Cabbage is a common vegetable cultivated in various regions. In recent years, the occurrence of tipburn during cabbage production has been increasing, adversely affecting both the yield and quality of cabbage. Let's learn about the causes and solutions for tipburn in cabbage.
What Causes Tipburn in Cabbage and How to Solve It?
Main Symptoms
During the seedling stage, the edges of the new leaves dry up and curl inward, inhibiting growth and preventing proper head formation. In the early stage of head formation, the leaf margins become water-soaked and semi-transparent, later turning light yellow to brownish-yellow and eventually becoming dry and withered. The leaves shrink, forming white dry bands. In the later stage of head formation, the outer appearance appears normal, but upon cutting, the leaf margins are found to be scorched. Although the leaves can continue to grow, the heads are loose, and some may rot due to bacterial infection.
Causes of Tipburn in Cabbage
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Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer in high-temperature, dry conditions leads to calcium deficiency during the early and middle stages of head formation, causing browning and rotting of leaf margins.
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Calcium deficiency resulting from soil acidification, fluctuating soil moisture levels, drought, or continuous high temperatures affects calcium absorption.
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Low organic matter content in the soil, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, high soil concentrations, and excessive fertilization affect calcium absorption by the roots.
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Severe manganese deficiency in northern alkaline soils can also cause tipburn in cabbage.
How to Solve Tipburn in Cabbage?
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Select cabbage varieties that are resistant to diseases.
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Apply organic fertilizers heavily to increase soil temperature, and water moderately, ensuring simultaneous application of fertilizers and water to prevent excessively concentrated soil solutions that may lead to tipburn.
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Apply additional organic fertilizers, and combine nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient fertilizers, avoiding excessive use of single nitrogen fertilizers.
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Externally supplement calcium when cabbage is about to head, by spraying calcium-containing foliar fertilizers on the heart leaves every 10 days or so.
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When sowing cabbage seeds, mix them with fertilizers containing trace elements such as manganese, or spray fertilizers containing manganese twice during the seedling stage and head formation stage of cabbage.
In summary, farmers should pay attention to tipburn in cabbage, which mainly occurs during the seedling and head formation stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Cabbage Tipburn
What is cabbage tipburn?
Cabbage tipburn is a physiological disorder characterized by the browning and drying of leaf margins, leading to reduced head quality and yield.
What are the main symptoms of cabbage tipburn?
The main symptoms include drying and inward curling of leaf edges during the seedling stage, water-soaked and semi-transparent leaf margins in the early head formation stage, and dry, withered leaf margins with white bands during the later head formation stage.
What causes cabbage tipburn?
Cabbage tipburn can be caused by several factors, including excessive nitrogen fertilizer use, calcium deficiency due to soil conditions or fluctuations in soil moisture, low organic matter content in the soil, and severe manganese deficiency in certain soils.
How can cabbage tipburn be prevented?
To prevent cabbage tipburn, farmers can select cabbage varieties resistant to diseases, apply organic fertilizers to increase soil temperature and ensure moderate watering, avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers, and externally supplement calcium and manganese during critical growth stages.
How can cabbage tipburn be treated?
Once cabbage tipburn occurs, it cannot be treated directly. However, by addressing the underlying causes such as nutrient deficiencies and soil conditions, farmers can prevent further occurrence of tipburn in subsequent cabbage crops.
