Chicory originated in Europe and is widely used as feed, vegetables and sugar raw materials abroad. After it was introduced to China in 1980s, chicory, a big leaf species, was cultivated. Because of its excellent quality, it has become the most promising new variety of feed and cash crops.
I. Main features
(1) Chicory with strong adaptability likes warm and humid climate, but it is also cold-resistant and heat-resistant. In the hot south, it grows vigorously, and in the cold north, when the temperature is MINUS 8℃, it is still green. It can grow in wasteland, grassland, fields and slopes, and is suitable for planting all over the country.
(2) The utilization period is long. Because it returns early in spring and has a late dormancy period in winter, its utilization period as feed is longer than that of ordinary green feed. Take the Central Plains as an example, if the seeds are sown at the end of August, they can be mowed once before winter, and then mowed every April-165438+1October, and the utilization period is as long as 8 months, which can solve the problems of spring and autumn and dog days in aquaculture.
(3) Disease-resistant and insect-free chicory is particularly disease-resistant. Root rot is easy to occur in low-lying and waterlogged areas, but it can be easily prevented as long as the accumulated water is removed on time. No other diseases were found. In particular, its insect resistance is unique, so far no infectious diseases have been found in chicory.
(4) Chicory is widely used in aquaculture. Because of its excellent palatability, all domestic animals, poultry and grass carp love it. Used in white rapeseed, its leaves are fresh and tender, can be fried or cold, and it is also a highly nutritious vegetable; It is also a high-quality base material for the production of edible fungi: the rhizome can extract rich inulin and spices; It blooms in May and lasts for four months, with purple-blue flowers and beautiful scenery. It is a good honey source and an excellent plant for greening and improving the ecological environment.
(5) Excellent forage grass There are many varieties of forage grass introduced from abroad in China, and with the domestic excellent varieties, a hundred flowers blossom. However, if the factors such as yield, nutrition, growth period, pests and diseases are comprehensively measured, chicory deserves to be the best among them. For example, although the content of protein is not as good as that of Rumex, the latter is vulnerable to aphids, and the pest-free chicory is its greatest advantage;
2. Cultivation techniques Because the seeds are small, it is necessary to rake the flat surface after deep ploughing, and apply 3000 kilograms of farmyard manure per mu. Cultivation is not limited by seasons, the lowest temperature can be above 5C, and April -65438+ 10 is the best. There are four breeding methods: drilling, seedling raising, sowing and root cutting (see Rumex chapter for drilling and seedling raising); This wasteland can be sown after spraying herbicides. Seeding amount per mu120g by seedling raising method, and 400g by drilling; You can also cut succulent roots into 2cm long pieces (thick ones can be cut vertically into several pieces) to accelerate germination and transplantation, with a row spacing of 30x 10cm. Water the grass after mowing, and topdressing it with quick-acting fertilizer.
3. Nutritional value and utilization: crude protein 15-32% in dry matter of chicory, crude protein content in rosette stage is 22.9% (dry matter), crude fat is 5%, crude fiber 13%, crude ash powder 16%, nitrogen-free extract is 30%, and calcium is added. When the plant is 40cm high, it can be mowed, and the recommended area is 2-3cm. The yield of fresh grass is 20,000-30,000 kg per mu, and it can be fresh fed, silaged or made into dry powder. Feeding 35 kg to cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, geese and other animals can be converted into 1 kg meat.
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