Planting techniques of White Lotus Root

White lotus root belongs to perennial herbaceous persistent root aquatic plant in Nymphaeaceae, which has a long history of cultivation and wide distribution in China, and is a traditional export vegetable. The nutrition of lotus root is very rich, not only can be eaten raw and cooked, but also can be made into candied fruit and lotus root powder. Lotus seed is the raw material of high-grade food, lotus root leaf can be used as packaging material, lotus root stem, lotus root node and so on can be used as medicine. It is an aquatic vegetable with high economic value. So what is the planting technology of white lotus root?

1. Variety selection

High-yield varieties were selected to select mid-early-maturing and high-yield varieties with shallow mud, strong leaf stalks, wind resistance, high commodity rate and good quality, such as Bailian root, Elian No. 4, Elian No. 5 and so on.

2. Soil preparation and fertilization

In order to avoid continuous cropping of lotus root, clay soil with deep and fertile soil layer, rich in organic matter, strong water retention capacity, convenient drainage and irrigation and good light should be selected for cultivation. Soil preparation when the application of sufficient base fertilizer, generally 5000-6000 kg per mu of rotten organic fertilizer, full ploughing and harrowing, to achieve mud rotten, flat, ridge high, fat enough. At the same time, 50-80 kg of quicklime was applied to disinfect the soil.

3. Planting

In the extended soil of white lotus root, the loose soil is beneficial to growth, and the lotus root field needs deep ploughing to make ridges, and then ploughing and raking and leveling before planting lotus root. Planting lotus root in the lake has a deep water level, and farming is difficult, so it is generally not possible to prepare the soil. The new lotus root can be turned deeply when the water level is shallow in the summer of the previous year, and mud piers can be planted according to the planting distance in the spring of the second year. Continuous cropping of field lotus root is not suitable, but continuous cropping of pond lotus root is not suitable. White lotus root needs a large amount of fertilizer, so we should apply sufficient base fertilizer, combined with soil preparation, and then apply fertilizer.

4. Water level and temperature regulation

When planting white lotus root, the water level should be adjusted according to the growing season. Generally, 3~6cm is kept in shallow water at the initial stage of planting to raise the soil temperature to facilitate germination. If the pond lotus root can control the water level, it should also grasp the principle of drainage and irrigation from shallow to deep, and then from deep to shallow, especially to prevent the water level from rising sharply, flooding the standing leaves, resulting in a reduction in production.

5. Weeding

The time and times of weeding depend on the growth of white lotus root and the number of weeds. Generally speaking, weeding in lotus root fields begins when floating leaves appear. When weeding, the soil between rows can be stirred and weeds can be buried in the soil. Weeding in the lotus root field is generally carried out for 2 or 3 times until the lotus leaves are covered with water.

6. Pest control

The main disease of white lotus root is rot, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum in soil. The prevention and control of lotus root rot is extremely difficult, the main control measures are to avoid continuous cropping, appropriately reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer, and disinfect with lime before planting.