Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Technical Key Points for Arrowhead
Arrowhead, also known as swallowtail grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant with large-scale cultivation areas across both northern and southern China. Many friends mistake arrowhead for water chestnut. But this is not the case, because water chestnut has a black, flat appearance, while arrowhead has a white, oval appearance - they look completely different. It is only because in many local dialects that water chestnut is called "arrowhead." Arrowhead has effects such as detoxification, diuresis, and strengthening and nourishing the body. Today, the editor brings you the planting methods for arrowhead. Let's take a look below!
1. Selecting Good Seed
Around the Beginning of Spring in March each year, you should select mature corms with strong growth, good appearance, appropriate size, no deformities or pests and diseases, and relatively thick terminal buds as seeds. Then insert the selected seeds directly into a previously prepared seedbed for cultivation and breeding, generally inserting them at a spacing of 10*10cm. After inserting, cover the seedlings with plastic film and keep the water level in the seedbed at 2-4cm. After about half a month, they will begin to sprout, and after one month, seedlings will grow.
2. Temporary Planting of Seedlings
Temporary planting of arrowhead generally takes place after the seedlings have emerged, that is, after mid-April, when the surrounding temperature has stabilized at around 15 degrees, temporary planting can begin. The temporary planting site should be selected in a paddy field that is sheltered from the wind, faces the sun, has sufficient fertilizer and water, and has no previous crop diseases. The distance between each plant should be maintained at about 0.5 m, with a row spacing of about 0.7 m. Build field ridges around the paddy field to ensure sufficient water in the field, allowing the seedlings to continuously send out stolons. When these stolons are underground, their terminal buds will develop into many tillers. Only when these tillers have grown into standard seedlings can they be transplanted into the main field. During temporary planting, pay attention to frequent weeding, remove useless leaves, and apply farmyard manure at least twice.
3. Fine Field Preparation
The main field planting site should be selected as a paddy field with sufficient and clean water sources, convenient drainage and irrigation, and fertile, deep soil. Crop rotation should be practiced. Before planting, apply about 1000 kg of farmyard manure per mu in the main field as base fertilizer. The growing seedlings of arrowhead should be sturdy, at least about 25cm tall. Keep about three central leaves of the seedlings, and cut off old roots and old leaves that cannot grow or develop. Planting generally begins from early August to early September, with a distance of about 25cm between each plant and a row spacing of 60cm. Set up drainage and irrigation facilities in the main field, level the field surface, and plant shallowly in shallow water. Insert an additional 50 plants in the field as backup seedlings.
4. Field Management
Within three days after planting, pay attention to inspecting at all times. If any lodged seedlings are found, straighten them up. Diseased seedlings with poor growth and severe pests and diseases should also be removed in time, and then replacement seedlings should be taken from the backup seedlings. One month after planting, the seedlings can be appropriately subjected to short-term field drying, with the standard being that after field drying, your feet will not sink in. About half a month after planting, when the plants have grown several true leaves, carry out intertillage and weeding in the main field, remove excess weeds and unwanted seedlings in the field, pay attention to applying more nitrogen fertilizer, and appropriately combine it with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
The above is a brief introduction to the planting methods for arrowhead. Planting arrowhead is not very difficult, but it still requires careful attention. Without correct planting techniques and management methods, it is impossible to achieve the goal of high and abundant yields. During the planting process, everyone also needs to pay attention to preventing and controlling pests and diseases. The harm of pests and diseases to arrowhead can be devastating. If not dealt with in time, it will greatly reduce the yield or even result in total crop loss.