Detailed Explanation of the Cultivation Techniques and Management Key Points of the Tung Tree
The tung tree is a deciduous tree of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is a plant with a very large tree form, reaching a maximum height of 10 m. The tung tree is a very important industrial oil crop in China, and China is also a major exporter of tung oil. In addition, the fruit peel of the tung tree can be used to extract potassium carbonate to make activated carbon and so on, making it a crop with relatively high economic value. So how should the tung tree be cultivated? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques for the tung tree. Let's take a look!
1. Site selection and land preparation
First, we should choose sandy soil with deep, loose and fertile soil, normal drainage and irrigation, and rich organic matter for planting. Then carry out land preparation on the soil. According to the terrain of the planting site, choose the correct land preparation method. For example, if you choose to plant on a plot with a slope of less than 25 degrees, then you should open up the land along the contour lines of the hillside while controlling the width well, and retain a water ditch every 4 units to facilitate later water management. Then control the planting density well, dig the planting ditches, and pay attention to the width and depth, so as to complete the preparatory work before planting.
2. Timely seedling raising
The main seedling raising method for the tung tree is field seedling raising. The field terrain should not be too high, and sowing should be appropriately dense. After collecting the seeds, choose good soil, prepare the seedling bed properly, then level the bottom of the seedling bed. After leveling, sow a dense layer to prevent overlapping. After sowing, cover with about 12 cm of fine soil so that the seedling bed is higher than the paths on both sides. Grass material may be appropriately covered to improve the soil's heat and moisture retention and prevent field mice and the like. Also dig drainage ditches well to prevent water accumulation in the field. In early spring of the second year, select seeds that have already sprouted to begin afforestation. Those that have not sprouted should continue to be sprouted. Take them out again after about a week, and continue this for about three weeks. After three weeks, seeds that have not sprouted can be discarded.
3. Lifting seedlings and transplanting
When lifting and transplanting tung tree seedlings, be careful not to damage the seedling roots. Especially in field seedling raising, the time for lifting seedlings should be chosen after rain, when the soil is relatively moist. If the soil is relatively dry, then about three days before lifting the tung tree seedlings, water thoroughly to make the soil moist. Ensure that the seedling roots will not suffer fatal damage when the seedlings are lifted. If the planting site is relatively close, then we should try to use the method of transplanting with soil. If the distance is relatively far, then the roots should be moistened with mud slurry to prevent the roots from drying out during transplanting and causing death.
4. Tending and management
If we want to grow high-yielding tung trees, then we must ensure that the tree structure of the tung tree is reasonable. Within 4 years after planting, loosening the soil and weeding should be carried out at least twice a year. The depth of soil loosening must not be less than 15 cm. The removed weeds can be placed around the tree to improve the soil's water and fertilizer retention. In addition, each time the soil is loosened, one topdressing should be applied to ensure sufficient nutrients to promote the growth of young trees and cultivate the tree shape. Because the tree form is relatively small in the early stage, appropriate intercropping can be carried out during the young tree stage to improve soil utilization. Intercropping crops should choose low-stalk crops such as peanuts and broad beans, but continuous cropping should not be carried out, and they should not be placed close to the trunk, so as to prevent affecting the growth of the tung tree.
The above is a brief introduction to tung tree cultivation techniques. The growth period of the tung tree is very long, so the time to profit will also be relatively long. During planting, management must be strengthened, and pest and disease prevention and control work must also be done well. If you want to know what specific pests and diseases the tung tree has, you can visit our website to read related articles! That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.