How to grow water caltrop well? Detailed explanation of planting methods and technical key points

Water caltrop has an extremely high protein content. It is an aquatic herbaceous plant, mainly produced in the Yangtze River and Pearl River regions. Its effects and range of uses are relatively broad. It is most commonly used to clear heat and promote diuresis, as well as for some diseases such as gastrointestinal cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, and hemorrhoids. It can be used as medicine, eaten as a vegetable, and also eaten raw as a fruit. So how exactly should water caltrop be planted for better results? Let us learn about it together below.

1. Select superior varieties

There are currently quite a few water caltrop varieties on the market, so it is necessary to choose seeds from varieties that are high quality, high yielding, strongly resistant, and have good market demand. First, it is necessary to investigate the local climate, soil, market, and so on, and then choose a water caltrop variety suitable for local planting. This can not only improve the yield and quality of water caltrop, but also increase the economic benefits of water caltrop cultivation.

2. Soil selection

Water caltrop is an aquatic plant, so when choosing a planting site, it should be as close as possible to a water source. At the same time, water caltrop is a light-loving plant, so a sunny location should be chosen. It is best to plant it in ponds or lakes where the soil contains more organic matter and sufficient nutrients and which are convenient for irrigation and drainage, and the depth of mud in the water should be no less than 20 cm. When preparing the land, excess mud in the pond should be cleared out, weeds in the pond should be cleaned up thoroughly, and an appropriate amount of farmyard manure should be spread before disinfection. After disinfection is completed, sowing can begin.

3. Sow at the right time

To achieve high yield of water caltrop, it needs to be planted at a suitable time. Since there are currently several ways to plant water caltrop, we need to determine the planting time according to the specific planting model. Secondly, the climate and temperature of the planting site also need to be considered. The normal planting time for water caltrop is generally around early March each year, but if greenhouse technology is used for planting, it can be planted in December each year.

4. Reasonable dense planting

At present, the most commonly used propagation method for water caltrop is division propagation, which means selecting relatively robust rhizomes of water caltrop for planting. When planting, the distance should be about 1.5 to 2 m between rows and about 1 m between plants, because its branching ability is extremely strong and it will soon grow densely. About one week after planting, the growth of water caltrop in the field needs to be checked. If missing plants are found, timely replanting is needed to ensure a full stand of seedlings in the field.

5. Field management

The most important part of field management is actually regulating the water level and managing water quality, followed by fertilization and weeding. After water caltrop is established, the water level in the field is best controlled at about 25 cm, and then as the water caltrop grows, the water level should be gradually raised, but the maximum water depth in the field must not exceed 2 m. Secondly, we also need to change the water regularly during normal times; otherwise, many unnecessary diseases may occur. Then, when water caltrop is rooting, we can apply an appropriate amount of urea or manure water according to its growth condition. When water caltrop blooms and sets fruit, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer should be applied as topdressing. As for weeding water caltrop, it is best to remove the weeds before it grows, because once water caltrop has grown, weeding becomes difficult.

6. Pest and disease control

The most common pests and diseases of water caltrop are southern blight and leaf beetles. There are many causes of southern blight, such as excessive weeds, one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer, and water level being too low or too deep, all of which may trigger southern blight. We can use carbendazim for control, while applying an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer, promptly weeding, and scientifically controlling the water level. As for leaf beetles, they mainly damage the water caltrop rosettes, thereby affecting the fruiting quantity of water caltrop. Dimethoate emulsion can usually be used for control.