What are the main agricultural activities in autumn?
With the day-night temperature difference gradually increasing, farmlands enter the most crucial period of farming throughout the year. Scientifically arranging autumn agricultural activities can not only enhance the overwintering ability of crops but also lay the foundation for a good harvest next year. This season requires not only grasping the golden sowing period but also ensuring the harvest and storage of mature crops, while also strengthening the nutritional management of fruit trees, forming a complete agricultural production loop.
Key Period for Autumn Crop Planting
Golden Time for Winter Wheat Sowing
The North China region welcomes the best sowing window from mid-September to early October, with a stable daily average temperature of 15-18°C. Using wide-precision sowing technology, the sowing rate is controlled at 12-15 kilograms per mu, combined with the application of 3 tons of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, which can significantly improve the quality of tillering. Soil moisture management needs to maintain the soil moisture content at 60-70%, with the sowing depth strictly controlled at 3-5 centimeters.
Selection of Autumn-sown Vegetable Varieties
In addition to major grain crops, cold-tolerant vegetables such as spinach and small cabbages should be sown after the start of autumn. Using plastic film mulching can extend the growing period by 15-20 days. It is recommended to prioritize the planting of cruciferous crops in rotation fields to effectively utilize the nutrients from the previous crop.
Techniques for Storing Autumn Harvest Crops
Standard for Harvesting Grain Crops
Corn should be harvested within 7 days after the disappearance of the milk line, with the moisture content of the grains reduced to below 28%. For potatoes, irrigation should be stopped 10 days before harvesting, and the tubers should form a cork layer before being stored in a cellar, with the storage temperature controlled at 3-4°C.
Fruit Harvesting and Preservation Techniques
Apples should be harvested with the stems retained, and after grading, they should be treated with 1-MCP preservative. For late-maturing varieties, pre-cooling to 10°C is required before storage, with the cold storage relative humidity maintained at 90-95%, and combined with controlled atmosphere storage, they can be preserved for 8-10 months.
Key Points of Fruit Tree Maintenance in Autumn
Nutritional Supply Plan
Immediately after harvesting, apply月子肥 (postpartum fertilizer) with 30 kilograms of decomposed sheep manure and 1.5 kilograms of superphosphate per mature fruit tree. Spray 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate + 0.1% borax solution on the leaves, with two applications at 15-day intervals.
Tree Pruning and Shaping
Before defoliation, thin out dense and diseased branches, and retain strong branches with open angles. After pruning, promptly apply wound healing agents and extend the white-washing on the trunk to 20 centimeters below the first main branch.
Field Pest and Disease Control System
Comprehensive Pest Control
During the peak period of the third generation of cotton bollworm larvae (early September), spray 5% emamectin benzoate 3000 times liquid, focusing on the middle and upper parts of the plants. Before overwintering, use white muscardine fungus to seal the straw piles, with 100 grams of fungal powder per cubic meter of straw.
Disease Prevention Measures
Before sowing wheat, mix the seeds with a 2.5%fludioxonil seed dressing agent at a ratio of 1:400. After clearing the diseased and residual bodies in the orchard, spray the entire garden with a 5-beume sulfur solution, focusing on treating the bark cracks.
From soil moisture regulation to crop storage management, autumn agricultural activities form a complete production chain. Mastering the technical points of each link can not only ensure the current year's income but also create quality conditions for the subsequent production cycle. Through scientific time management and precise agronomic measures, agricultural producers can maximize the output benefits of the land.