Pinellia planting technology and methods

Pinellia ternata, also known as wild taro , old stork's eye, three-step jump, wild taro, dry pinellia ternata or three-leaf pinellia ternata, is a perennial herb belonging to the Araceae family. The medicinal part is the tuber of the Pinellia plant, which can be used as a medicine after being scrubbed to remove the outer skin, dried and processed using a specific processing technique. Let’s learn about the planting techniques and methods of Pinellia ternata.

1. Land Selection and Preparation

The key to ensuring a good yield of Pinellia ternata is to choose suitable land. Pinellia is a fibrous root herb with a shallow root system, usually not exceeding 20 cm. Therefore, you should choose sandy loam or clay loam with fertile soil, rich organic matter, acidic pH value, loose soil, and good drainage and irrigation conditions. In mountainous areas, semi-shaded slopes are preferred. The previous season's crops should preferably be leguminous or grassy. Avoid using heavy clay and saline-alkali soil to prevent poor tuber growth or seedling death; waterlogged land is also not suitable because it is easy for water to accumulate and cause tuber rot.

2. Reproduction Technology

There are three ways to propagate Pinellia ternata: seeds, bulbils and tubers. In actual production, bulbils and tubers are mainly used for propagation.

Seed propagation: Collect seeds after the fruits ripen in summer and autumn, and can be sown immediately in summer. Before sowing, prepare the land, dig 2 to 3 cm deep furrows with a row spacing of 10 cm, cover it after sowing, and keep the soil moist. Seedlings will emerge in about 7 to 10 days. If seeds are collected in autumn, they should be stored in wet sandy soil first, and then sown according to the above method in late March of the following year. After the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic film covering.

Bulbous propagation: Bulbous usually form on the petiole and may grow underground or above ground depending on the planting depth. The bulbils formed underground are larger, about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter; those above ground are smaller, about 0.4 to 0.7 cm. In production, bulbils are usually not sown separately. Instead, the soil method is used after the bulbils appear to encourage them to take root and sprout, forming new plants, which saves labor and is beneficial to growth.

Tuber propagation: It is the main method of field cultivation and tuber propagation can significantly increase yield. The planting time varies according to the region. South of the Yangtze River, it can be planted in late autumn, while the Huanghuai region is suitable for spring planting. Spring planting should be early, preferably between "Qingzhe" and "Spring Equinox".

3. Planting technology

10 to 15 days before planting, soak the seeds in 5% wood ash solution or 1000 times diluted 50% carbendazim for 2 hours. After drying, germinate in a warm place. When the bud sheaths sprout, dig trenches and plant according to the row spacing and soil covering depth required for planting of different sizes. After planting, spray the ground with sethoxydim solution and then cover the ground with mulch to increase temperature and retain moisture, allowing seedlings to emerge earlier.

4. Field Management

It includes mulch management, irrigation and drainage, inter-row cultivation and weeding, straw covering for cooling, soil cultivation and rainy season management. The key is to maintain appropriate soil moisture, prevent drought and over-humidity, weed and cultivate the soil in time, and manage the rainy season in time.

5. Pest and disease control

Including the prevention and control of tuber rot, leaf curl, leaf scald and insect pests. Prevention and control methods include choosing high-dry land for planting, seed disinfection, timely removal of diseased plants, crop rotation and the use of pesticides for control.

6. Harvesting and Processing

The harvest of pinellia should be timely, and the processing includes removing the skin, washing, sulfur fumigation and drying. Fresh pinellia should be processed in time and the unprocessed parts should be properly stored. When storing seeds, attention should be paid to ventilation and moisture retention in preparation for use next year.

In summary, choosing good varieties is the basis for high yield of Pinellia ternata. Peach-leaf and bamboo-leaf types of Pinellia ternata should be selected, which have tall and thick petioles, thick leaves, strong photosynthesis and high yield. Using large tubers as seeds is beneficial to vigorous growth in the seedling stage and the production of more bulbils, thereby increasing yield.