Water chestnut aliases and key points of planting methods, and roughly how much is one jin?
Water chestnuts are planted throughout China. They have a crisp texture and a sweet taste, and are rich in protein, fat, vitamins, crude fiber, and more. Besides being eaten raw, they can also be cooked in dishes and made into processed products such as water chestnut cake, and are very popular with consumers. So what are the aliases of water chestnut? Roughly how much is the price per jin? What are the key points of the planting method?
I. What are the aliases of water chestnut?
Water chestnut is also called biqi, wuyu, fuci, ciguier, tuli, dili, shuili, shao, puji, qiancong, and more.
II. Roughly how much is the price of water chestnut per jin?
The price of water chestnut is roughly 1.5-4 yuan per jin, with some variation among regions. The price of water chestnut is affected by many factors, such as place of origin, market conditions, size grade, quality, purchasing channel, and more.
The water chestnut price at Suzhou Nanhuanqiao Agricultural and Sideline Products Wholesale Market is about 1.6 yuan per jin; the water chestnut price at Jiangsu Lingjiatang Agricultural and Sideline Products Wholesale Market is 2.5 yuan per jin; the water chestnut price at Zhejiang Jiaxing Vegetable Wholesale Trading Market is 1.5 yuan per jin; the water chestnut price at Anhui Hefei Zhougudui Agricultural Products Wholesale Market is 4 yuan per jin.
III. What are the key points of the water chestnut planting method?
1. Selection of land
Only when the land is well chosen can water chestnuts grow well, so the selection of land is especially important. Paddy fields with fertile and loose soil and sufficient sunlight are the most suitable places for water chestnut growth, and during the planting period the paddy field must have an adequate water source, which requires convenient irrigation. After the place is chosen, the next step is fertilizing. For the base fertilizer, calcium superphosphate and potassium chloride are generally chosen. The fertilizer and soil must be mixed evenly, and at the same time the soil should be kept loose, so as to ensure that the soil has good fertility.
2. Cultivation of seedlings
Water chestnut planting uses corms for propagation. Corms that are large and plump, with smooth and unbroken skin, and with thick buds are more likely to grow larger and better water chestnuts, so this kind is mostly chosen for corm propagation. First soak the seeds with a disinfecting and sterilizing agent for 10-24 hours, then dry them in the air, insert the corms with the buds facing upward into the mud, then cover with straw or a straw mat, and water after sowing to keep them moist. After the seedlings emerge, gradually uncover the straw mat or straw so that the young seedlings can better adapt to the light environment.
3. Timing of planting out
The timing differs for different varieties. Early-water water chestnuts are planted out one and a half months to two months after emergence, while late-water water chestnuts can be planted out after about one month. Control the row spacing and plant spacing. When planting out, do not plant too deep or too shallow; being able to plant them steadily is the standard. If the seedlings are too tall, the tips can be cut off, leaving only about 30 cm, which can prevent the seedlings from breaking or lodging.
4. Management of fertilizer and water
Only with good fertilizer and water management can water chestnuts grow well. Management also differs among varieties. For early-water water chestnuts, in the early growth stage the water level should be controlled at 2-3 cm, and as they grow taller the water level is gradually deepened to 7-10 cm. For late-water water chestnuts, however, it should be controlled at 6-8 cm right after planting out. During the growth period, water chestnuts have a high demand for fertilizer, so more chemical fertilizer should be added at this time to promote root and stem growth, and in the late growth stage, organic fertilizer is applied at irregular intervals.