Sweet potato, a crop rich in dietary fiber and trace elements, occupies an important position in China's agricultural production. However, for sweet potato growers, post-autumn management is particularly critical, as it directly affects the yield and quality of sweet potatoes. The following will be an in-depth interpretation of the key points of sweet potato management after the beginning of autumn from five aspects.
First of all, water management is an important part of sweet potato management after the beginning of autumn. With the arrival of the beginning of autumn, the temperature gradually decreases, and the water demand of sweet potatoes is relatively reduced. However, at this time, the sweet potato is in the stage of root expansion, and the demand for water still exists. Therefore, we need to keep the soil moist to meet the needs of sweet potato root growth. However, excessive moisture can lead to poor soil aeration and root rot, so it is important to prevent too much moisture.
Secondly, fertilizer management is also a key factor in determining the yield and quality of sweet potatoes. After the beginning of autumn, sweet potatoes enter the root formation and expansion stage, which requires a large amount of nutrients to support their growth. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers play an important role in this stage, as they can promote the development of root tubers and the accumulation of sugar, and improve the taste and nutritional value of sweet potatoes. However, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needs to be moderately controlled, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer may lead to excessive growth of sweet potato stems and leaves, depleting nutrients that should flow to the tubers, thus affecting the development of the tuberous.
In addition, pest control is an important measure to ensure the healthy growth of sweet potatoes. After the beginning of autumn, sweet potatoes are susceptible to pests and diseases such as sweet potato blight and sweet potato borer. In this regard, we need to conduct regular field inspections, and once pests and diseases are found, we must take timely control measures, such as spraying pesticides, manually removing pests and diseases, etc., to prevent the spread and harm of pests and diseases.
In addition, pruning and leaf thinning is also an effective means to improve the yield and quality of sweet potatoes. After the beginning of autumn, the growth of sweet potato stems and leaves gradually slows down, at this time, we can prune and thin leaves, pruning yellow, serious pests and diseases and overly dense stems and branches. This can not only improve the ventilation and light transmission conditions, reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases, but also promote more nutrients to flow to the roots, which is conducive to the development of roots and the accumulation of sugar.
Finally, harvest preparation is the final work of sweet potato management after the beginning of autumn. At this point, the growing season of sweet potatoes is coming to an end, and we should start preparing for harvesting. Depending on factors such as the variety of sweet potatoes, planting time and climatic conditions, the harvest is carried out at the right time. About a week before harvesting, watering can be stopped to facilitate digging and storage. At the same time, we also need to prepare storage facilities to ensure the quality and shelf life of sweet potatoes.
In general, sweet potato management after the beginning of autumn requires meticulous work in terms of moisture, fertilizer, pest control, pruning and leaf thinning, and harvest preparation. Only in this way can we harvest high-quality, high-yield sweet potatoes that add flavor and nutrition to our table. Hopefully, this article will provide you with a valuable reference to help you go further on the road of sweet potato cultivation.