Introduction to Scutellaria baicalensis Cultivation Techniques and Main Producing Areas

Astragalus membranaceus is a common traditional Chinese medicine; its appearance is quite similar to a tree root, and when picked up and smelled, it has a faint medicinal aroma. Astragalus membranaceus has many effects and functions, and it is currently very popular on the market. So now many people want to grow it, so first they need to understand its cultivation techniques.

Scutellaria baicalensis Cultivation Techniques

1. Scutellaria baicalensis cultivation. Sowing is divided into two methods: direct seed sowing and seedling transplanting.

1. Direct seed sowing:

① Sowing period: when soil moisture is guaranteed, sowing is best around mid-April, when the soil temperature at 5 cm underground is stable at 15°C, or sow from late March to early April with plastic film mulching, or interplant in early autumn between soybean and corn rows.

② Seed pretreatment: soak the seeds in warm water at 40-45°C for 5-6 hours, or soak them in tap water at room temperature for 12-24 hours, remove and air-dry them, then place them at about 20°C with moisture maintained to promote germination; when some seeds crack and sprout, they can be sown.

③ Sowing method: open shallow furrows with a row spacing of 40 cm, a depth of 3-4 cm, a width of 8-10 cm, and a flat furrow bottom; at a seeding rate of 1 kg per mu, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, then cover with 2-2.5 cm of moist soil, and press down and cover the ground at the proper time, keeping the soil moist until emergence.

2. Seedling raising and transplanting:

① Sowing at the proper time: in early April, first water the prepared seedbed thoroughly; after the water seeps down, at a sowing rate of 6-7.5 g of dry seeds per sq m, evenly broadcast the treated seeds in the seedbed, then cover with 0.5-1 cm of sieved manure soil or fertile topsoil, then cover with plastic film or chopped straw, keeping the seedbed moist.

② Seedling management: after emergence, ventilate in time to remove the film or remove the covering straw, thin the seedlings at the proper time according to a seedling spacing of 3-5 cm, pull out weeds, and water and topdress appropriately according to specific conditions.

③ Transplanting and planting: when the seedlings are 7-10 cm tall, open furrows and plant according to a row spacing of 40 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm with 2 plants crossed; after planting, cover with soil, press firm, and water at the proper time; alternatively, open furrows and water first, then plant seedlings and cover with soil after the water seeps down. In dry land without irrigation conditions, planting should be combined with rainfall.

Where Are the Producing Areas of Scutellaria baicalensis

The main cultivated producing areas of Scutellaria baicalensis are four major production regions: Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Gansu. Among them, they are concentrated in Nanfan Town, Jiangxian County, Shanxi; Yaofeng Town, Xiaxian County, Yuncheng City; Wan'an Town, Xinjiang County; Wanrong County; Xuedian Town, Wenxi County; and other places. In Shaanxi, Shangluo, Qiaonan Town, Linwei District, Weinan; Xiaoyi Town, Shangzhou District, Shangzhou City; Jingcun Town, Luonan County; Dihua Town, Danfeng County; Yecun Town, Shangluo City; Shangzhen, Danfeng County; and other places. In Shandong, the Yimeng Mountain area, Kushan Township, Ju County; Chayekou Town, Laiwu City; Fuguanzhuang Township; and other places. In Gansu, the main production areas are Longxi, Weiyuan, and Zhangxian, with secondary production in Minxian, Dangchang, Hexi, and other places as the main producing areas.

The producing areas of wild Scutellaria baicalensis are mainly distributed in the central and eastern parts of Inner Mongolia and most of the three northeastern provinces of China, