Jujube roots are shallow; the nursery conversion station recommends sod culture, which can raise soil organic matter by 1%.

Text / Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station

Red dates are a specialty of Miaoli County, with a cultivation area of about 50 hectares, mostly distributed in Shihqiang Village and Fuji Village of Gongguan Township, Miaoli County. In this area the soil layer is shallow, and since the root system of red dates is also shallow, their tolerance to the environment is poor. In recent years, extreme climate impacts have often caused serious problems such as fruit cracking. The Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station urges red date farmers to adopt sod culture to improve the tolerance of red dates to climate change.

According to a survey by the Miaoli Station on the soil properties of red date cultivation areas, farmland that has long used sod culture can reach a soil organic matter content of 3.4%, which is more than 1% higher than farmland that has not implemented sod culture. Soil organic matter can buffer the impact of adverse conditions, and together with good irrigation management, it helps with water control, reduces the incidence of fruit cracking, makes fertilizer effects easier to realize, improves soil nutrient balance and enhances fruit quality.

Suitable grass species for red date orchards: centipede grass and dichondra

For sod culture, appropriate grass species can be selected to suppress the growth of other weeds and reduce the labor cost of weeding. For red date orchards, low-growing creeping grass species with strong coverage are most suitable, such as centipede grass and dichondra. In addition, leguminous green manures such as hairy vetch, velvet bean and Egyptian clover are suitable for cultivation during the winter dormancy period of fruit trees, used as base fertilizer to supplement organic matter and reduce fertilizer use.

In addition, sod culture can provide habitat for biological natural enemies, strengthen biodiversity and reduce the use of chemical pesticides, making it an important part of friendly farming. Therefore, implementing sod culture in red date orchards truly brings many benefits.

If you have further questions, you can contact the Crop Environment Section of the Miaoli Station directly at (037)222111 ext. 358.