Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Pollution-Free High-Yield Cultivation of Parsley

Parsley is a type of celery, also known as "Dutch parsley," "European parsley," "foreign coriander," etc. It is a 1- or 2-year herbaceous plant in the genus Petroselinum of the family Apiaceae. It is famous for containing aromatic volatile oils. Parsley is emerald green in color, attractive in shape, and rich in fragrance. Its edible parts are the tender leaves and tender stems, which are crisp and tender in texture and fragrant and refreshing in taste. They can be eaten raw or boiled with meat, and can also be used as a dry aromatic seasoning for dishes or as a flavoring for soups and other vegetable foods. It is rich in vitamins A and C, protein, and minerals, and is especially high in selenium, containing 3.89 mg per 100 grams. Regular consumption can enhance human immunity and prevent the occurrence of cancer. In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standards and the renewal of consumption concepts, parsley has also become one of the specialty vegetable varieties loved by ordinary consumers.

I. Variety Selection

Parsley varieties include four types: curly-leaf, flat-leaf, celery-leaf, and fern-leaf. At present, the curly-leaf type is the most popular.

1. No. 1 Celery: Introduced from Japan. It has strong growth vigor and a tall plant. It has high yield, wide petioles, thick leaf flesh, is not prone to aging, is bright green, has a good appearance, bolts late, has good disease resistance, and is easy to cultivate. Attention should be paid to keeping the soil moist regularly to avoid drought.

2. Kalulin: Introduced from Denmark. It has a short stem, curled dark green leaves, good quality, and strong cold resistance. It can be harvested about 90 days after sowing. After maturity, it remains green for a relatively long time and has a high content of essential oils and dry matter, making it suitable for fresh sales and quick freezing.

II. Cultivation Techniques

1. Cultivation season: Parsley can be cultivated in both spring and autumn. Spring is generally in late March, and autumn is in mid-to-late July. Direct sowing or seedling transplanting can be used. If protected facilities are used, year-round cultivation can be achieved.

2. Sowing and seedling raising: Parsley seeds have a thick and hard seed coat and contain oil glands, making it difficult for them to absorb water. They germinate slowly and unevenly. Soak the seeds for 12-14 hours, then gently rub off the old seed coat, place them at 20°C for 4-6 days to promote germination, and sow after the seeds split. The seedbed should be selected in a cool plot with convenient drainage and irrigation, and deeply plowed and sun-dried. For the preparation of seedbed soil, select fertile garden soil and fully decomposed barnyard manure at a ratio of 4:6, sift them, and mix them thoroughly and evenly. Use carbendazim and thiram wettable powder to disinfect the seedbed soil (stacking for more than 10 days before use gives better results). Spread the seedbed soil into the seedbed to a thickness of 10 cm. Before sowing, water thoroughly first. After the water infiltrates, cover with a layer of seedbed soil, evenly broadcast the seeds on the bed surface, and then cover with 0.5 cm of seedbed soil. Each 667 sq m requires 75 grams of seed. For spring sowing, double-layer coverage with plastic film plus a small tunnel can be used, and the plastic film should be removed after emergence. For summer sowing, use shade netting or build a shade shed to lower temperature, preserve moisture, and prevent rain. When there are 5-6 true leaves, they can be transplanted into the field. If direct sowing cultivation is used, thinning should be carried out at the seedling stage.

3. Land preparation and planting: After the previous crop is harvested, the parsley planting land should be immediately deeply plowed and sun-dried. Ensure the soil is fertile and loose, and try to avoid continuous cropping. Because parsley is planted at high density and has a relatively long growth period, sufficient base fertilizer must be applied. Apply 5000 kg of decomposed high-quality organic fertilizer or 800 kg of active organic fertilizer per 667 sq m. After deep plowing and fine leveling, make ridges 1.2 m wide, with a plant spacing of 10 cm x 20 cm and a density of 18000 plants per 667 sq m.

4. Field management: After parsley is planted, water immediately with planting water. It survives in about 3 days and sprouts new leaves after 7 days. During the seedling recovery period, keep the soil moist and avoid drought. After seedling recovery, control watering, carry out 1-2 intertillings, combine with weeding, and suppress seedling growth for about 15-20 days to promote new root development, prevent excessive growth of outer leaves, and promote differentiation of the heart leaves. If the plants show fertilizer deficiency, apply 1 seedling-promoting fertilizer, applying 10 kg of ammonium sulfate per 667 sq m. After seedling suppression ends, the plant growth increases and enters the vigorous growth period. Thereafter, with watering, topdress once every 15-20 days, applying 15-20 kg of ammonium sulfate or 500 kg of decomposed human manure and urine per 667 sq m. At intervals of about 10 days, foliar spray 0.3% urea plus 0.3% monopotassium phosphate. Parsley is sensitive to boron, and boron deficiency can easily cause cracking at the base of the petioles. Therefore, foliar boron fertilizer should be applied 3-5 times throughout the entire growth period of parsley.

5. Timely harvest: Parsley can be harvested all at once or in stages. When the parsley plant reaches marketable characteristics, it can be harvested at the appropriate time. For staged harvesting, outer leaves 20-25 cm long can be broken off from the base, leaving the heart leaves so they continue to grow. This can extend the growth and harvest period of parsley, thereby increasing yield and economic benefits.

6. Pest and disease control: Because parsley itself has a special odor, it has relatively few pests and diseases. The main pest damage is caused by aphids, which can be controlled with 50% pirimicarb or pirimor wettable powder at 2000-2500 times dilution. The common disease is early blight, also called leaf spot disease. For control, 70% mancozeb or thiophanate-methyl at 400-600 times dilution, or 50% iprodione wettable powder, can be used.