Key Fertilization Techniques and Scientific Top-Dressing Methods for Chinese Kale
Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is a biennial or annual herbaceous plant of the genus Brassica in the cruciferous family, with a long history of cultivation. It has the effects of promoting diuresis and resolving phlegm, detoxifying and dispelling wind, relieving fatigue, and calming the heart and improving eyesight. When growing Chinese kale, mastering its fertilization techniques is crucial, so how should Chinese kale be fertilized? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction together.
1. Fertilization Principles
Chinese kale is eaten fresh for its vegetative organs, so in order to increase yield, fertilization must be based mainly on base fertilizer, with top-dressing as a supplement. Generally, top-dressing begins after transplanting. When top-dressing, the principle of light application in the early and late stages and heavy application in the middle stage should be adopted. During the seedling growth period, water and top-dress to promote vegetative growth, increase leaf area, and lay the foundation for the flower stalks.
2. Apply Sufficient Base Fertilizer
Base fertilizer should be applied according to the soil fertility status and expected yield. For plots with medium fertility and a current yield of 1500-2000 kg, apply 2500-3000 kg per mu of farmyard manure and 15-21 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer as base fertilizer. Note that farmyard manure must be thoroughly decomposed to avoid plant death. Apply less on soil with good fertility, and more on poor, infertile plots, to ensure the nutrient requirements of Chinese kale throughout the entire growth period.
3. Timely Top-Dressing
Chinese kale should be top-dressed promptly and multiple times throughout the entire growth period, from the seedling stage until harvest. During the seedling stage, adopt the method of frequent light application, generally top-dressing once a week, mainly with diluted manure water. After transplanting, in order to ensure the yield and quality of the main stalk, apply heavy fertilizer to promote stalk development, generally applying 10 kg of urea and 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu every 7-10 days. To avoid fertilizer burn damaging the roots, use the method of drenching. After harvesting the main stalk, top-dress promptly to promote the development of side stalks, with the same method and amount as the stalk-promoting fertilizer.
4. Precautions
Chinese kale has a large leaf area and high transpiration, but its root system is relatively shallow, so in order to increase yield, supplying sufficient nitrogen fertilizer is extremely important. During the rapid growth period of Chinese kale, if nitrogen fertilizer is insufficient, it will have a huge impact on its yield and quality. According to practice, providing sufficient nitrogen fertilizer during the growth period of Chinese kale is the key to its high yield. With insufficient nitrogen fertilizer, plants are short, leaves are small, and basal leaves tend to turn yellow and fall off; however, if nitrogen fertilizer is excessive, it is prone to disease infestation.
The above is an introduction to the fertilization techniques for Chinese kale. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.