Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation Techniques for Dodder
Dodder, also known as Chanzhen and bean parasite, is a relatively common plant. Wild dodder is often found on plains, wastelands, roadsides, and in fields of crops such as legumes and alliums. It has extremely strong vitality; once its young shoot twines around the host plant, it grows vigorously. Now let's take a look at its cultivation techniques together with the editor.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Dodder does not have high requirements for soil, but it is best to choose loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam for planting, as this helps the seeds germinate and emerge and allows rapid growth. Before planting or after the previous crop is harvested, plow the plot in time and apply base fertilizer. Before sowing, shallow plow once more, harrow finely and level, and make high beds. Before sowing, irrigate to moisten the bed surface. After the water seeps in, when the soil moisture is suitable, sow crops such as soybean as host plants, and then sow dodder.
2. Seed treatment
In late October, when the capsules are about to mature but have not yet split open, harvest the fruits in time. After drying and threshing, put the seeds into cloth bags and hang them outdoors, but avoid wind and rain. They can also be placed in a refrigerator for cold storage. This is because dodder is a low-temperature plant, so the seeds must go through the low-temperature environment of winter before they can germinate normally the following year.
3. Sowing
The sowing time is generally in June. First sow the host plants such as soybean, then sow dodder. On the bed surface, open furrows at a row spacing of 30 cm and sow soybean. After the soybean emerges, carry out cultivation management well to ensure full emergence. When the soybean grows to 20-25 cm, dodder can be sown. Do not sow too early, so as to avoid causing dodder to wither and die. When sowing, sow beside the soybean root system, as close as possible. Open a furrow beside the soybean plants, mix dodder seeds with fine sand, scatter them into the furrow, and then cover with a layer of fertilized soil. After sowing, water several times to keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about a week.
4. Field management
After the soybean emerges, carry out intertillage and weeding in time. Shallow cultivation is preferable to avoid damaging the root system. During the growth period, hoe whenever weeds appear. After dodder emerges and its slender stems begin to twine around the soybean plants, the number and frequency of weeding can be reduced, or weeding can be stopped. This is also because dodder itself is a kind of weed and has strong vitality, so where it exists, there are rarely weeds, and no herbicide is needed.
The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques for dodder. We hope it can help you. To learn more about cultivation techniques, please stay tuned to us.