaves, and improve plant shape, thereby favoring tuber formation. Note: do not turn the vines, and even more do not "prune the branches and vines." For excessively vigorous growth, the vines can be arranged and lifted to cut off the fibrous roots and control excessive growth.

6. Spray paclobutrazol multiple times. For sweet potato fields with excessive vine growth, use 50-70 grams of 15% paclobutrazol per mu mixed with 50 kg of water and spray, generally spraying 2-3 times, for a better effect.