What are the key technical points for late-stage management of sweet potato cultivation?
How do you manage sweet potatoes in the late stage? Please advise. In late August, the growth of sweet potato stems and leaves slows down, the growth center gradually shifts from above ground to below ground, and the storage roots begin to rapidly expand. In terms of management, it is necessary to control excessive vine growth, coordinate the relationship between above-ground and below-ground growth, and strongly promote storage root expansion to achieve high yields. Irrigation and drainage: During this period...
How do you manage sweet potatoes in the late stage? Please advise.
In late August, the growth of sweet potato stems and leaves slows down, the growth center gradually shifts from above ground to below ground, and the storage roots begin to rapidly expand. In terms of management, it is necessary to control excessive vine growth, coordinate the relationship between above-ground and below-ground growth, and strongly promote storage root expansion to achieve high yields. Irrigation and drainage: This period coincides with the rainy season, so watering is generally not needed. However, if drought occurs, it will cause early senescence of stems and leaves, affect the formation and accumulation of carbohydrates, and reduce yield.
Therefore, supplemental watering must be done at the right time according to the development of the drought conditions. The watering method can use small furrow irrigation to relieve the drought. This achieves the regulation of fertilizer through water, promotes balanced growth of stems and leaves, expands the photosynthetic area, and increases photosynthetic products. It accelerates the speed of nutrient transport, which is beneficial to storage root expansion. If there is too much autumn rain and waterlogging occurs, drainage should be carried out promptly to prevent standing water in the field. After storage roots are soaked, not only does their water content increase and their storage life decrease, but because the water remains for a longer time, the storage roots will develop "hard core" rot, reducing quality.
Topdressing with "crack fertilizer": Sweet potato "crack fertilizer" is a fertilization method in which fertilizer is poured into the cracks along the ridge. Apply it in late August, around the time of End of Heat. On one hand, it can meet the nutrients needed for storage root expansion and promote storage root expansion. On the other hand, it can prevent early senescence of stems and leaves, enhance photosynthesis, and increase nutrient accumulation. According to experiments, after topdressing sweet potatoes with "crack fertilizer," yields can generally increase by about 30%. The amount of fertilizer applied can be determined according to the growth of the sweet potato vines. Fields showing a tendency toward early senescence should be topdressed more. If sufficient fertilizer was applied earlier and the sweet potato vines are growing vigorously, less can be applied. For general fields, 200 kg of decomposed human manure and urine mixed with 500 kg of water, or 5-7 kg of urea mixed with 500 kg of water, can be topdressed per mu. For the fertilization method, simply pour the prepared fertilizer solution along the cracks. Immediately after the fertilizer solution is poured in, cultivate soil by breaking up the soil in the furrows and banking it over the cracks on the ridge surface.
Foliar supplementation: In the late growth stage of sweet potatoes, a 1%-2% urea solution, or a 0.3%-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, or a 5%-10% wood ash extract can be sprayed after 5 p.m. Spray 60-80 kg per mu, once every 10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays, with a significant yield-increasing effect.
Click to get more sweet potato cultivation techniques
Click to get more vegetable cultivation techniques