How to plant betel nut trees: A detailed explanation of betel nut tree cultivation techniques

How to plant areca treesToday, the editor will explain how to plant areca trees and the detailed cultivation techniques of areca trees in the field of horticulture. This is some very good experience and knowledge, it is recommended to collect it!Areca trees are widely cultivated in the tropical regions of Asia, belonging to the palm family. As an evergreen tree, it is native to Malaysia and has been cultivated since 2000 years ago. Areca trees have medicinal value, with insecticidal, breaking accumulations, and lowering qi and resolving stagnation effects. Additionally, areca trees contain various substances beneficial to the human body and have high nutritional value. In traditional Chinese medicine, areca trees have a long history of application, and many medicines still contain areca tree ingredients today. Every part of the areca tree has different therapeutic effects and can be made into various health products. Areca trees are tropical plants that prefer sunlight and fear shade. They are not very strict with the soil for planting and have strong adaptability. Moreover, with their beautiful appearance, straight and upright tree shape, large and full canopy, and beautiful inflorescence, they are evergreen throughout the year and widely used in urban landscape design.1 Cultivation Techniques1.1 Seed SelectionScientific seed selection is an important factor in increasing yield and a key step. In the past, due to backward technology, people did not realize the importance of seed selection for areca tree cultivation, resulting in the lack of seed advantages in areca tree planting, leading to various problems such as excessive growth of areca tree plants, late fruit setting, short fruit growth period, low yield, and significant economic losses. Therefore, at the seed selection stage, attention should be paid to the following aspects to improve seed selection advantages: ① Choose mother trees that have reached a growth period of 20-30 years, have no diseases or pests, have uniform growth from top to bottom of the stem, have early flowering, and have more than 3 fruiting inflorescences every year; ② Do not choose malnourished areca fruit spikes, and avoid choosing the first spike; ③ Choose areca fruits that are elliptical or oval in shape, with golden yellow and smooth outer skin without spotted cracks, uniform and full fruit size, sufficient fruit kernel content, hard fruit core, and 18-22 fruits per kilogram of fresh fruit, and free from any diseases or pests.1.2 Seedling RaisingCurrently, the seedling bag method is commonly used, which can ensure a very high germination rate, strong and uniform seedling growth, and minimal root damage during planting, ensuring survival rate. Key techniques: Prepare plastic film bags, 20-30 cm in height and 20-25 cm in width, with 3-4 holes punched in the bottom. Mix the nutrient soil in proportion, then fill the bags with soil, about 2/3 full, place the seed fruit buds upwards in the soil, fill the soil to the top, and finally sprinkle a layer of thin river sand on top. Place the seedling bags in a shaded shed, keep them moist, fertilize appropriately, and when the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, they can be transplanted.1.3 Land PreparationLand preparation should be completed 1-2 months before planting. The soil should be loose and fertile, and the terrain can be on slopes or in valleys. After selecting the land, if the slope exceeds 15°, dig a circular mountain path 1 meter wide, with a path spacing of 2.5-3.0 meters and a plant spacing of 2.0-2.5 meters. The planting density in hills or mountains should be slightly higher than in flat areas. The dimensions of the planting hole are: length 60 cm, width 60 cm, depth 40 cm. The dimensions of the hole bottom are: length 50 cm, width 50 cm. A few points to note when preparing the land: ① Reserve some weeds or tall crops around the planting holes to provide shade; ② Set reasonable plant and row spacing to avoid excessive planting density, which can cause plants to only grow stems and delay fruit setting with few fruits; ③ Add soil 15 days before planting, with a thickness 15 cm higher than the ground.1.4 PlantingTwo points should be noted when planting: ① When selecting seedlings, choose those with unexpanded heart leaves, 2-3 leaves, and strong stems. Such seedlings have not yet protruded their roots outside the nutrient bags and have a small number of roots, which are less likely to be damaged during transplantation. Fewer leaves reduce plant transpiration after planting, which can increase survival rate; ② Master the timing of planting. Choose between March and October, and