Watering management during the bean seedling stage

During the process of planting beans , reasonable watering can promote the growth of beans and high yield. However, the water requirements of beans are different in different growth cycles. So how to water beans during the seedling stage? Let’s learn more about it below.

Watering management during the bean seedling stage

Because the root system of the bean seedlings is not fully developed and the absorption capacity is relatively weak, frequent or heavy watering should be avoided. Generally, when the beans sprout to about 5 cm after sowing, they should be watered in time. The main purpose of this watering is to provide the water needed for the growth of seedlings, while preventing the seedlings from stopping growing due to soil drought, promoting root growth, and laying the foundation for the later flowering and podding of beans. In addition, it is best to water in the morning or evening to avoid watering during high temperatures, which may cause a sudden drop in soil temperature and affect the growth of beans. During the rainy season, drainage and waterlogging prevention work must also be done to maintain appropriate soil moisture.

What other key points should be paid attention to during the bean seedling stage?

1. Thinning and replanting

After the seedlings emerge from the soil, check and fill in any gaps in time. Before the true leaves unfold, remove small, weak, and diseased seedlings, leaving 2-3 strong seedlings in each hole. If there are many missing seedlings or weak seedlings, appropriate replanting is required.

2. Temperature management

The suitable temperature for bean seedlings is 20-25℃. The temperature should be adjusted through shading, ventilation and other measures to avoid extreme temperatures.

3. Pay attention to fertilizer control

Excessive fertilization will inhibit root growth, so try not to apply fertilizer during the seedling stage. If the base fertilizer is insufficient and the seedlings are weak, do not pour the fertilizer directly on the roots when adding fertilizer. Instead, dig trenches or drill holes 20 cm away from the roots to apply fertilizer.

4. Intertillage and weeding

During the seedling stage of beans, inter-cultivation and weeding should be carried out in time. Young bean seedlings have poor competitiveness against weeds, so the surrounding weeds should be removed in time to reduce the impact on the beans.

5. Pest and disease control

The main disease in the seedling stage is red root disease. The prevention and control method is to irrigate the roots with 750-1000 times diluted 30% carbendazim aqueous solution 5-7 days after the cowpea seedlings emerge. The main insect pests are bean thrips, aphids, etc. You can use 1500 times diluted avermectin + 1500 times diluted imidacloprid and spray once every 6 days.

In general, do not water beans too much or too frequently during the seedling stage. Just keep the soil moist to promote healthy development of the root system. In addition, temperature control, fertilizer control, weeding, disease prevention and other work should be done during the seedling stage to cultivate high-quality and strong seedlings, thereby ensuring high yields in the later stage.