Seedling Raising, Sowing and Cultivation Techniques for Oilseed Peony from August to October

AbstractNursery site selection: Choose sandy soil with relatively high terrain, good drainage, relatively loose soil and fertile texture as the nursery site. Seed soaking and germination promotion: Soak the seeds in warm water at about 50°C for about 2 days, then mix in a small amount of plant ash before sowing. Timely sowing: The sowing time is from August to October, and seed propagation is mostly used. Planting method: At sowing, the soil moisture content should be about 70%. For relatively flat garden plots, the drill sowing method can be used, and plastic film should be covered immediately after covering with soil.

I. Nursery Site Selection and Land Preparation

1. The peony seedling nursery should be selected on sandy soil with relatively high terrain, good drainage conditions, relatively loose soil and fertile texture, and soil that drains easily yet has water-retention capacity should be used as the nursery site. It is not suitable for saline-alkali, low-lying, heavy clay or continuous cropping plots.

2. The nursery site should maintain a certain planting distance from peony planting areas to avoid the spread and infection of pests and diseases.

3. After selecting the nursery site, carry out intermediate tillage and deep plowing, level the land, open furrows and make beds to facilitate drainage. Carry out deep plowing and sun-drying one month in advance, with a depth of about 50 cm.

4. Generally carry this out on sunny days. Sun exposure can promote soil maturation and also has the effect of killing insect eggs and pathogens.

5. Before plowing, apply about 1,500 kg of decomposed barnyard manure and 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer, and apply them together with fungicides and soil insecticides.

II. Seed Soaking and Germination Promotion

1. Before sowing, first remove shriveled seeds and impurities, then soak in warm water at about 50°C for about 2 days. This can remove floating, unfilled seeds, retain plump seeds for sowing, and also soften the seed coat and allow water absorption and swelling, which is conducive to germination.

2. After soaking, mix in a small amount of plant ash before sowing, which helps improve germination and seedling emergence.

3. If sowing is not carried out promptly after soaking, bury the seeds in sand. The sand storage time should be at most about 20 days, after which sowing must be carried out.

III. Timely Sowing

1. The sowing time for oilseed peony is from August to October. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, it is generally from the end of August to the first ten days to middle ten days of September. In the Tongling area, it is generally in the middle and last ten days of September. Seed propagation is used, and the seedling emergence rate is generally about 80%, with the highest reaching more than 90%.

2. Its seeds have the characteristic of epicotyl dormancy. After autumn sowing, at normal temperature they can only develop young roots. They need to go through the low temperatures of winter to complete their dormancy change, and then germinate in the following spring.

3. If the soil temperature at sowing is low or the sowing period is relatively late, plastic film should be covered after sowing; otherwise, they will not take root or germinate that year.

IV. Planting Methods

1. When sowing oilseed peony seedlings, the soil moisture content should be about 70%. Sow after supplementing water as needed according to the specific conditions.

2. In relatively flat garden plots, the drill sowing method can be used, with row spacing of about 30 cm, sowing width of about 10 cm, and sowing furrow depth of about 8 cm.

3. After covering with soil, immediately cover with plastic film. Cover the plastic film with about 2 cm of soil to maintain sufficient moisture and promote seed germination.

4. About one month after sowing, they will germinate and grow embryonic roots. By around the end of February of the following year, the seedlings can emerge from the soil, and after about 15 days the young leaves will unfold.

V. Later-Stage Management

1. About 30 days after sowing, the seeds will take root and germinate. Before winter, the young roots can grow to about 10 cm.

2. If winter is dry, promptly cover with rice straw or thatch to protect them through the winter.

3. By late February and early March of the following year, after the seeds have broken epicotyl dormancy through the low temperatures of winter, the seedlings begin to germinate and emerge.

4. Seedlings are suitable for growing under shaded conditions, so measures such as building shade sheds can be taken as appropriate.

5. During later growth, carry out intermediate tillage and weeding in a timely manner to prevent soil compaction.

6. Carry out topdressing in a timely manner. Generally, decomposed human manure and urine or rapeseed cake are used, applied together with an appropriate amount of urea and compound fertilizer. Excessive application is not suitable, and they need to be fully diluted before use.

7. On rainy days, drain water in a timely manner to prevent waterlogging from causing root rot in the seedlings.

8. In summer droughts, water in a timely manner. Straw can also be covered to lower the surface temperature, reduce water loss, and play a role in drought resistance.

VI. Pest and Disease Control

1. In spring, when the temperature begins to rise and is around 25°C, seedlings grow relatively quickly during this period, so fungal diseases should be prevented in advance.

2. Fungicides, growth promoters and foliar fertilizers can be used in combination, or used separately. Applying them continuously about 3 times during March to April gives a relatively good effect.