Detailed key points of chicory field management, do these well for higher yields
Chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, and it is also a plant that combines medicinal and edible uses, with its leaves usable as lettuce. Its roots are rich in aromatic substances such as inulin, and it is a main raw material for coffee, which helps promote human digestion. In addition, the above-ground parts and roots also have medicinal effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and strengthening the stomach and promoting urination. So how should field management be carried out when growing chicory? Let's take a look together below!
1. Water management
The usual sowing time for chicory happens to be summer. Summer has high temperatures and plenty of rain. Although chicory has relatively strong waterlogging resistance, drainage work still needs to be done well, otherwise it is also prone to adverse phenomena such as waterlogging damage and viral diseases. However, from emergence to the final thinning stage, chicory should be watered at least about five times. Then water reasonably according to chicory's growth conditions and weather and other factors. In the early stage, keep the soil alternating between dry and wet. In the later stage, control moisture to prevent excessive water from causing excessive vegetative growth. After entering the swelling stage, increase the amount and frequency of watering to promote the swelling of the fleshy root. About 7 days before harvest, stop watering to improve chicory's storage quality.
2. Thinning and final thinning
When chicory seedlings grow to about 3 and 5 true leaves, thin them once each time. When thinning, follow the principle of keeping the strong and removing the weak. Ensure each seedling has sufficient growth space, avoid seedlings growing too crowdedly, and promote seedling growth. During the final thinning, carry out the final thinning work, control the row and plant spacing well, and reasonably adjust planting density. After thinning and final thinning, do a good job of watering, and pay attention to intertillage and weeding. Improve soil quality, enhance permeability, promote seedling growth, and prevent weeds from robbing chicory seedlings of growth nutrients.
3. Reasonable topdressing
Chicory has a relatively large demand for nutrients, so when planting we also need to do a good job of topdressing. After final thinning, topdress once in time. First dig the topdressing trenches, then apply an appropriate amount of decomposed farmyard manure into each topdressing trench. The position of the topdressing trenches should be prevented from being too close to the chicory roots, to prevent the heat generated by the fertilizer from burning the roots and affecting chicory's growth. After each fertilization, water once, then carry out one intertillage, with the depth kept at about 8 cm. Then during the swelling stage, if the early topdressing was not much, then a heavy application is needed once, and then topdress reasonably according to chicory's growth conditions.
4. Pest and disease control
Chicory has relatively strong disease resistance, and the incidence of pests and diseases is also relatively low. However, when grown in greenhouses, it will still be threatened by certain pests and diseases, commonly including viral diseases, whiteflies, and so on. Therefore, we still need to do a good job of pest and disease control, strengthen field management, do well in basic work such as water and fertilizer, disinfect regularly, and reduce the base number of pests and disease pathogens in the greenhouse. Observe chicory's growth conditions frequently. When whitefly disease is found, trap and kill it in time, then use pesticides such as buprofezin for control. Be sure to carry out corresponding control according to the specific pests and diseases, and do not use pesticides blindly, to prevent phytotoxicity.
The above is a brief introduction to the key points of chicory field management. Chicory management is actually relatively extensive. However, it should not be overly neglected, because changes in natural factors such as environment and weather will cause certain harm to chicory's growth, so everyone must pay more attention. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for your reading and support.