Cultivation technology and processing of Pinellia ternata

Pinellia ternata, also known as Sanbu Tiao or Ma Yuguo, is a medicinal plant. Its tubers are adapted to warm and humid climatic conditions, have strong cold resistance, prefer shaded environments, but are sensitive to drought conditions. It is suitable for planting in woods or fruit trees, and can also be intercropped with corn. When cultivating, you should choose well-drained and fertile sandy loam. Let’s learn about the cultivation technology and processing of Pinellia ternata.

1. Land Preparation

Choose sandy loam that is easy to irrigate, moist and semi-shaded, apply 2,000 to 3,000 kg of compost per mu, and level the land after plowing.

2. Breeding Methods

Pinellia ternata is a perennial plant that can reproduce naturally through tubers or plant buds.

1. Tuber propagation

When harvesting Pinellia, select small tubers with a diameter of 0.6 to 0.9 cm (or leave them in the ground and germinate naturally in the spring of the following year, but the effect may not be good), preserve them with wet sand, and around Qingming Festival the following year, dig trenches on the selected land with a row spacing of 15 to 18 cm and a trench depth of 5 cm. Place the tubers in the trenches with a plant spacing of 6 to 9 cm, cover with soil and compact it slightly. Water in time in case of drought. About 25 kg of tubers are needed per acre.

2. Plant bud propagation

In summer, when the old leaves wither, the buds under the petioles mature and can be picked and planted with a row spacing of 9 to 15 cm and a plant spacing of 6 to 9 cm, and covered with soil.

3. Seed propagation

For pinellia plants that are two years old or older, they will bloom and bear fruit from early summer to autumn and can be harvested when the spathe turns yellow. After harvesting, store the seeds in moist sand and sow them the following spring. The growth cycle of seed propagation is longer and it takes three years to harvest. Usually tubers or plant buds are used for reproduction in production. Because of their fast growth rate, they can be harvested in the same year or the next year.

3. Field Management

Weeding and loosening the soil: After the seedlings emerge from the soil, weed and loosen the soil regularly, taking care not to damage the roots. It is not advisable to use a hoe in the late growth stage. If there is grass, pull it out by hand.

Watering and fertilizing: Pinellia ternata likes a humid environment and needs to be watered frequently during the growth period. When intercropping with corn, it can be combined with crop management. In summer, dilute human feces and urine can be applied in combination with watering to ensure adequate supply of water and fertilizer.

4. Harvesting and Processing

Pinellia ternata propagated by tubers and plant buds can be harvested in the same year or the next year, while seed propagation takes 3 to 4 years. After autumn, use a small three-toothed rake to start from one end of the bed, and turn the soil shallowly and carefully. Pick up tubers with a diameter of more than 7 mm for medicinal purposes or planting, and leave the smaller ones in the soil for further cultivation.

The processing of Pinellia ternata includes three steps: fermentation, peeling and drying. Pile fresh pinellia indoors with a thickness of about 40 to 50 cm for 15 to 20 days to allow the outer skin to rot slightly and be easy to peel off, then rub off the rough skin. Use a sieve to separate the pinellia into three grades: large, medium and small. Put them into baskets respectively. Place them under running water and use your feet to remove the skin until it becomes white. If the quantity is not large, you can also tie corn cobs to wooden sticks and insert them into the basket, stirring them up and down to wipe off the husks. After peeling, immediately expose to the sun or dry. If it is cloudy, you can soak it in saturated alum water, and change the alum water every 1 to 2 days to prevent rot. Wait until the weather is clear before drying it in the sun. If the pinellia is dry but not white, you can fumigate it with sulfur for one day, using 1 kg of sulfur for every 100 kg. This will turn the color white and prevent insects and mildew.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation technology and processing methods of Pinellia ternata. As a Chinese medicinal plant with good efficacy, its planting prospects are still very good.