User:Chcrop/sandbox

Cutivation
The crop can be cultivated in paddies (2-7.5m wide by up to 100m long to allow for mechanization) or in a hydroponic culture. As it is an aquatic plant, it should always be submerged in approx. 10cm of water. The crop needs continuously high soil temperatures, ideally 14-15.5°C (6). At 13.6°C, the corms begin to sprout. Soil is ideally a sandy loam with pH 6.5 to 7.2. The plant produces two types of subterranean rhizomes. Under long-daylength conditions, rhizomes grow horizontally and then turn upwards forming daughter plants. Under short-daylength conditions, the rhizomes grow downward and produce a corm at the tip. The photoperiod also significantly influences how fast the corms grow. Corms begin to develop much more slowly if the photoperiod exceeds 12 hours. The corms are also the propagating material. Alternatively, transplants can be used. Machinery such as tractor-mounted vegetable planters can be used for plantation.

Plant nutrition
Nitrogen addition is beneficial for corm production, applying a dose before planting and another dose when corms begin to enlarge. To further improve nutrient levels, Potassium and Phosphorous mineral fertilizers can be used before planting, where the N:P:K uptake ratio is 1.00:0.50:1.75. Also organic mulch, especially mushroom compost, shows good results.

Harvest
Once the corms turn dark brown, they should be harvested. If left in the soil after this point in time, corms will get sweeter, however shelf life will decline. The corms can be harvested using a modified gladioli corm harvester once the paddy is drained. Alternatively, a "water-suction harvester" can be used without the need to drain the paddy. The corms have to be washed after harvest and brushed once they are dry.

Yield
The per plant yield was described at 2.3kg/season (fresh matter). In China, yields are reported between 20-40t/ha, while in the United States a range between 47-85t/ha has been mentioned.

Storage
The harvested corms are best stored at 4°C. At this temperature, transpiration and thus weight loss are minimized. This will also delay sprouting and minimize deterioration resulting from small injuries. Corms should not be stored at temperatures above 13.6°C as otherwise the corms will begin to sprout. If the corms need to be stored longer term, they can also be kept in a solution of 1000 ppm sodium hypochlorite.

Pests
Chinese water chestnut ist usually not very prone to pests, nevertheless some animals and fungi may attack the plant: Water fowl may damage the stems and corms, especially when plants are young. Similarly, rodents and grazing animals pose a threat to the Chinese water chestnut, which may be discouraged by keeping the paddy inundated. Fly larvae (Trichoptera sp.) and other leaf-eating caterpillars also feed on the stems. However, unless complete defoliation below the waterline occurs, the plants can normally tolerate this damage. Plant hoppers (Fulgoridae) and scale insects feed on plant sap and may cause subsequent death. Other pests represent nematodes Ditylenchus spp. and Dolichodorus heterocephalus. Fungal species can also attack the Chinese water chestnut. In warmer climates, a rust is caused by uromyces and Cylindrosporium eleocharidis is causing stem blight.

(To be included in introduction)
The corms contain the antibiotic agent puchiin, which is stable to high temperature.

Apart from the edible corms, the leaves can be used for cattlefeed, mulch or compost.