High-Yield Autumn Cultivation Techniques for Broccoli and Fertilization Methods for Edible Fungi

Broccoli is rich in nutrients, containing protein, sugars, fats, vitamins and carotene. Its nutritional content ranks first among vegetables of the same category, and it is known as the "crown of vegetables." According to different cultivation seasons, it is divided into autumn-winter broccoli (sown in summer and autumn, harvested in winter and spring) and spring broccoli (sown in winter and spring, harvested in spring and summer). Below, Xiaoya introduces high-yield autumn cultivation techniques for broccoli. 1 Cultivation Season

In the Beijing area, open-field broccoli cultivation is divided into spring and autumn seasons. For spring cultivation, seedlings are raised in a solar greenhouse in mid-February, transplanted in early April, and harvested from late May to early June; for autumn cultivation, seedlings are raised in early to mid-July, transplanted in early to mid-August, and harvested in mid to late October.

2 Variety Selection

The climate characteristics of spring cultivation are low temperatures during the seedling stage and rapidly rising temperatures in the later growth stage; the climate characteristics of autumn cultivation are high temperatures during the seedling stage and increasingly lower temperatures in the later growth stage. Therefore, medium-to-early maturing varieties with strong adaptability, cold tolerance, relative heat tolerance, strong disease resistance, compact plant type and tight curds should be selected, such as Mandala, Youxiu, Green Ridge, etc.

3 Raising Strong Seedlings

3.1 Preparation of Nutrient Soil

Use 128-cell plastic plug trays for seedling raising. Mix peat and vermiculite at a volume ratio of 2:1 to prepare the seedling substrate. Add 20 kg of high-efficiency organic fertilizer per cubic meter of substrate and mix thoroughly. Control substrate moisture at 70%, following the principle that water just appears when squeezed firmly by hand. Domestic peat needs to be disinfected by spraying with 75% carbendazim wettable powder at 800 times dilution before use.

3.2 Filling Trays and Pressing Holes

When filling trays with substrate, ensure a clean environment, following the principle of filling level and evenly filling all around the tray. Remove excess substrate with a scraper. Stack every 10 trays in a staggered arrangement to press holes, with a hole depth of 1-1.5 cm.

3.3 Sowing

Sow 1 seed per cell, placing it in the center of the hole. After sowing, cover the tray with a mixture of vermiculite and perlite at a 1:1 ratio, carefully scraping off excess substrate. During the operation, press the substrate firmly so that the seeds make close contact with the substrate, and water thoroughly with clean water. To reduce water evaporation and maintain temperature, cover the tray with a layer of non-woven fabric or plastic film to ensure uniform and consistent seedling emergence.

3.4 Seedling Stage Management

3.4.1 Temperature Management

For spring seedling raising in solar greenhouses, focus on heat preservation. Broccoli greenhouse planting techniques such as adding small arched tunnels or laying heating wires can be used to raise the temperature; for summer seedling raising, focus on cooling. Shade nets or misting can be used to lower the temperature. From sowing to emergence, maintain the temperature at 25-30°C; after seedlings emerge completely, control daytime temperature at 20-25°C and nighttime at 12-15°C; harden seedlings 7 d before transplanting by lowering the temperature to around 20°C.

3.4.2 Humidity Management

From sowing to emergence, maintain humidity at 90%; after seedlings emerge completely, control humidity at 60%-75%.

3.4.3 Fertilizer and Water Management

Generally, 1 week after emergence, the cotyledons fully expand, and topdressing is carried out together with irrigation. Add 50 g of ternary compound fertilizer (15-15-15) and 15 g of borax per 100 L of water, control EC value at around 0.8, and apply once a week. The EC value gradually increases from 0.8 to 2.0 as the number of fertilizer applications increases.

3.4.4 Pest and Disease Control

Main seedling-stage diseases include damping-off and rhizoctonia rot. Excessive humidity easily triggers disease. Generally, apply 72.2% Previcur at 800 times dilution or 30% hymexazol at 1000 times dilution once a week for prevention.

4 Transplanting

4.1 Land Preparation and Fertilization

Broadcast 2000 kg of fully decomposed high-quality farmyard manure, 20 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 15 kg of potassium sulfate per 667 sq m. Use a rotary tiller to deep-plow 25 cm so that fertilizer and soil are fully mixed. Then form ridges with a height of 20 cm, wide row spacing of 90 cm, and narrow row spacing of 40 cm. For spring cultivation, to increase ground temperature, cover with black plastic film promptly after ridging.

4.2 Transplanting

Due to the variable spring climate in the Beijing area, the choice of weather at transplanting time is very important. Transplant when the minimum temperature is stably above 8°C, the minimum temperature of the 10 cm soil layer is greater than 10°C and lasts for more than 5 d, and the seedlings have 4 true leaves. Irrigate the ridges 3-4 d before transplanting. It is best to transplant on a sunny day just after a cold wave has passed. Before transplanting, spray the seedlings with 75% carbendazim at 800 times dilution and 0.3% borax solution. Transplant with a plant spacing of 40 cm, and be sure to water thoroughly after transplanting.

5 Field Management

Carry out the first intertillage and weeding 10 d after transplanting, and a second intertillage and weeding depending on soil conditions. Stop intertillage when the plants have grown and the leaves cover the ground. Carry out the first topdressing about 20 d after transplanting, applying 15 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per 667 sq m in holes, and water. To ensure curd quality, remove all side branches from the plants about 40 d after transplanting, leaving only 1 main stem. After curd formation, carry out the second topdressing together with irrigation, applying 15 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per 667 sq m to promote curd growth.

6 Pest and Disease Control

The main insect pests of broccoli include aphids, diamondback moths and cabbage caterpillars. Aphids can be controlled by spraying 80% imidacloprid water dispersible granules at 1000 times dilution or 3% acetamiprid emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution; diamondback moths and cabbage caterpillars can be controlled with 40% fenvalerate at 6000-7000 times dilution or BT powder with 10 billion viable spores/g at 500-1000 times dilution.

Main diseases include downy mildew, black rot, soft rot, etc. For bacterial black rot and soft rot, spray with 72% agricultural streptomycin sulfate soluble powder at 3000-4000 times dilution, or new streptomycin at 4000 times dilution, or 30% copper oxychloride suspension at 300-400 times dilution; for fungal diseases such as downy mildew and sclerotinia rot, spray with 50% carbendazim at 500 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil at 600-800 times dilution in the early stage of disease, spraying once every 7-10 d for 2-3 consecutive applications. Because broccoli leaves have a thick waxy layer, add a spreader or 0.1% laundry detergent to each foliar spray, and alternate the use of pesticides.

7 Harvesting

Harvest at the appropriate time. The harvest standard is generally tight curds with flower buds that are not yellowing or necrotic, and a curd diameter of 12-15 cm. Cut at the main stem 15-18 cm below the edge of the curd.