Planting techniques of lotus root
First, the origin, distribution, nutritional value and economic benefits of lotus root.
Lotus root, also known as lotus, lotus root and so on. , which originated in China, has been planted for more than 3000 years. It is a widely used aquatic cash crop, which is not only edible and medicinal, but also one of the top ten famous flowers in China and is deeply loved by the broad masses of the people.
Lotus root is a treasure, and its roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits have economic value. Besides lotus roots and lotus seeds, pollen, lotus leaves and lotus plums can also be used as dishes, drinks and health foods. Lotus root generally contains starch 10 ~ 20%, while protein 1 ~ 2% lotus seed contains starch and protein as high as 40 ~ 50% and 19 ~ 22% respectively, and all of them contain multiple vitamins. They are excellent aquatic vegetables and non-staple foods, which can be used for raw food, cooked food, processing and canning, and making candied fruit. Products are relatively resistant to storage and transportation, and the domestic and international markets are broad. They are important commodities for earning foreign exchange through export. Lotus root is also commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Lotus knots, lotus roots, lotus hearts, petals, stamens and lotus leaves can all be used as medicine.
Lotus is often used as an important plant material for waterscape layout in China gardens because of its colorful flowers and leaves and elegant fragrance.
Lotus root is widely distributed and rich in resources in China. It can be found from the northeast to Hainan Island, from the East China Sea coast to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The main planting areas are in the Yangtze River Basin and Huanghuai Basin, with Hubei, Jiangsu, Anhui and other provinces having the largest planting areas. At present, it is estimated that the planting area in China is 500,000-700,000 hm2, and that in Hubei Province is about 90,000 hm2. In the future, with the development and utilization of lake and beach resources in vast water towns, the rural industrial structure will be adjusted and further opened to the outside world.
Second, the growth and development characteristics
Lotus root is a perennial perennial plant, which grows and develops once a year. In a year's growth cycle, it has to go through various stages of growth and development, such as germination, leaf spreading, flowering, fruiting, lotus knot, dormancy and so on. It is different from most plants that grow leaves before flowering or flowers before growing leaves. In the early stage of growth and development, there are leaves before flowering, and in the middle stage, leaves and flowers sprout together. Flowering and fruiting are not as neat as other plants, but blossom and bear fruit one after another. Buds, flowers, fruits and leaves can often coexist in the same plant. After the final flowering, lotus roots began to form in the later stage of growth and development. Therefore, the difference between lotus root and other plants is that it is not vegetative growth first, then reproductive growth, but vegetative growth runs through its whole growth and development process.
According to the growth and development law of lotus root, it is generally divided into five stages: seedling stage, mature stage, flower and fruit stage, lotus root stage and dormancy stage:
1, seedling stage: from lotus root germination to the first leaf exposure. When the average temperature rises to 15℃, lotus roots begin to sprout, and all the leaves grown during this period are floating leaves. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, usually in early April, lotus flowers begin to sprout and grow floating leaves, and in mid-May, they begin to sprout and shed leaves. South China and southwest Yunnan began to germinate in early March, and North China, Henan, Shandong and other places began to germinate in late April or early May. Northeast China will not germinate until early June. The phenology of lotus also has a great relationship with varieties. In general, the germination stage of lotus is also the best time for lotus root colonization. 2. Seedling stage: from the appearance of the first upright leaf to bud emergence. Generally, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River begin to grow and enter the seedling stage in mid-May. The typical characteristics of this period are accelerated plant growth, increased number of leaves, increased total leaf area, enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, accelerated formation and accumulation of nutrients, and formed a huge nutritional system in a short time.
3. Flowering and fruiting period: from budding to the appearance of terminal leaves. Lotus root flowers are in full bloom one after another, and the flowering period usually lasts for about 2 months. The number of flowers varies from species to species. After the lotus grows 3 ~ 4 vertical leaves, it is basically a leaf and a flower. Lotus flowers have few or no flowers. Generally, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River begin to bloom in June, and the flowering period is from July to August.
4. Lotus root stage: from the appearance of the back leaves to the yellowing and withering of the aboveground parts of the plants. When the lotus grows to a certain period, the roots begin to swell and form lotus roots. Early-maturing varieties generally enter this period in early July, and middle-late maturing varieties enter this period in late July or early August.
5. Dormancy period: from the above-ground part of the plant to yellow and wither, to the leaf bud and terminal bud of the next spring after the new lotus root is completely formed.
Until it begins to sprout. The winter dormancy period of lotus root in the Yangtze River basin is generally from late June 65438 to March of the following year.
Three. Requirements for environmental conditions
Lotus is a plant that likes light and temperature. The initial germination temperature of lotus is about 65438 05℃, the optimum growth temperature is 28 ~ 30℃, and the temperature difference between day and night is large, which is beneficial to the expansion and formation of lotus root.
Lotus can't leave water during the whole growth period, and the suitable water depth is below 100 cm. When the same variety is planted in shallow water, the internodes of lotus root are short and there are many nodes, but when it is planted in deep water, the elongation becomes thicker and the number of nodes becomes less.
Lotus does not require high soil quality, and can grow in a wide range. The suitable PH value is 6.5 ~ 7.5. Fertilizer-tolerant, suitable for growing in clay with rich organic matter, deep plough layer (30 ~ 50 cm) and strong water retention.
Four. Types and varieties
1, type
Lotus root can be divided into different types according to different basis. take for example
According to the main cultivation purposes, lotus root can be divided into three types: Hualien, seed lotus root and lotus root. Lotus root is called Hualien for the purpose of appreciating flowers, seed lotus for the purpose of harvesting lotus seeds, and lotus root for the purpose of harvesting thick underground roots, which are also commonly known as lotus root, lotus leaf and lotus root.
According to the suitable cultivation depth, it can be divided into two categories: one is shallow water lotus, which refers to varieties with suitable cultivation depth of 5 ~ 50 cm; One is deep-water lotus root, which refers to the variety with suitable water depth of 50 ~ 100 cm.
In addition, according to maturity, it can be divided into early maturity, middle maturity and late maturity. Wait a minute.