Detailed Guide to Mustard Tuber Cultivation Techniques, the Whole Process from Sowing to Harvest
Mustard tuber belongs to the category of shepherd's purse and is a kind of semi-dry fermented amaranth. It is generally used to make pickles and is one of China's famous specialty products and one of the world's three great famous pickles. In China, Fuling mustard tuber is especially famous. It is rich in protein, carotene and other nutrients, and has effects such as strengthening the spleen and opening the appetite and relieving dizziness. What everyone usually eats is processed mustard tuber, but what follows below is the cultivation techniques for mustard tuber before processing.
1. Timely Sowing
The sowing time of mustard tuber is very critical and is an important factor in whether a high yield can ultimately be obtained. In China, mustard tuber is mainly sown in autumn, generally starting around October, with the specific time depending on weather conditions and the growing environment. Sometimes even a three-day difference in sowing time can cause a large difference in yield. The timing of sowing affects the quality and yield of mustard tuber. If sowing is too early, it may lead to severe viral disease and may also cause premature bolting. If sowing is too late, it will cause the tuber of the mustard tuber to become smaller and reduce yield.
2. Raising Seedlings and Transplanting
Raising good mustard tuber seedlings is also a key factor for high yield and high quality in the later stage. Before sowing, the seeds should first be washed and soaked. Generally, 50 grams of seeds are mixed evenly with 10 kilograms of mud ash, then broadcast, and the mustard tuber seeds are covered with burnt mud ash, and finally covered with straw to retain moisture. After the seeds sprout, the straw can be removed and transplanting can begin. After transplanting, when the seedlings have produced their first leaf, thinning can be carried out. During thinning, care should be taken to pull out the variant seedlings that grow fast and have large leaves. At the second and third leaves, carry out a second thinning, removing poorly developed weak seedlings and diseased seedlings, maintaining a reasonable density and ensuring normal growth.
3. Reasonable Fertilization
Mustard tuber has a relatively large fertilizer requirement during its growth process and also has relatively high requirements for base fertilizer. The amount of base fertilizer should be determined according to the planting area. Generally, the base fertilizer for one mu is about 4000 jin, and pig pen manure is best for the base fertilizer. During the growth period, topdressing should also be carried out in stages. Thirty days after transplanting, carry out the first topdressing, using fully decomposed farmyard manure. Then, before winter begins, carry out the second topdressing, which can also use farmyard manure. After topdressing, cultivate and earth up the soil to prepare for winter. While keeping the soil moist, it must not alternate between dry and wet. The purpose is to prevent premature flowering due to fertilizer loss. Stop fertilizing one month before harvest to prevent excessive growth from causing hollow hearts.
4. Pest and Disease Control
The main pest and disease of mustard tuber is aphids, and aphids can also cause viral disease in mustard tuber. It occurs especially severely in dry weather, so in summer drought weather it must be controlled in time. Especially at the seedling stage and the early transplanting stage, these two stages are the key periods for controlling aphids. Use pesticides such as Yashiling and dimethoate for control, and great attention must be paid to this. After harvest, the soil should be immediately ploughed and disinfected, and the land exposed to the sun to kill bacteria and parasites in the soil, reducing pathogens and the incidence rate the following year. Continuous cropping may also be avoided.
The above is all about the cultivation techniques for mustard tuber. Mustard tuber is generally grown for processing, so if the mustard tuber is not grown well, it will affect the final processing quality of the mustard tuber and affect its commercial value and reputation. When planting, everyone must have a correct planting and management method, since it is closely related to their own interests. If pests and diseases are found, they must also be controlled in time. Do not take them lightly, because pests and diseases can cause a large reduction in mustard tuber yield or even a total loss of harvest.