What causes the tops of summer eggplants to split open
Why do the tops of summer eggplants split open? Please explain the causes and the control methods. In summer cultivation, eggplants often develop a split at the top (the navel end), with the seeds exposed and the fruit no longer swelling. In severely affected plots, as many as 1/4 of the plants are affected, seriously reducing yield and market value. Splitting at the top of summer eggplants is mainly caused by a deficiency of...
Why do the tops of summer eggplants split open? Please explain the causes and the control methods
In summer cultivation, eggplants often develop a split at the top (the navel end), with the seeds exposed and the fruit no longer swelling. In severely affected plots, as many as 1/4 of the plants are affected, seriously reducing yield and market value.
Splitting at the top of summer eggplants is mainly caused by calcium deficiency, and the calcium deficiency is mainly caused by soil calcium deficiency, leaching by heavy rain, excessive nitrogen fertilizer, excessively high air humidity, and severe disease, among other reasons. Drought in the soil during the early stage of fruit development causes the rind to become lignified; then, when heavy rain or uneven watering occurs later, the interior of the fruit swells rapidly, and the rind cannot grow correspondingly and splits open. However, in most cases of splitting at the top of eggplants, the leading cause is a lack of calcium in the plant. The causes of calcium deficiency
and the control measures are as follows:
I. Causes of calcium deficiency
1. Lack of calcium fertilizer. Calcium deficiency in the soil, especially in continuously cropped plots where no attention is paid to applying calcium fertilizer, causes a lack of calcium. This phenomenon is more prominent in greenhouses and plastic tunnels.
2. Excessive nitrogen. Applying too much nitrogen fertilizer to the soil causes excessive accumulation of ammonium nitrogen, which inhibits the uptake of calcium.
3. Excess water. Watering too much or leaching by heavy rain washes away and loses the available calcium in the soil, causing calcium deficiency. It occurs severely in the rainy summer season.
4. Growth obstruction. That is, poor water circulation in the plant leads to an obstruction of growth. This phenomenon is divided into two cases: first, the soil is dry and the plant lacks a water supply, so calcium cannot be taken up and supplied; second, after heavy summer rain or watering, the air humidity is extremely high, which inhibits the transpiration of the plant, and the root system cannot normally absorb water and calcium, causing calcium deficiency.
5. Damage by pests and diseases. In the late growth stage, due to neglect in management, pests and diseases become severe, especially in plants affected by Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, root rot, root-knot nematode disease, and Phytophthora blight, as well as due to excessive fruiting and plant aging, the absorptive function of the root system is greatly reduced, causing calcium deficiency.
II. Measures to control splitting
1. Apply more calcium fertilizer. Take care to apply calcium fertilizers with a relatively high calcium content to the soil.
2. Water appropriately. Water promptly during drought, but do not water too much. Drain promptly on rainy days to prevent waterlogging and soaking.
3. Strengthen management. Besides doing a good job of pest and disease control, spray natural brassinosteroid - Shuofeng 481 solution twice every 20 days to promote root growth and development and improve absorption capacity.
4. Foliar fertilization. When air humidity is relatively high in the rainy season, carry out foliar topdressing once every 3 to 7 days with 0.3% ammonium calcium magnesium solution.
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