Yam planting technology and cultivation management

As a crop that prefers warmth and has a long growing cycle, yam is usually only planted once a year. In temperate zones, yams begin to emerge after the last frost in spring and are harvested before the first frost in fall. Growing yams requires digging trenches underground and building supports on the ground to support the vines. In addition, yam is suitable for intercropping with crops that grow at lower heights to improve land utilization. Let’s learn about yam planting technology and cultivation management.

1. Seedling cultivation method

Before planting yam, you need to dig a pit, cut the yam into pieces and air-dry it. Use titanium zinc manganese solution to disinfect the yam pieces for half a minute. After air drying, arrange them neatly in the pit and cover them with 3 cm of wet sand. You can stack 3 to 4 layers of yam and then water them appropriately.

2. Planting method

Fertilization: Apply 300 to 500 kilograms of soybeans per acre of land. After decomposition, soybeans can provide the organic nitrogen source needed by soil microorganisms, promoting the growth and quality of yam. At the same time, apply 400 to 600 kilograms of organic fertilizer and yam-specific pesticides , mix them with the soil and spread them on the surface, then deep plowing is carried out to ensure that the fertilizer penetrates deep into the soil.

Trench digging and planting: The trench spacing should be kept between 40 and 60 cm and the trench depth should be between 160 and 180 cm. After manually compacting the ditch section, plow a small furrow on the top of the ditch, put the yam pieces neatly in, one piece every 10 cm, cover with soil, and spray with yam-specific herbicide after watering.

3. Fertilization management

Base fertilizer: Apply sufficient base fertilizer when planting and apply top dressing 2 to 3 times during the growth period. Dig a 6 to 10 cm deep fertilizer trench near the plants and apply well-rotted organic fertilizer.

Irrigation: Yams are drought tolerant and require irrigation 5 to 7 times throughout the growing season. Make sure to water thoroughly when planting.

4. Prevent and control pests and diseases

Pest control: The main pests are mole crickets, white grubs and wireworms. Deeply tilling the soil 25 to 30 cm before winter will help kill the larvae.

Disease control: The main diseases are anthracnose and brown spot. Control by cleaning the fields, cutting off diseased leaves and spraying 65% mancozeb once every 7 days for 2 to 3 times.

5. Harvest at the right time

From late October to November, the stems and leaves of yam wither and the underground rhizomes enter a dormant state and can be harvested. After harvesting, yam can be stored in a cellar.

The above are the key points of yam planting and management technology. Through the above technical points, I hope to help everyone increase the output of yam.