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Onion and fertilizer management in autumn
Autumn is a crucial time for vegetable growth, and proper field management plays a vital role in ensuring healthy development, especially for green onions. To enhance the growth of green onions during this season, it's essential to focus on root promotion, strong plant development, and soil loosening. Effective water and fertilizer management are also key to creating optimal conditions for the formation of high-quality green onions, ultimately improving both yield and quality.
When it comes to watering green onions in autumn, it's important to be careful with irrigation. After planting, the summer period requires controlled watering to avoid over-saturation. Drainage should be ensured after rain to prevent issues like root rot, yellowing leaves, and seedling death. At the same time, regular cultivation helps promote root growth. From the beginning of autumn until the White Dew festival, watering should be done lightly, preferably in the morning or evening. Once White Dew arrives, green onions enter their peak growth phase, and irrigation should follow a more consistent schedule—watering every 4 to 6 days. As temperatures drop after the Frost Descent, the water needs of the plants decrease, so the soil should remain slightly moist. It’s recommended to stop watering 5 to 7 days before harvest to make harvesting and transportation easier.
Fertilization is another critical aspect of autumn green onion care. Green onions benefit from top-dressing in addition to base fertilizers. After the start of autumn, when growth accelerates, a "leaf growth" top-dressing can be applied. This involves using 1,500 to 2,000 kg of well-rotted farmyard manure per acre, along with 20 to 25 kg of superphosphate to encourage leaf development. Following the White Dew festival, which marks the peak growth period, two rounds of "tree-fertilizer" top-dressing should be applied in combination with watering. Each application should include 15–20 kg of urea and 10–15 kg of potassium sulfate, applied along the rows and incorporated into the soil through shallow cultivation.
To improve the yield and quality of green onions, earthing up (soil mounding) is an effective practice. This technique helps soften the leaf sheaths, prevents lodging, and enhances both yield and quality. From the start of autumn until harvest, the soil should be cultivated three times. The first two times involve combining cultivation with mounding, where soil from the ridges is moved into the onion furrows. The height of each mounding should be adjusted based on the plant's pseudo-stem growth, typically around 3–4 cm each time. The soil should be mounded up to the base of the uppermost leaves without covering the heart, to avoid leaf decay.
Onion and garlic vegetables have specific fertilization requirements. These crops are heavy feeders and require a balanced supply of nutrients. Applying good base fertilizer is essential, and it’s recommended to use organic manure combined with phosphorus, potassium, or compound fertilizers. These plants are particularly responsive to potassium and sulfur, so it's important to ensure adequate potassium sulfate application. This not only boosts yield but also significantly improves the overall quality of the produce. A well-balanced approach to fertilization is key to achieving the best results in growing these valuable crops.
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