Planting methods and techniques of Chuanxiong

Chuanxiong usually prefers a mild climate, plenty of rain, abundant sunshine and a humid environment. During the seedling cultivation stage and storage period of Chuanxiong, it prefers cool climate conditions. This Chinese medicinal plant is mainly distributed in Sichuan in my country, and can also be seen growing in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other regions, all of which provide a suitable mild climate environment. As a medicinal material, Chuanxiong occupies an important position in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. Let’s learn about the planting methods and techniques of Chuanxiong.

1. Breeding Methods

Chuanxiong mainly reproduces through its stem nodes, namely, Chuanxiongzi. After the above-ground part withers every year, dig up Chuanxiong and cut off the stem nodes on the roots. Each stem node has 1-2 buds. The sowing amount per hectare is about 2,250 kilograms. Larger rhizomes are processed into commercial products. Before planting, store the seedlings until the Waking of Insects of the following year. The depth of the row sowing furrow should be 12 to 16 cm. The row spacing should be kept at about 20-25 cm by 35 cm. Place 1-2 seedlings in each hole, making sure the bud tip is facing upwards. Cover with 6 cm of fine soil. The amount of base fertilizer applied is 15,000-22,500 kg per hectare.

2. Cultivation Technology

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose virgin wasteland or clay loam on the sunny slopes of high mountains or on the semi-shady and semi-sunny slopes of low mountains with a cool climate. Before planting, remove weeds, cultivate the land, plow the soil 30 cm deep, and make 1.5-meter-wide beds.

2. Site selection and land preparation for propagation materials in mountainous areas

After removing the weeds, burn the ash on the spot as base fertilizer, plow the land to a depth of about 25 cm, harrow the land, and make ridges 1.7-1.8 meters wide according to the terrain and drainage conditions.

3. Cultivation in Pingba area

The previous crops were mostly early rice. After harvesting, the rice stumps were removed and furrows were dug to make ridges. The ridges were about 1.6 meters wide, the furrows were 33 centimeters wide and 25 centimeters deep. The topsoil was loosened and shaped into a fish-back shape. It is preferred to use compost or manure and spread it on the bed surface, and mix it with the topsoil when digging.

4. Plant at the right time

Planting should be carried out around the beginning of autumn, no later than the end of August. Too early or too late is not conducive to the growth of seedlings. When planting, remove the stem nodes without buds or damaged ones, and plant them according to size. Dig shallow trenches horizontally on the bed surface, with row spacing of 30-40 cm, about 3 cm deep, and plant spacing of 17-20 cm. Place the Chuanxiong obliquely, gently press the buds upward, and plant at a moderate depth. After planting, cover the node trays with fine earth manure or fire soil ash mixed with compost, and cover the bed surface with straw. Use 30-40 kg of Chuanxiong per mu.

3. Field Management

1. Intertillage and weeding

Usually performed 4 times. The first time is in late August, with a shallow hoeing; the second time is done after 20 days, and the soil should be loosened shallowly without damaging the roots; the third time is done after another 20 days, when the underground rhizomes are in full development, and only weeds need to be pulled out; the fourth time is in mid-to-late January of the following year, when withered stems and leaves in the field are cleaned up, inter-row cultivation and weeding are not allowed, and soil is piled up around the root mark.

2. Reasonable fertilization

In the first year and the second year after planting Chuanxiong, concentrated topdressing is required three times, which can be combined with tillage and weeding. The first time, apply 1000-1500 kg of human and animal manure and 25-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu; the second time, use 1500-2000 kg of human and animal manure and 30-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu; the third time, first apply 2000-2500 kg of human and animal manure per mu, then mix 500 kg of cake fertilizer, ash, compost, and manure into dry fertilizer, apply it in holes beside planting, and cover with soil after application.

4. Harvesting and Processing

The optimum harvest period is 4-5 days after Grain Full in the second year. Harvesting too early or too late will affect yields and income. When harvesting, choose a sunny day to dig up the whole plant, pick off the stems and leaves, remove the soil, and dry the rhizomes in the field for a while before transporting them back for processing.

After harvest, it must be dried promptly, usually on a hot bed. The fire should not be too strong. The vegetables should be turned up and down once a day when they are cooked on the kang. After 2-3 days, when they emit a strong fragrance, they should be put into a bamboo basket and shaken to remove mud, sand and fibrous roots, and then they are ready for sale. The dry rate is about 30-35%.

The above is an introduction to the planting methods and technical points of Chuanxiong. Friends who want to plant it can check whether your local environment is suitable. In addition, it is also important to master comprehensive planting knowledge.