Detailed Explanation of the Key Points of Soilless Cultivation Techniques for Yellow Chives
By keeping the chive roots under suitable temperature, humidity and dark conditions, and in the absence of chlorophyll formation, plump and tender chive plants that are delicious, good in flavor, pale yellow in color and extremely low in fiber are produced, namely yellow chives. Adopting factory-based soilless cultivation of yellow chives can save space, reduce pests and diseases, and improve production efficiency. Let us take a look at the soilless cultivation techniques for yellow chives together!
Cultivation Facilities
1. The sites for factory-based production of softened vegetables such as yellow chives are generally solar greenhouses, plastic tunnels, large warehouses, etc., but no matter what facility is used, the outer layer must be covered with a light-blocking covering. Solar greenhouses and plastic tunnels use black plastic film on the outside, with light-blocking non-woven fabric added inside for coverage. The doors and windows of warehouses and buildings are all shielded from light with light-blocking door curtains, and production is carried out under lightless conditions.
2. The cultivation environment requires certain temperature conditions. For year-round production, heating facilities such as warm-air furnaces, radiators and electric heating should be installed in the facility in winter. In summer, electric ventilation devices should be used to force cooling so as to maintain suitable temperature conditions. Automatic sprinkler irrigation facilities should be installed to regularly supply the water needed for growth and development. In order to make full use of space, cultivation racks are built inside the facility.
3. The cultivation racks are welded from angle steel, 1.5-2 m high, 50-60 cm wide and 1-1.5 m long, divided into 4-5 layers, with each layer 40-50 cm high. The cultivation racks are placed in rows inside the facility, with walking aisles left between the racks. On the cultivation racks, 4-5 layers of cultivation boxes are placed.
4. The cultivation boxes are open-topped boxes made of plastic, 20-25 cm high, 40 cm wide and 50-60 cm long. There are holes in the bottom of the box for drainage. Inside the cultivation box, 10-15 cm thick lightweight substrates such as peat, vermiculite or perlite are placed.
Root Stock Cultivation
1. Root stock: The root stock is cultivated in the open field. Generally, robust 2-year-old root stock is selected, and only 1-2 cuts of green chives are harvested in the open field, so that the root stock accumulates more nutrients, which is conducive to increasing the yield of yellow chives.
2. Fertilization: Before harvesting the green chives, apply one heavy application of decomposed human manure and urine, and add a small amount of urea as base fertilizer to enrich the root stock.
3. Planting: The chive root stock is planted in cultivation boxes, and the cultivation boxes are filled with substrate. After planting, water them, and place the cultivation boxes on the cultivation racks.
4. Watering: After the chive roots are planted, shade them immediately inside the facility, and maintain the temperature at about 20°C during the day and about 15°C at night. Water once every 2-5 days to keep the substrate moist.
5. Nutrition: After the chive roots sprout, apply nutrient solution once every 10-15 days. The nutrient solution is 0.2-0.3% multi-element compound fertilizer solution or 0.3% urea solution.
6. Harvest: After the chive roots are planted, they can be harvested successively and brought to market after 20-30 days. Yellow chives are generally harvested by cutting.
Pest and Disease Control
1. Gray mold: Gray mold mainly damages the leaves. When a small number of diseased plants are found, spray with 50% procymidone or 50% iprodione 1000-fold solution, or use 50% carbendazim wettable powder 500-fold solution for control.
2. Phytophthora blight: Phytophthora blight can damage roots, stems and leaves, and the higher the humidity, the more severe the disease. If found, spray with 50% dimethomorph copper 600-fold solution or 64% oxadixyl mancozeb 400-fold solution, once every 7-8 days, and 2-3 sprays are best.
3. Verticillium wilt: Verticillium wilt can damage the leaves, causing them to yellow, droop and gradually die. When the disease occurs, spray with 50% carbendazim 500-fold solution or 70% mancozeb 500-fold solution.
4. Chive maggots: To control chive maggots, use ground spraying, that is, during the peak adult emergence period, broadcast 2.5% trichlorfon powder along the rows, applying 2-2.6 kg per mu, or spray 40% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 1000-fold solution from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
5. Leafminers: To control leafminers, from the peak egg-laying period to the early larval hatching stage, spray 75% cyromazine 5000-7000-fold solution, or 2.5% deltamethrin, 20% fenvalerate or other pyrethroid pesticides 1500-2000-fold solution.
6. Thrips: To control thrips, during the peak larval occurrence period, spray 50% phoxim 1000-fold solution, or 10% imidacloprid 4000-fold solution, or 3% acetamiprid 3000-fold solution, or 2.5% deltamethrin and other pyrethroid pesticides 1500-2500-fold solution.