Ligusticum chuanxiong planting time, methods and techniques explained in detail

Since the main producing area of Ligusticum chuanxiong is Sichuan, especially Dujiangyan, the first issue to consider when planting Ligusticum chuanxiong is the creation of a natural environment for growing it; at the same time, respecting the growth patterns of Ligusticum chuanxiong and choosing the right planting timing are also very critical issues.

Ligusticum chuanxiong planting techniques

1. Site selection and land preparation: For cultivating Ligusticum chuanxiong, it is advisable to choose soil that faces the sun, has deep soil layers, good drainage, relatively high fertility, and is neutral or slightly acidic. Overly sandy cold sandy soil, yellow clay, white eel mud, and low-lying wet fields are not suitable for planting. Before planting, remove all weeds, burn the grass into charcoal for fertilizer, and after plowing, break the soil up finely and level it. According to the terrain and drainage conditions, make beds 1.6-1.8 m wide.

2. Timely planting: Around early to mid-August, open furrows on the prepared bed surface at a row spacing of 33×20 cm and plant, with furrow depth of 2-3 cm. At the same time, every 6-10 rows, plant one row densely between the rows with lingzi to prepare for replanting missing seedlings. Lingzi must be planted shallowly, laid flat in the furrow, with the buds facing upward and pressed upright into the soil. Make sure they both contact the soil and have some node discs exposed above the soil surface.

3. Intertillage and weeding: After planting Ligusticum chuanxiong, cover the lingzi with sifted fine compost or soil manure. About half a month after planting, when the seedlings are fully emerged, remove the covering grass, and carry out intertillage and weeding about once every 20 days. Where seedlings are missing, combine replanting with intertillage, and at the last intertillage and weeding, earth up around the rhizomes to protect the rhizomes through winter.

4. Reasonable topdressing: Within 2 months after planting Ligusticum chuanxiong, concentrate topdressing 3 times, once every 20 days, with the last application required before Frost's Descent. The fertilization amount per mu is 1.2 tons of farmyard manure, 30 kg of oil cake, 100 kg of plant ash, 25 kg of ammonium sulfate, 40 kg of superphosphate, and 10 kg of potassium sulfate. When the stems and leaves grow rapidly in spring, apply topdressing once more, with the same fertilization amount as before.

5. Timely harvesting: The most suitable time for digging is late May of the second year after planting. If dug too early, the underground rhizomes are not yet fully mature and the yield is low. If dug too late, the rhizomes are already fully ripe and prone to rotting underground. For digging, choose a sunny day, dig up the whole plant, knock off the soil on the rhizomes, remove the stems and leaves, roast over a low fire, then place into a bamboo cage and shake to remove soil and fibrous roots.

How much does Ligusticum chuanxiong seed cost per jin

The market price of Ligusticum chuanxiong seeds is about 8-10 yuan per jin. Ligusticum chuanxiong is a medicinal plant, preferring a mild climate, abundant rainfall, sufficient sunlight and a relatively humid environment, but the ling seed cultivation stage and storage period require cool climatic conditions. The growth period is 280-290 days, and it is advisable to choose sandy loam with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, good drainage, rich organic matter content, and neutral or slightly acidic properties.

Field management of Ligusticum chuanxiong

1. Ling field management

Seedlings emerge around Awakening of Insects. When seedlings are 10-12 cm tall, carry out weeding, thinning, loosening the soil, and fertilizing. When thinning, choose 8-12 stems that are uniform in thickness and growing well, and pull out all the rest. After Grain Rain, carry out intertillage, weeding, and topdressing. Intertillage should be shallow. Each time, use 2000-3000 kg of pig manure water per mu, mixed with about 100 kg of rapeseed cake. At the same time, do a good job in pest and disease control, drought prevention, flood prevention, lodging prevention, and prevention of trampling by animals and livestock.

2. Management of Ligusticum chuanxiong fields in dam areas

① Replanting missing seedlings: During the 1st and 2nd intertillage and weeding, choose cloudy days, dig up “shoulder-pole lingzi” or “sealed-mouth lingzi” for replanting. When replanting, transplant with soil and water after replanting to ensure survival.

② Intertillage and weeding: Generally intertillage and weed 4 times. About 15 days after planting, remove the covering grass and carry out shallow intertillage. After 20 more days, carry out the 2nd time, loosening the soil slightly shallower than the 1st time to avoid damaging the roots. After another 20 days, carry out the 3rd time, but only weed without intertillage. In mid-to-late January of the following year, when the stems and leaves wither and turn yellow, carry out the 4th time. Intertillage and weed, and cover the soil from between the rows onto the bed to protect the rhizomes through winter. ③ Topdressing: Generally apply once after each of the first 3 intertillage and weeding operations. For the 1st time, use 1000-1500 kg of pig manure water per mu, add 3 times the amount of water and 25-40 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, mix evenly and pour into the holes. For the 2nd time, use 1500-2000 kg of pig manure water per mu, add 2 times the amount of water and 30-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, with the same application method as the 1st time. For the 3rd time, before Frost's Descent, use 2000-2500 kg of pig manure water, mix with 1 times the amount of water and apply, and 2-3 days later use 45-60 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, 100-125 kg of plant ash, and 250-300 kg of compost or soil fertilizer, break them up finely and mix evenly, apply at the base of the plants, and cover well with soil. In some producing areas, in early spring of the following year, according to the seedling condition, apply 1 additional spring fertilizer, using 1000-1500 kg of light pig manure water per mu, add 2 times the amount of water, and pour into the holes to promote growth and increase yield.

Harvesting of Ligusticum chuanxiong

Because regions differ, harvesting seasons vary. In Sichuan, harvest from late May to early June of the second year after planting. In Beijing, harvest in early August of the second year after planting. In Yunnan, dig after the aboveground parts wither between October and November of the second year, choose a sunny day, remove fallen leaves, cut fibrous roots and soil, and keep the nodes (shaolingzi) as seed stock, which must not be sun-dried. Separate by size, dry by slow fire or sun-dry, and after drying place in a bamboo basket and shake and knock to remove the outer coarse skin, fibrous roots, and soil. Generally, 1.25 kg of fresh Ligusticum chuanxiong yields 0.5 kg of dried product.

In addition to carefully choosing the planting environment for Ligusticum chuanxiong, the planting process also must not be careless. In addition, the harvesting, processing, and preparation of Ligusticum chuanxiong are all keys that determine its quality, so growers of Chinese medicinal materials and people in Chinese medicine should all be the people in this world who best follow the timing of heaven.