Key Technical Points for Spring Field Management of Garlic

Water and fertilizer management after garlic turns green again is the key to a bumper garlic harvest. As the weather warms up, water and fertilizer uptake gradually increases after greening. Especially during the bolt-bearing stage and the bulb enlargement stage, garlic has its peak demand for water and fertilizer. Therefore, throughout the entire growth period of garlic, irrigation and topdressing should be carried out in a timely manner according to soil moisture, soil fertility and seedling conditions, with particular emphasis on watering the "three waters" well and applying the "three fertilizers" well.

1. Water the greening water well and apply the greening fertilizer well. By the Spring Equinox, garlic seedlings begin to turn green and grow. Because early spring soil temperatures are low, it is best to water the greening water at noon to promote early seedling growth. Along with irrigation, apply 15-25 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per mu, or topdress 15 kg of potassium sulfate, then control water appropriately to promote root development and the differentiation of garlic bolts and bulbs.

2. Water the bolt-promoting water sufficiently and apply the bolt-promoting fertilizer heavily. Late March to early April is the period when flower buds and clove buds differentiate rapidly, and garlic gradually enters the stage where bolts and bulbs grow simultaneously. Leaf area reaches its maximum, and garlic bolts grow rapidly. Fertilizer and water management at this stage directly affects the yield of garlic bolts and bulbs. Water demand then increases, so irrigation must be timely to meet growth needs. Therefore, along with irrigation, apply 25 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, and after 15 days apply another 25 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per mu, or 15 kg each of urea and nitrophosphate-potassium compound fertilizer. Generally, water once every 7-10 days. During the bolt-extraction stage of garlic, water once every 5-7 days, apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer with every second irrigation, and supplement sulfur through foliar fertilizer sprays, as garlic also has a relatively high demand for sulfur.

3. Water the bulb-enlarging water sufficiently and apply the bulb-enlarging fertilizer skillfully. After bolt harvesting comes the peak bulb enlargement stage; protect the leaves and roots during bolt harvesting. At this time, the focus is on bulb enlargement and weight gain. After bolt harvesting, irrigate promptly to prevent early leaf senescence in garlic, extend the green leaf period, and promote the transfer of nutrients to the bulbs, with the main goal of increasing dry matter accumulation. Therefore, this topdressing should focus on quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium, applying 15-20 kg of urea or potassium sulfate compound fertilizer per mu. Keep the soil moist to meet garlic's later water needs, and stop watering about one week before harvest.