Methods and Key Technical Points for Growing Lotus Root in Dryland
How do you grow lotus root in dryland? If you have never tried growing lotus root in dryland, how should you grow it? Dryland lotus root cultivation is an emerging high-efficiency growing technique that frees lotus root cultivation from dependence on water, enabling aquatic lotus to be grown on dryland, and the suitable growing areas are constantly expanding. Because dryland lotus root growing can be done on either a large or small area, with simple management, low input, ...
How do you grow lotus root in dryland? If you have never tried growing lotus root in dryland, how should you grow it?Dryland lotus root cultivation is an emerging high-efficiency growing technique that frees lotus root cultivation from dependence on water, enabling aquatic lotus to be grown on dryland, and the suitable growing areas are constantly expanding. Because dryland lotus root growing can be done on either a large or small area, with simple management, low input, quick results and benefits every year, the yield of lotus root can generally reach 5000 kg per mu. Therefore, Zhongdiwang has compiled the methods for dryland lotus root cultivation, and the steps are listed in detail below for netizens to refer to.
Step 1: Site selection for growing lotus root in dryland:
Choose a plot close to a water source, with deep soil and good drainage conditions. First dig out the soil manually or with a bulldozer to a depth of about 60 cm, then pour the bottom foundation of the pond using a mixture of lime, cement and sand, which must be flat and firm. Build the pond walls with bricks or hollow bricks; the pond depth is about 80 cm, of which 50 cm is below ground level and 30 cm is above ground level. Leave a water inlet hole at the end near the water source, and a drainage hole at the other end, about 50 cm from the pond bottom. The entire pond should be smoothed with cement to ensure it does not leak water or fertilizer.
Step 2: Treatment of the lotus root growing site:
Choose a clay loam that can retain water and is rich in humus, crush and sieve it, mix it evenly with fully decomposed organic fertilizer, backfill it into the pond and level it off; the soil layer depth is 30 cm, using 5000 kg of fertilizer per mu.
Step 3: Selecting and arranging lotus root:
Select whole lotus roots with attached daughter roots as planting material, which is beneficial for the new plant to sprout, using about 400-500 kg of seed per mu.
Start arranging the lotus root around May 1, using either the water-planting or dry-planting method. Water-planting means filling with soil and then adding water, with the water level submerging the soil layer by 3-5 cm, then planting at a row spacing of 1.0-1.2 cm, with the rear node tilted up slightly; to increase yield, the front and rear lotus root seeds should be arranged closely together. Dry-planting means filling with soil first, then opening furrows without adding water, with a furrow depth of 10-12 cm, arranging the lotus root seeds, and then adding water.
Step 4: Management of the lotus root pond:
1. Water level regulation: Within about 10 days after arranging the lotus root, keep a shallow water level to raise the pond temperature and promote sprouting. After floating leaves appear, keep the water level at about 25 cm. Keep the water level constant throughout the entire growing period of the lotus root; in summer there is more rain, so pay attention to drainage.
2. Adjustment of the lotus root plants: About one month after planting, remove the floating leaves to reduce nutrient consumption and allow sunlight to penetrate the water to raise the ground temperature; when removing flowers, generally bend the flower stalk rather than breaking it, so as to prevent rainwater from entering and causing rot.
3. Topdressing of lotus root: On the premise of applying sufficient base fertilizer, generally topdress twice. When the lotus root has 6-7 leaves and enters vigorous growth, apply 1000-1500 kg of decomposed manure and 25 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer per mu; when the lotus root is forming, apply fertilizer to promote lotus root formation, with 1500-2000 kg of manure and 15-20 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu. Choose a sunny, windless day for fertilizing, and lower the water level to facilitate the fertilizer penetrating into the soil; after topdressing, rinse the lotus leaves, then set the water level.
4. Pest and disease control of lotus root: The main disease is rot disease, which mainly infects the underground stem, causing it to turn brown and rot, and leading to withering of the aboveground parts. You can use 500 times dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder, add 500 g of 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder, mix with 25-30 kg of fine soil, pile and seal for 3-4 hours, then spread into the shallow water layer. The main insect pests are aphids, cotton leafworms and others. You can use 1500 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsion or 1000 times dilution of 50% wettable aphid-killing powder to control aphids, and 1000-1500 times dilution of 90% trichlorfon to control cotton leafworms.
Step 5: Harvesting lotus root:
Generally, lotus root can begin to be dug around the Beginning of Autumn; stop adding water 15 days before digging the lotus root, and the harvest period lasts until Qingming of the following year. Harvest in batches according to market conditions for better returns.
Lotus root growing video
Complete collection of lotus root varieties