How to Fertilize Sweet Potatoes? Master These Key Methods and Points
Sweet potatoes can be said to have saved many people's lives in the past, so for the older generation, they are not very keen on eating them now. However, many young people are very interested in sweet potatoes, and the various processed foods derived from sweet potatoes have a large market demand. Therefore, the planting area of sweet potatoes is now very extensive. So how should we fertilize them during cultivation? Below, the editor brings you the fertilization methods for sweet potatoes. Let's take a look!
1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer
Base fertilizer is the key fertilizer to ensure healthy growth of sweet potato seedlings and throughout the entire growth period. When applying base fertilizer, farmyard manure should be the main component, with compound fertilizer as a supplement. Generally, the application ratio of farmyard manure is about 70%, applying about 3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, combined with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer such as superphosphate. When applying base fertilizer, it is usually done together with land preparation, fully mixing it with the soil and incorporating it deep into the soil. Compound fertilizer is mainly applied in holes, so that sweet potato seedlings can absorb nutrients in time after surviving, improving the survival rate of seedlings.
2. Apply seedling-promoting fertilizer as a top dressing
Seedling-promoting fertilizer is mainly to meet the nutrients needed for seedling growth and enhance the growth capacity of seedlings. Seedling-promoting fertilizer is generally mainly nitrogen fertilizer, applied together with replanting work about 4 days after the seedlings are transplanted. When applying seedling-promoting fertilizer, pay attention to the fertilization position. It must not directly contact the seedling roots to prevent root burn and affect seedling growth. It should be applied in holes about 10 cm away from the seedlings. At the same time, also pay attention to controlling the amount to prevent excessive application from causing fertilizer damage. After fertilization, cover with a layer of fine soil, then water thoroughly to promote seedling growth.
3. Apply vine-strengthening fertilizer as a top dressing
After sweet potatoes enter the vine-strengthening stage, their growth speed accelerates, the nutrient demand of the underground part increases, and tubers gradually form. So during this period, we should increase the leaf area of the plants and enhance photosynthetic capacity. Apply vine-strengthening fertilizer about one month after the sweet potato seedlings are transplanted. Vine-strengthening fertilizer is generally mainly nitrogen fertilizer and potassium sulfate. Control the fertilizer amount according to soil fertility and seedling growth. If the base fertilizer is sufficient and the seedlings are growing well, apply less appropriately to prevent excessive nutrition, which can cause excessive vine growth of sweet potatoes; otherwise, apply more to meet nutritional needs. Then, while applying top dressing, also do a good job in watering, strengthen intertillage and weeding, improve soil permeability, and prevent weeds from competing for nutrients.
4. Apply vine-promoting fertilizer as a top dressing
Vine-promoting fertilizer is mainly to promote the growth of sweet potato vines, usually applied as a top dressing according to actual conditions about 3 months after planting. Vine-promoting fertilizer is mainly potassium fertilizer, which can effectively improve leaf growth capacity and promote the growth of sweet potato plant stems and leaves. Strengthen photosynthesis, increase the accumulation of photosynthetic substances in the plant, and provide sufficient nutrition for sweet potato tuber expansion. Likewise, also pay attention to controlling the amount to prevent excessive application from causing fertilizer damage. After top dressing, water once to advance the time for fertilizer efficiency to take effect.
The above is a brief introduction to sweet potato fertilization methods. The fertilization work for sweet potatoes is very important for their growth. Improper fertilization will seriously affect the growth of sweet potatoes and reduce yield. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.