Sweet potato planting method

Sweet potato , also known as yam, red potato, sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet taro, sweet taro, golden potato, and ground radish, is an annual herb belonging to the genus Ipomoea of ​​the Convolvulaceae family. Sweet potatoes prefer warm environments and are sensitive to cold. When the local temperature is around 10℃, the growth of sweet potatoes will be inhibited and the roots will not develop easily. When the temperature reaches 15℃, it takes about 5 days to promote root growth, while under 17-18℃, the root development of sweet potato is normal. Let’s learn a method of growing sweet potatoes .

1. Sweet potato seedling cultivation skills

1. Choose seed potatoes.

Select high-quality potato tubers of uniform size (each weighing about 200-300 grams), free of pests and diseases, damage, and cold damage as seed potatoes. The width of the seedling bed is controlled at 1-1.2 meters, and the length is determined according to actual needs. Generally speaking, every 50 kilograms of seed potatoes can produce 9,000 to 15,000 seedlings, which is enough to meet the planting needs of 3 to 4 acres of land. The amount of seed potatoes used is about 10-25 kg per mu, and the sowing time should be about 100 days before planting.

2. Seedling management

When the seedlings grown from the seed potatoes grow to 25-30 cm, they are transplanted to produce more seedlings. When the number of nodes of the transplanted seedlings reaches 6-10, pinch off the top to promote branching.

3. Fertilization strategy

5-8 days before planned seedling harvesting, apply an appropriate amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer to cultivate tender and strong seedlings. When the potato seedlings grow to 25-30 cm, harvest them in time for planting.

2. Sweet potato planting techniques

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Choose a sunny day to prepare the land and ensure that the soil is finely broken and flat. Fertilizer strips are applied at the bottom of the ridges, the ridge spacing is maintained at 80 cm and the ridge height is about 20 cm. It is recommended to use special organic compound fertilizers . For large-scale planting, it is recommended to test the N, P, K content and organic matter in the soil. In southern regions, the soil pH value also needs to be tested. Avoid using regular compound fertilizers.

2. Pruning and topping

For potato fields with many branches and vigorous growth, 2-3 branches can be cut off to promote nutrient return and increase the nutrients of the tubers. Topping can regulate nutrient distribution and promote nutrient transport to the roots. When the potato seedlings grow to 40-60 cm, remove the tender tips and do the same with the overly vigorous branches.

3. Timely topdressing

Seedling-raising fertilizer: About 15 days after transplanting, combined with the first inter-tillage, apply 750-1000 kg of diluted human and animal manure or 2.5 kg of urea per mu.

Tuber-forming fertilizer: Topdressing should be done during the branching and tuber-forming stage, usually within one month after transplanting combined with the second intertillage, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main fertilizer, in combination with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Fertilizer for cracks: After the stems and leaves have sealed the rows, the tubers grow rapidly and topdressing fertilizer is applied when cracks appear on the ground. Apply 1.5 kg of urea, 10 kg of superphosphate extract, and 3 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, add 150-200 kg of water to make a nutrient solution, and irrigate along the seams on cloudy or sunny afternoons to ensure uniform topdressing.

4. Pest and disease control

1. Disease prevention and control

The main diseases include viral diseases, black spot disease and purple feather disease. Choose disease-free seed potatoes and soak them in 2000 times diluted 80% 402 agent for 5 minutes before planting. For cuttings, soak them in 1500 times diluted 25% carbendazim or 2000 times diluted 50% thiophanate for 10 minutes.

2. Pest control

The main insect pests are the Spodoptera litura and the sweet potato leaf beetle. In late June, the armyworm can be killed by spraying with 10% Dijin 1000 times solution, 5% Yitaibao 800-1000 times solution, or 48% Lorsban 1000 times solution. Sweet potato leaf beetles can be killed by spraying 600 times diluted 20% triazophos emulsifiable concentrate or 4000 times diluted 2.5% diazinon 30 days after the potato seedlings are grafted.

In short, as a drought-tolerant crop, sweet potatoes have certain requirements for water, neither too much nor too little, because unsuitable water conditions will affect the increase in its yield. The right amount of water is essential for healthy growth and increased yield of sweet potatoes.