Method for efficiently cultivating okra

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for efficiently cultivating okra, which comprises the following steps of: 1) treating okra seeds; 2) seedling raising treatment; 3) soil preparation and film mulching: selecting a planting field and performing film mulching treatment on the planting field; 4) field planting; 5, field management, wherein fertilization, pest and disease damage management, soil humidity management and temperature management are conducted on seedlings on the planting land; and (6) harvesting: harvesting the mature okra. The method is ideal in design, the abelmoschus esculentus seeds are high in germination rate and growth speed, operation is easy and convenient, the effect is remarkable, and field management is more refined. Especially, okra seed germination accelerating cost is not high, implementation is simple and easy, germination accelerating culture is carried out in a hotbed building mode, germination accelerating efficiency is high, operation is standardized, germination uniformity is high, unified sowing is achieved, batch-by-batch operation is not needed, consumption of manpower and material resources in the germination accelerating culture process can be reduced, and the germination accelerating cost is reduced. Technical guarantee is provided for factory-like large-scale cultivation of okra, and standardized and large-scale planting of okra.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of okra cultivation technology, specifically to a method for efficient okra cultivation. Background Technology

[0002] Okra is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Malvaceae family and the genus Abelmoschus. It is also known as kidney-tonifying herb, lady's finger, or goat's finger. Its young pods come in green and red varieties, are crisp and juicy, and rich in pectin and soluble dietary fiber. The plant typically grows to 1-2 meters tall, with palmately lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and pentagonal capsules. The optimal harvest time is 4-7 days after flowering, and the capsules are generally 7-12 centimeters long.

[0003] Current okra cultivation primarily employs the traditional method of burying seeds in soil mounds, which involves trenching, fertilizing, ridging, planting, and sowing. This method has drawbacks, including low seed germination rates, slow growth, insufficient precision in field management, difficulty in controlling soil temperature, and a tendency for soil compaction, leading to uneven and inconsistent seedling emergence. Therefore, exploring high-yield and high-quality okra cultivation techniques has become an urgent task and key issue in okra production, and is of great significance for promoting the healthy development of the okra planting industry. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a method for efficient okra cultivation, overcoming the shortcomings of existing okra planting methods, such as low seed germination rate, slow growth rate, and insufficient precision in field management.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A method for efficient okra cultivation includes the following steps: 1) Okra seed treatment: Soaking the seeds in warm water, then placing them in a damp kraft paper bag and wrapping them in water-soaked newspaper; covering the newspaper with a damp towel and placing them in an incubator to cultivate germinating seeds; 2) Seedling treatment: Treating the germinating seeds for seedling cultivation; 3) Land preparation and mulching: Selecting a planting site and mulching it; 4) Transplanting: Transplanting the seedlings to the planting site; 5) Field management: Managing the seedlings in the planting area by fertilization, pest and disease control, and soil moisture and temperature; 6) Harvesting: Harvesting the mature okra.

[0006] Furthermore, in step 1), the soaking time of the seeds in warm water is controlled to be 7-9 hours; after soaking, the seeds are taken out and put into the warm bed construction operation. The specific method of the warm bed construction operation is as follows: after soaking, the seeds are taken out and put into a kraft paper bag that has been moistened with water, then wrapped with 5-6 sheets of newspaper that have been moistened with water, and a towel is moistened with water, gently wrung out until it is dripping wet and then placed on the newspaper.

[0007] Furthermore, in step 2), select a plot of land that is high and dry, with convenient drainage and fertile soil. This plot needs to be fertilized with base fertilizer and thoroughly watered before sowing. Cover the surface of the plot with a layer of nutrient soil and water it thoroughly before sowing. The thickness of this layer of nutrient soil should be controlled at 1.5-2.0 cm. Construct a flat and loose seedbed. Sow the germinated seeds evenly on the seedbed, then cover the germinated seeds with a layer of fine soil about 1 cm thick, and then cover it with a small arched shed for insulation.

[0008] Furthermore, in step 3), the planting site should preferably be loam or sandy loam with deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. The planting site should be deeply plowed to 20-30cm, with sufficient organic base fertilizer applied. Double-row planting should be carried out by ridging and mulching. The planting site should be ridged and loosened in a north-south direction, and furrows should be dug to make ridges. Drip irrigation pipes should be laid and covered with okra-specific mulch film.

