Broccoli High-Yield Cultivation Techniques and Edible Mushroom Disease Prevention and Control Methods
Broccoli has the characteristics of robust growth, light damage from pests and diseases, two harvests per year, and obvious economic benefits; the benefit is 1-2 times that of other vegetable varieties. In order to enable vegetable farmers to accurately master this technique, standardize operations, and promote the use of new varieties, this operating procedure is formulated according to the characteristics of the region's natural conditions. This procedure includes broccoli seedling raising, transplanting, field management, pest and disease control, and other techniques.
1. Seedling Raising
1.1 Seedling Raising Time
For the spring crop, raise seedlings in a small arch shed in early April; for the autumn crop, raise seedlings in the open field in mid-June.
1.2 Variety Selection
Select high-quality varieties with luxuriant growth, dark green flower buds, few browned buds, arc-round heads, few side shoots, compact heads, disease resistance, heat tolerance, cold tolerance, and wide adaptability, such as Yuguan, Lϋling, Hayizi, Wanlϋ broccoli, and others.
1.3 Seedbed Preparation
Complete the harvest of the previous crop 3-5 days before sowing. In conjunction with plowing, apply 15 kg of decomposed and sieved organic fertilizer and 25 g of diammonium phosphate per sq m of seedbed, and use 5 g of 50% thiophanate-methyl or 10 g of 50% carbendazim for soil disinfection. Level the bed surface and prepare for sowing. In new vegetable areas where field soil is particularly poor, nutrient soil may be prepared in advance and spread 15-20 cm thick after the seedbed is leveled. The nutrient soil mixing method is to mix non-cruciferous garden soil and decomposed organic fertilizer at a ratio of 7:3, and add 2-3 kg of phosphate fertilizer, 1-2 kg of urea, and 15 kg of plant ash to each cubic meter of mixed soil, mix well and sieve. If conditions permit, use 30% vermiculite powder, 30% furnace slag, 20% garden soil, and 20% decomposed organic fertilizer, and add another 1 kg of phosphate fertilizer or 0.50 kg of diammonium phosphate and 2-3 kg of oil residue or chicken manure to each cubic meter of nutrient soil. Mix well and sieve.
1.4 Sowing
Before sowing, disinfect the seeds, that is, dress the seeds with 0.25% of the seed weight of 50% thiram wettable powder. Seeds may also be soaked in warm water for 3-4 hours, with the soaking water amount being 3-4 times the seed volume. After soaking, germinate for 24 hours at 20-25°C, and sow once the seeds show white sprouts. Before sowing, water thoroughly. For seedling raising in 10 cm x 10 cm nutrient pots, sow 1 seed per pot, using 30 ml of seed per mu. After sowing, cover with fine sand 0.80-1 cm thick, spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl 800-fold solution or 75% chlorothalonil 1000-fold solution, then cover with plastic film or paper to facilitate germination and emergence.
1.5 Seedling Stage Management
Before emergence, the temperature should be appropriately higher. After emergence, immediately remove the plastic film to lower the temperature. The temperature inside the shed should be 20-25°C during the day and not lower than 12°C at night. After the seedlings emerge and the cotyledons unfold, appropriately control water to prevent excessive growth. Water thoroughly 5-7 days before transplanting, cut blocks and lift seedlings, and at the same time increase ventilation, lower the temperature by 3-5°C for hardening, hang nylon nets at ventilation openings, and scatter poison bait around the seedling field to prevent pest entry and damage by black striped scarab beetles.
2. Transplanting
2.1 Transplanting Period
When seedlings grow to 5-6 leaves and the seedling age is 30-35 days, they can be transplanted.
2.2 Land Preparation and Fertilization
After the previous crop is harvested, 3-5 days before transplanting, promptly remove residual branches and weeds in the field. Broadcast 4-5 cubic meters of high-quality decomposed organic fertilizer, 100 kg of oil residue, 15-20 kg of urea, and 50 kg of ammonium superphosphate per mu, mix and apply, then after deep plowing, level and form ridges. Ridge width 70 cm, furrow width 40 cm, ridge height 20 cm. After raking fine, cover with plastic film and wait for transplanting.
2.3 Transplanting Method
Adopt the method of planting seedlings first and then watering. Transplant seedlings with soil to reduce root damage. According to plant spacing 45 cm x 55 cm, maintain about 2700 seedlings per mu. When planting, transplant in a "T" shape, use a blade to cut openings in the film on the ridge surface, dig holes and set the seedlings, and promptly water to stabilize the seedlings. Afterward, spread and press flat the plastic film around the seedling holes. After transplanting, irrigate once according to seedling condition.
3. Field Management
3.1 Topdressing
Apply the first topdressing 15-20 days after transplanting, applying 10-15 kg of urea, 15 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 10 kg of potassium sulfate per mu. Apply the second topdressing when the terminal flower buds appear, applying 10 kg of diammonium phosphate and 5 kg of potassium sulfate per mu. Before head formation, foliar spray 0.05%-0.10% borax solution and ammonium molybdate solution. After head formation, spray Gaomeishi or Shishibao once to improve head quality and reduce the occurrence of yellow buds and browned buds.
3.2 Watering
After each topdressing, water promptly. Appropriately control watering after the rosette stage. Water promptly after the head diameter reaches 2-3 cm. After transplanting, usually water 4-5 times, and stop watering 7 days before harvest.
3.3 Removal of Side Branches
For varieties used exclusively for terminal heads, remove side buds before harvesting the head. For varieties used for both terminal and side heads, side branches grow more numerous; usually keep 3-5 robust side branches in the middle and upper parts, then remove thin and weak side branches to reduce nutrient consumption. After 60%-80% of the main stem heads are harvested, water and topdress to promote the growth of side-branch heads. When side heads grow to a diameter of 7-10 cm, harvest them.
3.4 Harvest
Stop using pesticides two weeks before harvest. When the head has fully grown, the flower buds are uniform in grain, compact, and not loose, and the buds have not yet opened, it can be harvested. Harvesting in the early morning and at dusk is preferable. When harvesting, cut off the flower bud cluster together with the tender flower stalk, leaving about 4 small leaves to protect the head. Single head weight 300-500 g.
4. Pest and Disease Control
4.1 Pest Control
The main pests of broccoli are aphids, imported cabbageworm, cabbage moth, and large green leafhopper. Their control methods:
Rational layout, avoid year-round continuous cropping of cruciferous vegetables in a small area, and remove residual branches in the garden.
Spray and kill with phoxim, Uranus, mieshabi, fenvalerate, kung fu, BT, saifuding, and other pesticides. A small amount of washing powder may be added to the pesticide. If large green leafhoppers are at peak outbreak, use leafhopper powder.
4.2 Disease Control
The main seedling-stage diseases are damping-off and rhizoctonia rot. For control, choose any one of chlorothalonil, sandofan, or zineb, add a small amount of washing powder to the prepared solution, mix evenly, and spray for control 2-3 times.
Bacterial black rot: rotate with non-cruciferous vegetables. In the early stage of disease, spray copper hydroxide, agricultural streptomycin, or xinzhiromycin, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.
Downy mildew: strengthen water and fertilizer management, transplant rationally, and control with chlorothalonil, metalaxyl-mancozeb, fosetyl-aluminum, sandofan, Dupont Curzate, and others.
Black spot: crop rotation. Alternately or mixedly spray copper hydroxide, chlorothalonil, agricultural streptomycin, and other pesticides, which can control both types of black spot.
Black spot disease: practice crop rotation. Use copper hydroxide, chlorothalonil, agricultural streptomycin and other fungicides applied alternately or in combination to control both types of black spot disease.