A Detailed Guide to the Stubble-Cutting Regeneration Cultivation Technique for Eggplants

Many years of practice has proven that stubble-cutting regeneration cultivation of eggplant plants is an effective measure for increasing yields, lowering production costs, boosting economic returns, and regulating the peak and off seasons for eggplants. This technique is simple and easy to carry out, and its methods are as follows.

1. Timing of stubble cutting

In spring and autumn, eggplants fetch high prices but yields are low, while in midsummer they enter a period of high yields and low prices. Therefore, the height of summer when the dog days begin is the best time to cut back eggplant plants. In addition, eggplants have the characteristic that the fruits of the main-stem eggplant, the first eggplant, and the four-direction eggplant are large and plump, while the fruits on the upper part of the plant are small and thin and are not welcomed by the market. Through cutting back the plants for regeneration, the high-yield, low-price period is pushed back by exactly 30-40 days, and when the market is short of eggplants, the regenerated eggplants from cutting back are in exactly their high-yield, high-price period, so the high-yield, low-price period for eggplants is the best time for cutting back the plants.

2. Methods of cutting back the plants

There are two ways to cut back eggplant plants: low stubble cutting at 10 cm above the main stem above ground, and high stubble cutting above the first eggplant. In the early part of the high-yield, low-price period, low stubble cutting is generally used, which can push the fruiting period back by more than 40 days, and the eggplants produced are large, with high yields and good returns. High stubble cutting is used in the late part of the high-yield, low-price period, and can delay the fruiting period by more than a month. The fruits are smaller and the yields are also on the low side. Therefore, low stubble cutting is generally adopted. However, some vegetable growers, seeing the eggplant plants growing luxuriantly and yielding well, are reluctant to cut them back and often miss the proper time for cutting, so they have no choice but to use high stubble cutting.

For cutting back the plants, it is best to use fruit-tree pruning shears to cut a slanted stubble at the cutting point. After cutting, apply a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl solution to the cut to prevent infection of the wound by pathogens. It is best to wait until all cuts have been made and the wounds have dried, then apply lead paint, which can prevent water loss from the wounds and raise the survival rate. Five to six days after cutting, new shoots will emerge below the cut; select 2-3 strong new shoots to keep and promptly remove the rest. For high stubble cutting, keep only one shoot per branch and promptly remove excess shoots. After stubble cutting of eggplant plants, the sprouting rate is generally 80%-90%, and the number of plants retained per 667 sq m is best around 3,000. If the eggplant plants are too dense, the branches and leaves are luxuriant, and the light conditions are poor, which very easily causes physiological disorders in some fruits, such as hollow fruit and white blanched fruit, and pest and disease damage is severe, thereby reducing yield and returns.

3. Management after stubble cutting

Ten to fifteen days after stubble cutting, carry out one weeding and earthing up, and at the same time apply 10-15 kg each of urea and monopotassium phosphate per 667 sq m, and irrigate thoroughly once during drought. Thirty-five to forty days after cutting, the regenerated eggplants can be harvested and marketed. After the first harvest, irrigate and fertilize once more. At the same time, pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases. At this time the main pest is the tea yellow mite, which can be controlled with mite-killing agents or avermectin. There is also the 28-spotted ladybird, which can be controlled with trichlorfon. The main disease is verticillium wilt, which can be controlled by drenching the roots with a 500-600-fold dilution of 75% thiophanate-methyl. Use 50-75 g of solution per plant, and drench once more after 15 days, which gives very good control. During the fruiting period, spray with a 500-fold dilution of ethylicin, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays, which can very effectively control cotton rot.

Covering the cut-back eggplant plants with a cold frame for warmth before the first frost can extend the harvest period by 15-20 days and increase yield and returns.

Regeneration of eggplant plants by stubble cutting reduces the seedling-raising step, saving both seeds and labor and time, and is also favorable for crop rotation. Because the root system of mature eggplant plants is well developed, resistance to disease is enhanced, there is less disease, and the new shoots grow vigorously. As long as timely and scientific management is carried out, relatively good economic returns can be obtained.