[0009] Furthermore, regarding the fertilization management method in step 5): the first topdressing can be applied when the okra seedlings are thinned or 5-7 days after transplanting. The second topdressing is applied in the early stage of flowering and fruiting, generally 25-30 days after thinning or transplanting, with a weight of about 15 kg per acre. After flowering and fruiting, the growth of the plants should be observed and topdressing should be applied according to the growth status. Normally, topdressing is applied once every 10 days, with about 20 kg per acre. Topdressing should also be applied in the later stage of okra growth. The topdressing is okra-specific fertilizer.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This method is ideally designed, resulting in high germination rate and rapid growth of okra seeds, significant effects, simple and convenient operation, and more refined field management. In particular, the cost of okra seed germination is low, and it is simple and easy to implement. Germination cultivation is carried out through a specialized hotbed construction method, resulting in high germination efficiency and standardized operation, with high uniformity of germination. This allows for unified sowing without the need for batch processing, reducing the consumption of manpower and resources during the germination cultivation process, and providing technical support for the standardized and large-scale industrial cultivation of okra. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of seeds being placed in a kraft paper bag in this invention.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of placing seeds in a kraft paper bag and wrapping them in newspaper soaked in water, as described in this invention.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a wet towel covering a newspaper in this invention.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the germinated seeds obtained after okra seed treatment in this invention.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the planting area after land preparation and mulching in this invention.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the mulch film on the planting ground after being torn along the tearable easy-tear line, 20cm above the ridge, according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Reference manual attached Figures 1-6 A method for efficient okra cultivation includes the following steps: 1) Okra seed treatment: Soak the seeds in warm water, then place them in a damp kraft paper bag and wrap them in water-soaked newspaper; cover the newspaper with a damp towel and place them in an incubator (such as a constant temperature incubator) for cultivation to obtain germinating seeds. A unique warm bed construction method is adopted (i.e., a three-layer structure with a damp kraft paper inner layer, a newspaper middle layer, and a towel outer layer). The design of the damp newspaper, in particular, provides auxiliary isolation between humidity and temperature, effectively preventing rapid loss of humidity and temperature, forming a stable buffer layer (i.e., a humidity and temperature layer); at the same time, the towel outer layer ensures effective air circulation.

[0019] The specific steps for treating okra seeds are as follows: (1) Selecting materials: Select mature and plump seeds of okra varieties 'Special Improved Kariba', 'Green King', or 'Red Okra' as materials; (2) Soaking in warm water: Soak the selected varieties of seeds in warm water for 7-9 hours; (3) Building a warm bed: Take out the soaked seeds and transfer them into a kraft paper bag moistened with water. Wrap the bag with 5-6 sheets of newspaper moistened with water. Moisten a towel (such as an old towel) with water, wring it gently until it drips, and then cover it with the newspaper; (4) Constant temperature cultivation: Place the kraft paper bag in a constant temperature incubator at 30±1℃ for cultivation. After 23-25 ​​hours of cultivation, take out the seeds from the kraft paper bag, rinse them, and repeat step (3) to obtain germinated seeds. For details, please refer to the appendix. Figure 1-4 The effects of this seed treatment on okra seed germination are shown in Table 1 below: variety Seed germination time (h) Seed germination rate Special Improved Kariba 72 hours 99% Green King 72 hours 99% Red okra 72 hours 98% Table 1 shows that the germination rate of yellow okra seeds of each variety is high.

[0020] 2) Seedling Treatment: Treat the germinated seeds for seedling cultivation. Specifically, select a high, dry, well-drained, and fertile plot of land. This plot requires additional base fertilizer to improve soil fertility and thorough watering before sowing. Cover the surface of the plot with a layer of nutrient soil (a mixture of peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, and well-rotted organic fertilizer, etc.) and water thoroughly before sowing. The thickness of this nutrient soil layer should be controlled at 1.5-2.0 cm. Construct a flat and loose seedbed. Evenly sow the germinated seeds on the seedbed, then cover them with a 1 cm layer of fine soil (this fine soil is a base soil composed of garden soil and river sand, with 30% coconut coir and 5% earthworm castings added for improvement). Finally, cover with a small arched greenhouse for insulation. Sowing time is chosen from February to March each year, and seedlings are harvested from May to September of the same year. The combination of nutrient soil and fine soil ensures sufficient nutrients for the germinated seeds and also prevents seed drift.

