Cedar Cutting Time and Techniques
A brief knowledge sharing, introducing the cutting time and techniques for Cedrus deodara and discussing the topic of grass and flower propagation methods, which will surely be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
Cedar Cultivation and Management Techniques
Cedrus deodara (Cedrus deodara) belongs to the Pinaceae family, also known as Himalayan Cypress, Himalayan Cedar, and fragrant cypress, with its original habitat in the Himalayas. It is an evergreen coniferous tree that can reach over 50 meters in height. The trunk is mostly gray, the crown is conical, the branches often droop, the large branches extend horizontally, the needles are short and sharp, the cross-section is triangular, and the flowering period is around autumn. Cedrus deodara is a temperate species, introduced to China in 1920 and now planted throughout the country. To enhance its propagation and growth, cultivation techniques should be improved and the prevention and management of diseases and pests should be strengthened. The following introduces the propagation methods and post-planting management methods of Cedrus deodara.
1 Propagation Methods
1.1 Seed Propagation
1.1.1 Seed Selection. The quality of Cedrus deodara seeds directly affects the germination rate. Therefore, fresh seeds should be selected for a germination rate of up to 90%, and empty and immature seeds should be removed.
1.1.2 Seed Treatment. Before sowing, the seeds should be soaked in potassium permanganate to sterilize for 1 hour, then rinsed clean, soaked in 40°C warm water for 48 hours, and rinsed once a day. After drying in the sun, they can be sown. Be careful not to let the seeds contain moisture.
1.1.3 Land Preparation. Cedrus deodara is susceptible to waterlogging and drought. The planting site should be on gentle slopes with good drainage and flat terrain, with fertile and slightly acidic soil. It's best not to choose old garden plots for seedling raising and prefer virgin land. Before sowing, the soil should be disinfected, mixing fine soil with carbendazim in proportion. If the soil has high clay content, vermiculite, peat, sawdust, or fine sand can be added to improve water retention and aeration. At the same time, compound fertilizer and ferrous sulfate should be mixed evenly and incorporated into the seedbed during land preparation.
1.1.4 Sowing. The best sowing time is in March or April, with a sowing rate not exceeding 75 kg/hm2. Since Cedrus deodara seeds are not easy to obtain, the sowing method should be strip sowing, with the large end of the seeds facing up, a spacing of about 5 cm between plants, a row spacing of 15 cm, and a covering depth of less than 1 cm. After covering the soil, it should be pressed firmly, covered with straw mulch on the surface, and watered promptly. The seeds will emerge 2-3 weeks later, after which the straw mulch should be removed, a shade shelter should be set up, and the soil should be kept moist. Topdressing can be done 2 weeks after the seeds emerge, preferably with natural fertilizers or fast-acting fertilizers applied in the furrows between rows. After the seedlings grow, the soil should be loosened promptly, not too deep; after rain, the soil should be loosened immediately to prevent compaction.
1.2 Cutting Propagation
1.2.1 Cutting Collection. The age of the mother tree is directly related to the survival rate of cuttings. Younger mother trees with vigorous vitality have a higher cutting survival rate. Therefore, it is best to select healthy branches from mother trees less than 5 years old as cuttings, about 15 cm in length, which root easily. Cuttings should be collected from July to August, as the growth of seedlings is relatively slow during this period. The collection time should be in the morning or evening, ensuring the freshness of the cuttings. Cuttings should be collected, trimmed, and inserted immediately. Some needles or the top shoot should be retained for better photosynthesis.
1.2.2 Cutting. Cedrus deodara can be cut all year round, but the main season is spring, around April. Soil disinfection should be done before spring cutting. When cutting, first open a trench, then water, insert the cuttings into the seedbed, ensuring close contact with the soil, with a spacing of 5 cm × 10 cm, and a cutting depth of 8-10 cm. If oblique cutting is used, a depth of 6-8 cm is suitable. After cutting, water promptly and shade (transparency should be 30%-40%), effectively preventing moisture evaporation and avoiding withering of the cuttings.
2 Post-planting Management
2.1 Water and Fertilizer Management
After sowing, water should be applied immediately to ensure soil moisture. Due to the high humidity and low temperature in the early stage of sowing, mulching should be applied promptly to improve the germination rate and ensure uniform emergence of Cedrus deodara plants. For cuttings, if moisture is insufficient, the cuttings will lose water and reduce the survival rate; if there is too much moisture, the cuttings will rot and also affect the survival rate of the seedlings. Therefore, foliar spraying can be used to maintain moisture balance and improve survival rate. In the summer, with higher temperatures, the frequency of spraying should be increased, which can not only maintain soil moisture but also lower the surrounding temperature, helping the cuttings to root. Before topdressing, tillage, weeding, and watering should be done, using potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution or foliar spraying for overall topdressing; during the rapid growth period of seedlings, apply 37.5-45.0 kg/hm2 of urea, with an interval of 2-3 weeks.
2.2 Cold Protection and Shading
Cedrus deodara is a light-loving tree species with strong shade tolerance. If the growth conditions are not sufficient, it is prone to poor growth. The stage with the strongest shade tolerance is the seedling stage, which prefers cool weather, with an annual rainfall of 600-1,200 mm and a minimum temperature for shade tolerance of 25°C. Planting should be done in a sheltered area. In winter, Cedrus deodara seedlings should be protected from the cold, and in summer, they should be shaded from the sun. The most suitable environment for seedling growth is in areas with moderate sunlight. If exposed to strong sunlight, the leaves can be easily burned, and even lead to plant death. Therefore, plant personnel need to set up shelters for seedlings, with a height of over 1 meter and a transparency rate of 50%, and carry out regular artificial maintenance. The shading shed should provide winter cold protection and summer sun protection to promote the healthy growth of Cedrus deodara seedlings.
2.3 Soil Preparation and Support
Through reasonable pruning, removing overlapping branches and leaves on the trunk can reduce the amount of branches and leaves, adjust the root-crown ratio to an appropriate proportion, not only improving the survival rate of seedlings but also beneficial for tree shape cultivation. Some Cedrus deodara trees have few roots but a large crown, with a seriously imbalanced root-crown ratio. If there is little rain and drought in spring, the evaporation rate increases, and the survival rate of the plants will greatly decrease. Therefore, if the local soil conditions are poor and the seedling roots are few, the planting personnel need to carry out soil preparation and support work. Prepare soil around the roots of Cedrus deodara, firming the soil about 40 cm away from the plant, and then use ropes or wires for oblique pull fixation, with 3-4 ropes or wires per plant, an angle of about 120° for oblique pull fixation, and a height of 150 cm. Soil preparation and support can effectively improve the growth quality of Cedrus deodara plants.
2.4 Disease and Pest Control
While carrying out fertilizer and water management, weeding should be done in time during tillage to enhance the disease and pest resistance. The pests of Cedrus deodara are mainly ground beetles and grubs, which can be controlled by using sugar-acid liquid and black light traps; when the larvae damage the plant roots,毒bait can be used for control; for above-ground pest damage, 20% dichlorvos powder can be sprayed for control. In the later growth stage of Cedrus deodara, severe seedling blight can occur, which can be controlled by spraying a 1:1:100 dilution of carbendazim wettable powder. In daily management, appropriately controlling moisture and enhancing sunlight can not only improve the survival rate of seedlings but also effectively prevent diseases and pests.
The detailed explanation of the cutting time and techniques for Cedrus deodara and the description of the propagation methods provided above are for reference only!