Detailed Explanation of Autumn Buckwheat Cultivation Techniques and Management Key Points
1. Timely sowing. Buckwheat prefers a cool environment and is afraid of frost; sowing too early or too late will seriously affect yield. In the riverside and southern areas of our province, the suitable sowing period is around mid-August, while in the Huai River area, early to mid-August is appropriate. 2. Select good varieties. It is advisable to choose buckwheat varieties with a growth period of 70-80 days and strong stress resistance, such as Tianqiao No. 1, Tianqiao No. 2, Xiaohonghua Tartary Buckwheat, etc.
1. Timely sowing. Buckwheat prefers a cool environment and is afraid of frost; sowing too early or too late will seriously affect yield. In the riverside and southern areas of our province, the suitable sowing period is around mid-August, while in the Huai River area, early to mid-August is appropriate.
II. Select good varieties. It is advisable to choose buckwheat varieties with a growth period of 70-80 days and strong stress resistance, such as Tianqiao No. 1, Tianqiao No. 2, Xiaohonghua Tartary Buckwheat, etc. It is best to use new seeds harvested in the current year.
III. Seed treatment. Before sowing, sun the seeds for 2-3 days, then use the warm water soaking method for seed selection, that is, soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 10-15 minutes, remove the floating shriveled grains, scoop out the plump grains that sink to the bottom and dry them. In areas with severe pests and diseases, seed dressing with chemicals can be carried out. In order to shorten the time from sowing to emergence, after warm water soaking, the seeds can be kept covered for 1-2 days, and sown immediately when the seeds begin to germinate.
IV. Fine land preparation. Buckwheat seedlings have poor soil-emergence ability and weak root development, and have high requirements for land preparation, so tillage and land preparation should be done as well as possible.
V. Increase fertilizer application. Buckwheat is tolerant of barren soil, but proper application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can significantly increase yield. Fertilizer can be applied as seed fertilizer; generally, at sowing, apply 3-5 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu, and add an appropriate amount of high-quality organic fertilizer. When applying, be careful to keep chemical fertilizer separate from the seeds to prevent seedling burn.
VI. Sowing methods. There are mainly three types: broadcast sowing, dibbling, and drilling. Broadcast sowing can be further divided into two types: plowing first and then scattering seeds, and scattering seeds first and then plowing. Dibbling generally involves 5000-6000 holes per mu, with 10-15 seeds per hole. The sowing depth is generally 3-4 cm; the seeding rate for drilling is generally 2.5-3 kg per mu, and about 5 kg per mu for broadcast sowing.
VII. Strengthen field management. First, remove waterlogging and prevent drought. Ditches should be opened for drainage during sowing to prevent waterlogging and seedling death. If drought occurs during the emergence period, timely furrow irrigation should be used to moisten the soil, or diluted manure water can be sprinkled in the morning and evening before emergence. Second, timely intertillage and weeding. If rain occurs after sowing, the soil crust should be broken in time. Also, intertill and weed 2 times when the seedlings are 6-8 cm tall and before flowering. Third, supplement fertilizer to prevent decline. From flowering to seed-setting stage, use 0.5 kg urea and 200 g potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu, dilute with 60 kg water, and spray 1-2 times. Fourth, assist pollination. The natural pollination seed-setting rate of buckwheat is low, so artificial pollination should be carried out during the flowering period. Bees can be released for pollination, or from 8-10 a.m., a rope or thin bamboo pole can be used to gently drag back and forth over the upper layer of the plants for 2-3 times (with an interval of 3-5 days). Fifth, prevent and control pests, diseases, and rodents, and pay attention to using low-toxicity pesticides.
VIII. Timely harvest. Before Frost's Descent, when 707 of the grains on the whole plant are dark brown, harvest promptly in the early morning and evening, and tie them into bundles or handfuls, placing them upright indoors so that the buckwheat can fully after-ripen.