How to Properly Plant Chinese Yam
Today we will introduce how to properly plant Chinese yam and the cultivation techniques related to Chinese yam. Next, the editor will introduce to everyone.
Chinese yam is cultivated in various parts of our country. Due to different soil and climate conditions, different varieties are cultivated, and specific cultivation management also has its own characteristics. The following mainly introduces the main high-yield and high-quality cultivation management measures of Chinese yam in the Huang-Huai region.
I. Cultivation Season and Crop Rotation
The growth period of Chinese yam is relatively long, usually planted only once a year, starting seedling induction in late March, planting in late May to early June, and harvesting from October to December. Avoid consecutive cropping, and it is recommended to rotate every 2 to 3 years to reduce diseases and increase yield. The previous crop can be followed by wheat, overwintering spinach, overwintering cabbage, etc. Early in the row spacing of Chinese yam, early eggplants, early peppers, spring radishes, spring spinach, and cabbage crops can be intercropped, or intercropped with melons and beans.
II. Seedling Raising
There are three common propagation methods for Chinese yam.
2.1 Tubercle Propagation Method
Most varieties of Chinese yam can produce a large number of tubercles, which can be used as propagation material. Usually from late March to early May, plant the tubercles one by one at 10 to 15 cm apart, cover with 3 cm of soil, and apply 15 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 10 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 15 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu. After a year, the root can grow to 10 to 30 cm long, and it can be used for production in the second year. The advantage of tubercle propagation is a high propagation coefficient, but it cannot form commercial products in the first year and usually takes 2 to 3 years to harvest large products.
2.2 Top Bud Propagation Method
There is a fine and hard part at the top end of the Chinese yam tuber, called the yam tail or bud tip, which is not suitable for consumption due to poor quality. There is a top bud at the top, and if the top bud is damaged, it can also germinate adventitious buds, which can be used as propagation material and have the characteristics of fast germination and many buds. After harvesting the previous year, cut it off, 20 to 25 cm long, weighing about 100 grams. Apply a little wood ash or quicklime to the cut surface, dry it in a ventilated and sunny place for a day, and then store it in a cave or bury it in sand in a room. Keep the temperature as high as 0°C. The disadvantage of the top bud propagation method is that only one can be cut from each tuber, and it cannot be propagated in large quantities.
How to Properly Plant Chinese Yam
2.3 Tuber Cutting Propagation Method
The various parts of the Chinese yam tuber can easily produce adventitious roots. Cutting it into tuber pieces can speed up propagation. The nutrients stored in the tuber pieces can supply the seedlings for a long time after emergence, accelerate the growth of seedlings, and form large tubers in the same year, which is the main propagation method of Chinese yam. Select straight and robust tubers, cut into 100-gram pieces, apply wood ash to the cut surface, dry for 1 to 2 days, and then plant after the cut surface heals. Adventitious roots near the top of the cut pieces are more vigorous. Chinese yam can be directly planted with tuber pieces. In late March, plant the healed cut pieces directly in the field, set up a small plastic film arch with a height of 20 cm and a bottom width of 30 cm on the planting row, and seedlings can emerge in late May to early June. Seedling induction in a warm bed can advance germination. In late March, place the tuber pieces in a warm bed, cover with sand soil to keep moist, maintain a bed temperature of above 15°C, and generally can advance germination by 20 to 30 days. After seedlings emerge, pay attention to greening and stress resistance training, and transplant to the field after frost breaks.
III. Land Preparation and Planting
The absorption roots of Chinese yam are shallow, but the tubers go deep into the soil, so it is necessary to choose sandy loam or loam soil that is deep, loose, and rich in organic matter. It is best to plow the land in winter of the previous year, with a depth of over 30 cm. After spring, make high ridges or furrows for planting. For large and long varieties of Chinese yam, loose sandy soil is best. Before planting, dig planting holes or trenches, about 1 to 1.4 meters deep. Use dry manure, plant ash, or soil manure as base fertilizer and apply it shallowly to the upper layer of soil. If using manure as base fertilizer, it should be composted first and applied 2 to 3 days before planting, mixed with soil, otherwise it can easily cause tuber rot. Use high ridges for cultivation, with ridge width of 50 cm, ridge height of 16 cm, single row planting, plant spacing of 30 cm, and 2000 to 2200 plants per mu.
IV. Field Management
4.1 Setting Up Trellises
The vines of seedlings recovering from germination grow quickly, and the direct-seeded ones can be put on the shelves about one week after emergence. Early shelf construction allows the Chinese yam to climb as soon as it emerges, and it can be full by mid-June. At the same time, early shelf construction can reduce root damage and increase yield. The shelf height is 50 to 70 cm, and in the south, where the vines grow more vigorously, the shelf height needs to be 1 to 3 meters.
4.2 Watering
Chinese yam is relatively drought-resistant and usually does not require watering. During the high-temperature season of July to August, if there is no rain for a long time, it is necessary to water appropriately. It is best to water by opening ditches to lead water for infiltration.