it is best to choose a cloudy or rainy day for planting. When planting, dip the plant roots in mud slurry.1.5 Field Management1.5.1 Management of Small and Medium SeedlingsDuring this stage, two management tasks should be done well: First, provide moderate shading for seedlings and weed the surrounding area. Strong sunlight is not suitable for seedlings, as it can damage them and affect subsequent growth, even leading to death. Excessive shading is also not good for seedling growth, as it can make seedlings thin and weak. Within 1-2 years after planting, it is appropriate to retain or plant some dwarf crops between the plant rows to prevent seedlings from being damaged by strong sunlight. Maintain a shading degree of 30%-40% within 3 years after planting, and then gradually reduce the shading degree based on the plant's growth. Keep the field free of weeds, choosing the seasons of spring and autumn for weeding, with at least 3 weeding sessions per year. If plant roots are exposed on the surface, they should be covered in time.Second, fertilization. Choose fertilizer types based on different growth stages of the plant. Organic and chemical fertilizers should be combined appropriately, with less fertilizer applied and more frequent applications. Apply fast-acting fertilizer 3-4 times a year for young trees, and apply organic fertilizer 1-2 times after 2 years of planting.1.5.2 Management of Fruiting TreesFirst, apply heavy fertilizer in time. After the areca fruit harvest, in November-December, heavy fertilizer should be applied to the fruit trees. The amount of compound fertilizer per tree is 0.75-1 kg and potassium sulfate fertilizer 0.25 kg. The purpose of applying heavy fertilizer is to supplement the nutrients needed by the trees in time, promote rapid recovery of the trees, and ensure normal differentiation of the tree's inflorescence. Second, apply strong base fertilizer in time. During the flowering period of areca trees, usually in March-April, apply 0.4-0.5 kg of compound fertilizer per tree. Third, apply strong fruit fertilizer. This step is carried out from two aspects: ① In the young fruit stage, usually in June-July, apply 0.5 kg of compound fertilizer and 0.25 kg of urea per tree to promote fruit development; ② Spray organic foliar fertilizer, which can be combined with pesticides for disease and pest control.1.6 Disease and Pest ControlCommon diseases include leaf spot, anthracnose, and bacterial leaf spot, while common pests include coconut leaf beetle and rice striped stem borer.1.6.1 AnthracnoseWhen anthracnose is found in fruit trees, the infected plants should be treated as soon as possible. Remove dead plants and leaves in time, and for plants in the early stages of the disease, use methylothiazole wettable powder 600 times liquid and world-high water-dispersible granules at a ratio of 60% and 10% respectively, spraying once every week for three consecutive times.1.6.2 Leaf SpotLesions on leaves appear light yellow or olive green, round or oval in shape. In the later stage of the disease, the color of the lesions turns black or brown, and multiple lesions merge to form a whole, eventually causing the leaves to wither and fall off. Control methods: Spray with zinc omethoate 800 times liquid, methylothiazole 1000 times liquid, or carbendazim, spraying once every 7-10 days for 2-3 times consecutively.1.6.3 Bacterial Leaf SpotThis disease appears as parallel dark green lesions to the leaf veins at the beginning of the disease, about 1-4 mm wide, with milky white exudate near the root of the leaf on the back. The exudate is sticky when the weather is humid and waxy when dry. In the later stage, the lesions expand into irregular shapes, turning brown, with some areas of the leaf becoming transparent, causing the leaf to wither or the plant to die. Control methods: Spray 500 mg/L streptomycin or tetracycline solution for 5 consecutive times, with an interval of 2 weeks each time.1.6.4 Coconut Leaf BeetleThis pest mainly affects the young leaves and heart leaves of the plant. In the later stage of the pest, the top crown of the plant turns brown, the plant growth weakens rapidly, and the plant eventually dies. Specific control methods include three: First, use biological enemies by introducing coconut leaf beetle parasitizing wasps and coconut leaf beetle gnawing wasps for control; second, spray pesticides such as deltamethrin, cypermethrin, pymetrozine, and chlorpyrifos, which all have good effects. Spray the whole plant with a 1000-fold solution, clear away dead leaves and burn them, and then spray pesticides once a month for 2-3 times consecutively; third, use hanging bags for control, using coconut net or coconut shell clear powder, making medicine