[0021] 3) Land preparation and mulching: Select a planting site and mulch it. Specifically, choose a planting site with deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained loam or sandy loam soil, ensuring the soil is fine, level, loose, and soft, with a firm subsoil. Deeply plow the planting area to a depth of 20-30cm and apply sufficient organic base fertilizer: Apply approximately 1000kg of fully decomposed livestock manure, 20kg of superphosphate, and 20kg of compound fertilizer per acre. Use a double-row planting method with ridges and mulching. Raise and loosen the soil along a north-south direction, creating raised beds with a 1.0m furrow and a 0.2m high ridge. Generally, the bed width should be 75-80cm, the furrow width 25cm, and the furrow depth approximately 20cm. This facilitates wide and narrow row planting, management, and harvesting, and ensures good drainage, preventing waterlogging and seedling damage. Lay drip irrigation pipes and cover with mulch. Ridging helps the soil warm up quickly; mulching helps save water, retain soil moisture, prevent soil compaction, reduce weeds, improve the root growth environment, increase soil temperature, prevent drought, and promote rapid okra growth. The mulch is a special mulch for okra, comprising a mulch body, multiple planting holes spaced apart along the length of the mulch, and tear-away seams. The multiple planting holes form one row. Alternatively, the multiple planting holes form two rows, with each row consisting of several planting holes.

[0022] 4) Transplanting: Transplant the seedlings to the planting site. Specifically, transplanting should be done on a sunny afternoon or a cloudy day. The seedlings should be planted in double rows, with a plant spacing of 35-40cm and a row spacing of 35-40cm, one seedling per hole. After planting, water thoroughly to help the roots establish. The root-setting water should be diluted 3000 times with Trichoderma harzianum from the United States and 2000 times with Acardian from Canada to prevent disease and promote root growth.

[0023] 5) Field management: Fertilization, pest and disease control, soil moisture and temperature management for seedlings on the planting site. Specifically, (1) Fertilization management: The first topdressing (i.e. seedling fertilizer) can be applied when okra seedlings are established or 5-7 days after planting. The second topdressing is applied in the early stage of flowering and fruiting, that is, 25-30 days after seedling establishment or planting. The weight of topdressing per mu is about 15 kg. After flowering and fruiting, observe the growth of the plants and apply fertilizer according to the growth status. Normally, topdressing is applied once every 10 days, with about 20 kg per mu. Topdressing should also be applied when okra enters the later stage of growth. This can prevent premature aging of the plants and increase the yield in the later stage. Okra is drought-tolerant but not waterlogged-tolerant, but it cannot lack water during flowering and fruiting. During its vigorous growth period, it needs timely and sufficient water supply to promote rapid growth and development of young fruits. Pruning is crucial: remove lateral branches in the early growth stage to improve ventilation and reduce nutrient consumption at the base, promoting the growth of the main stem and enhancing its water and fertilizer transport capacity. During flowering and fruiting, remove lower old leaves, leaving 2-3 leaves below the fruit. After flowering and fruiting, harvest young fruits regularly and remove old leaves below them to improve air circulation and promote flowering and fruiting. The topdressing fertilizer used is a special fertilizer for okra, which is based on water-soluble fertilizer (N:P2O:K2O=17:17:17) with a small amount of micro-particle boron (the content of micro-particle boron is one percent of that in water-soluble fertilizer). This special okra fertilizer has a good topdressing effect, greatly increasing okra yield. The following is a topdressing experiment using this special okra fertilizer.

[0024] The okra variety 'Fruit Okra' was selected as the experimental material. Sowing began on July 10th of the same year, and topdressing started on August 30th. Topdressing was applied every 15 days via spot application. Three topdressing treatments were set up: CK: conventional topdressing treatment per 667m². 2 The experiment used 30 kg of 45% Sakefu compound fertilizer (N:P20:K20=17:17:17); T1: 20 kg of Rosier water-soluble fertilizer (N:P20:K20=17:17:17) + 100 g of microparticle boron; T2: 10 kg of Jiajin water-soluble fertilizer (N:P20:K20=17:17:17) + 100 g of microparticle boron. A randomized block design was used. Each plot consisted of a 1.5-meter-wide ditch and a 10-meter-long furrow. Double rows were planted per plot with a plant spacing of 40 cm, and the experiment was replicated three times. Yields were assessed every 2–4 days, from September 1st to November 1st of the same year. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0025]

[0026] As shown in Table 2, the T2 (i.e., the special fertilizer for okra) treatment plot had the highest yield of 53.25 kg, which was significantly higher than that of the control group.

[0027] (2) Soil moisture management: Summer's high temperatures last for a long time, and water management in the middle and later stages of okra cultivation under film is a crucial aspect. Film covering can reduce water evaporation, but it can also affect soil aeration and water repulsion. Therefore, irrigation should be carried out reasonably according to the okra's water requirements and the soil's water retention capacity to avoid problems caused by insufficient or excessive water.

