Cultivation Technology and Management of Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and its dried roots and rhizomes are the main medicinal parts. The main production areas include Shaanxi, Sichuan, Anhui, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and other provinces, and artificial cultivation is currently carried out throughout China. Let’s learn about the cultivation techniques and management of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

1. Land selection and consolidation

Choose sandy soil with plenty of sunlight, deep soil and good drainage for planting Salvia miltiorrhiza. Avoid soil that is too heavy as this may cause root rot. Apply 400 to 600 kg of organic fertilizer and 50 to 75 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer (15-15-15) per mu as base fertilizer. The land needs to be leveled and ridged, with a ridge width of 35 to 40 cm and a height of 25 cm. Make sure there are good gutters all around to allow for water to drain away.

2. Planting Method

Seed selection and seedling cultivation. Select high-quality Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds that are plump and have a germination rate of over 90%, and sow them in late June or early July each year. The sowing amount per mu is 4 to 5 kg. Mix it evenly with 2 to 3 times the volume of fine sand and sow it in the seedbed. Cover it with about 0.5 cm of soil. After compacting, cover it with wheat straw or shade net to keep the soil moist to promote germination.

Transplanting. The survival rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seedlings is relatively high, and the suitable time for transplanting is March to April in spring or late October in autumn. When transplanting, dig holes on the ridge surface according to the standard of 55 to 60 cm for large row spacing, 35 to 45 cm for small row spacing, and 15 to 20 cm for plant spacing. About 12,000 to 14,000 plants are planted per acre. The planting depth should be consistent with the natural growth depth of the seedlings. After cultivating the soil, the heart buds should be slightly exposed. Water thoroughly immediately after planting to allow the seeds to take root.

Reproduction. When harvesting in autumn, keep a portion of the root plot and dig it up between March and April of the following year. Select roots with a diameter of 0.7 to 1 cm, healthy, free of pests and diseases, and red skin as seed roots. Select the parts with strong growth from the middle and upper parts of the new roots, break the high-quality roots into sections about 5 cm long and place them obliquely, and cover them with soil about 3 cm thick. About 50 kg of seed roots are used per acre.

3. Field Management

Intertillage and weeding. Usually three weeding operations are required. The first time is during the greening period or when the seedlings are about 6 to 8 cm tall. Note that the tillage should be shallow to avoid damaging the roots. The second time is in June; the third time is in July or August. No more tillage and weeding will be carried out after ridge closing.

top dressing. Mainly apply basal fertilizer. If the basal fertilizer is insufficient, topdressing can be applied during tillage and weeding. Apply about 15 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer (15-15-15) per mu.

irrigation and drainage. During the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage and waterlogging prevention. Stagnant water will affect the growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza roots, reduce yield and quality, and even cause root rot and plant death.

During the flowering period of Salvia miltiorrhiza, except for plants prepared for seed harvesting, the inflorescences should be removed in batches to facilitate root growth.

The above is an introduction to the key points of Salvia miltiorrhiza cultivation. Friends who want to grow Salvia miltiorrhiza need to manage it according to the actual environmental conditions and should not blindly follow the trend.