bags, inserting them into the inner side of young leaves and heart leaves, and fixing them with hanging lines on the heart leaves or young leaf petioles. When it rains or when watering, the medicine solution will flow to the pest area for control. This method is effective for 8-10 months.1.6.5 Rice Striped Stem BorerRice striped stem borer is a major pest of areca trees, also known as the heartwood borer. The main harm is that the pest eats the flower spikes and areca fruits, boring into the flower buds and destroying the internal structure, causing the flowers to wither before opening. After the flowers are eaten by the pest, serious damage occurs, preventing normal fruit setting. Additionally, whether young or mature fruits, the pest bores into them, eating from the tender parts into the fruit interior, causing the fruit to dry and fall off, severely affecting fruit yield. To strengthen the control of rice striped stem borer, the following three aspects should be considered: ① In winter, strengthen the preliminary preparation and treatment of field pests, burn the withered leaves and fruits in the field, and sterilize the soil; ② For plants with pest infestations, clear the affected parts in time and thoroughly destroy the harmful branches, leaves, and fruits; ③ Use green功夫 or lepidopteran during the larval formation stage, spraying 1500-2000 times liquid.1.7 Maintenance Techniques1.7.1 TemperatureAreca trees have high temperature requirements for growth, which is why they mainly grow in tropical regions. Areca trees can maintain growth at temperatures above 10°C, with higher temperatures being more conducive to tree growth. However, excessively high temperatures are not suitable. Generally, temperatures should be maintained above 10°C in winter and not exceed 40°C in summer.1.7.2 SunlightAreca trees prefer sunlight. Young plants should not be exposed to strong sunlight, but mature plants need to ensure sufficient sunlight. Therefore, during plant management, it is necessary to ensure that the plants have sufficient sunlight to ensure strong growth. Long-term lack of sunlight can cause weak plants that are prone to disease.1.7.3 WateringAreca trees also have high requirements for environmental humidity. There needs to be enough humidity in the air. Generally, there is abundant rainfall where areca trees are located. When the air is dry or during periods of low rainfall, it is necessary to supplement water and spray water in time.1.7.4 FertilizationBase fertilizer should be sufficient, and topdressing can be appropriate.2 Application in Landscape DesignAreca trees have a beautiful appearance, straight and upright trunks, and large and full canopies, which can present a strong artistic effect in landscape garden plants. Whether used as a landscape subject or as an embellishment, areca trees can fully display the space. As a tree, areca trees can be seen as an independent building body, with obvious substantive effects in space composition and separation. Imagine an areca tree as a beautiful building, surrounded by various vines climbing up, lush and green, with a hedge of plants grown around it, trimmed to surround the areca building, forming a green courtyard with shade and colorful flowers. The ground of the courtyard is covered with lush green grass, which is a beautiful scene. Additionally, through reasonable spatial arrangement, areca trees can have different landscape effects in different positions. When people walk among them, they will find that all the beautiful scenery follows their footsteps, and a sense of surprise and feeling arises in their hearts. Various trees and shrubs, mutually integrated, form a layered and four-season stereoscopic landscape garden, complemented by roses for embellishment, ultimately presenting a perfect fusion of space and time.It is also possible to create a槟榔 avenue with cultural and regional characteristics in a garden, surrounded by different flowers and tropical plants according to the seasons, highlighting the local plants while also showing the integration with other regional plants, forming a unique landscape style that is inclusive and diverse, ensuring species diversity and showcasing a more comprehensive aesthetic appreciation angle.Of course, in addition to the above ideas, the design can also incorporate ecological elements. On the basis of the overall framework, implement small-area ecological design, follow the natural laws of seasonal changes, present the natural landscape that should be in each season, and show the distinct landscape changes of the four seasons, displaying the beauty of the four seasons. Let people appreciate while their hearts follow nature, perceive nature, and resonate with nature, pursuing a better life.