[0028] (3) Soil Temperature Management: Temperature control is also an important consideration in okra mulching cultivation. Mulching can increase soil temperature, which is beneficial for crop growth and development. However, during the high temperatures of July and August, conventional mulching can easily lead to root burn and suffocation in okra. We can use okra-specific mulch film, tearing it along the tear-off line 20cm above the ridge to lower the temperature under the film, allowing the roots to dissipate heat, ensuring normal crop growth, and preventing yellowing. For details, please refer to the appendix. Figure 6 .

[0029] Alternatively, when mulching, the soil layer at the height of the ridge can be left uncovered for cultivation, or a puncture-type mulch film can be used, with the punctures torn open during the mid-to-late seedling stage, i.e., the high-temperature period.

[0030] (4) Pest and disease management: This okra variety is highly resistant to disease. If pests occur, they are mainly aphids and thrips. For aphids, use 10% flonicamid at 30-50g / mu, once every 7 days, for 1-2 consecutive times. For thrips, use a mixture of 22% flonicamid and 33% spinosad, diluted at 25ml + 30ml per mu with 30kg of water for spraying. This method is effective against resistant thrips. If diseases occur, powdery mildew is the main disease. Spray with 70% mancozeb at 500 times dilution or 65% zineb at 600 times dilution, once every 10 days, for 1-2 consecutive times. Prevention is key. Strengthen water and fertilizer management to prevent or reduce the occurrence of diseases.

[0031] 6) Harvesting: Harvest mature okra. This usually happens about a week after the flowers have faded. The okra is at its best quality when the pods reach approximately 10 cm in length; this is the optimal time for harvesting. When harvesting, avoid pulling with your hands; instead, use scissors to cut the pods to prevent damage to the plant.

[0032] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the design concept of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any non-substantial modifications made to the present invention using this concept shall be considered as infringing upon the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for efficient okra cultivation, characterized in that: It includes the following steps: 1) Okra seed treatment: Soak the seeds in warm water, then put the seeds in a damp kraft paper bag and wrap them in water-soaked newspaper; cover the newspaper with a damp towel and place them in an incubator to cultivate them and obtain germinated seeds; 2) Seedling treatment: Treat the germinated seeds for seedling cultivation; 3) Land preparation and mulching: Select a planting site and mulch the planting site; 4) Transplanting: Transplant the seedlings to the planting site for transplanting. 5) Field management: Fertilize, manage pests and diseases, and control soil moisture and temperature for seedlings on the planting ground; 6) Harvesting: Harvest mature okra.

2. The method for efficient okra cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 1), the seeds are soaked in warm water for 7-9 hours. After soaking, the seeds are taken out and put into the hotbed construction operation. The specific method of the hotbed construction operation is as follows: after soaking, the seeds are taken out and put into a kraft paper bag that has been moistened with water. Then, the bag is wrapped with 5-6 sheets of newspaper that have been moistened with water. A towel is moistened with water, gently wrung out until it drips, and then placed on the newspaper.

3. The method for efficient okra cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 2), select a plot of land that is high and dry, with convenient drainage and fertile soil. This plot needs to be fertilized with base fertilizer and thoroughly watered before sowing. Cover the surface of the plot with a layer of nutrient soil and water it thoroughly before sowing. The thickness of this nutrient soil layer should be controlled at 1.5-2.0 cm. Construct a flat and loose seedbed. Sow the germinated seeds evenly on the seedbed, then cover the germinated seeds with a layer of fine soil about 1 cm thick, and then cover it with a small arched shed for insulation.

4. The method for efficient okra cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 3), the planting site should preferably be loam or sandy loam with deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. The planting site should be deeply plowed to 20-30cm, with sufficient organic base fertilizer applied. Double-row planting with ridges and mulch should be adopted. The planting site should be ridged and loosened in a north-south direction, and furrows should be dug to make ridges. Drip irrigation pipes should be laid and covered with okra-specific mulch.

5. The method for efficient okra cultivation according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 5), the fertilization management method is as follows: the first topdressing can be applied when the okra seedlings are thinned or 5-7 days after transplanting. The second topdressing is applied in the early stage of flowering and fruiting, that is, generally 25-30 days after thinning or transplanting, with a weight of about 15 kg per mu. After flowering and fruiting, the growth of the plants should be observed and topdressing should be applied according to the growth status. Normally, topdressing is applied once every 10 days, with about 20 kg per mu. Topdressing should also be applied when the okra enters the later stage of growth. The topdressing is okra-specific fertilizer.

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