What are the key technical points for taro field management?
Taro is an annual tuber plant, generally used as a delicious dish. Taro's nutritional value is no less than that of potatoes, and it is very easy to digest, without the risk of poisoning that potatoes have. However, taro cannot be eaten raw; it must be thoroughly cooked before consumption, otherwise physiological symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting will occur. Today, the editor will explain the field management techniques for taro cultivation. Let's take a look together below!
1. Timely topdressing
Taro has a high demand for fertilizer, and timely topdressing is a key measure to ensure the normal development of taro. The development of taro is determined by the nutrient absorption capacity of the root system. The root of taro is called the mother taro, and in the later stage the capacity of the mother taro becomes stronger and stronger, so the demand for nutrients also grows larger and larger. At this stage, taro's demand for nutrients is mainly potassium and phosphorus fertilizer. When applying fertilizer, we should pay attention to controlling the fertilizer concentration and spraying it reasonably and evenly. The roots must not come into direct contact with the fertilizer, to prevent root burn.
2. Reasonable watering
During the growth period, taro not only has a large demand for nutrients, but its water demand is equally important. During cultivation, watering work must be done well, especially in summer. Summer is when taro plants grow most vigorously, and during this period the soil must be kept in a moist environment. However, there should not be too much standing water, because too much will affect the permeability of the soil and is not conducive to root respiration. Therefore, drainage work should also be done well on rainy days, and during high temperature and drought, water and moisture should be properly retained to prevent water from evaporating too quickly.
3. Intertillage and weeding
Intertillage and earthing up are the most basic tasks when we cultivate taro. Every time we apply topdressing, we should earth up once together with the topdressing. Covering with soil immediately after fertilizing not only improves fertilizer retention, but also completes the work of intertillage and earthing up along the way. The purpose of intertillage and earthing up is to improve the aeration capacity of the soil mass and strengthen the nutrient absorption of the roots. Weeding is removing the weeds in the field, because weeds have a very strong ability to compete for nutrients, so failure to deal with them in time will lead to malnutrition of taro and may even cause the plants to wither and die. Herbicides can be used for weeding, but they should be used as little as possible, because they also have a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of taro.
4. Other aspects
When autumn gradually arrives, the temperature gradually decreases, and taro will gradually end its enlargement period and enter maturity. Some withered yellow leaves will also appear at the bottom of the plant. These withered yellow leaves cannot carry out photosynthesis and will also hinder the enlargement of taro. They are very unfavorable to its yield and growth, so we should cut off these withered yellow leaves in time, which can also reduce the incidence of disease. In addition, we should also control the number of daughter taros. Although daughter taros are the seeds of taro, if there are too many, their nutrient demand will also increase, which is extremely unfavorable to the yield of the mother taro.
The above is a brief introduction to taro field management techniques. In fact, there are still many aspects that require our attention. For example, timely harvesting, pest and disease control, etc., are all indispensable tasks. Timely harvesting is beneficial to the quality of taro. Harvesting too late will increase the chance of rotten fruit, while harvesting too early will cause problems such as incomplete enlargement and insufficient maturity. In previous articles on the website, there are articles specifically introducing taro pests and diseases. If you are interested, you can continue to learn more!