Smart Fertilization for High-Yield Lotus Root: Mastering the Method Is Key
I. Fine Land Preparation and Sufficient Base Fertilizer. Lotus root grows in mud, and it requires soil rich in humus, soft, smooth and loose, with good aeration, which is most favorable for the growth of lotus root and makes it easy to obtain high quality and high yield. Therefore, before planting lotus root, the soil should be deep-plowed, finely prepared, and given sufficient base fertilizer. Generally, at the end of winter when the soil thaws...
The growth and development of lotus root is divided into 3 periods, namely the sprouting period, the vigorous growth period and the lotus root formation period. The sprouting period runs from plant sprouting to the appearance of standing leaves. After the standing leaves appear, the lotus root grows new roots and mainly relies on the nutrients stored in the lotus root; the vigorous growth period runs from the standing leaves to the beginning of lotus root formation, when nutrient demand is large, and it is the key period for topdressing; the lotus root formation period runs from lotus root formation to harvest, when the lotus root and lotus seeds develop simultaneously, nutrient absorption decreases, and most of the nutrients in the stems and leaves are transferred to the lotus root and lotus seeds. Therefore, fertilizer should be applied 3 times in total. Before planting lotus root, work the base fertilizer into the field, generally applying 2000-3000 kg of thoroughly decomposed high-quality farmyard manure and 40-50 kg of general-purpose compound fertilizer per mu. There are 2 topdressings. The first is the standing-leaf fertilizer; when 3-5 standing leaves appear in the field, apply 25-30 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus compound fertilizer per mu; the 2nd is when standing leaves cover the whole field, apply 30-35 kg of nitrogen-potassium compound fertilizer per mu. In addition, fertilization differs between shallow-water lotus root fields and deep-water lotus root fields. Shallow-water fields can be given both compound fertilizer and single-element chemical fertilizer. Drain the water before application, apply fertilizer in shallow water, and restore the water layer two days after application. For deep-water fields, it is better to apply compound fertilizer mixed with soil, which can prevent the fertilizer from floating.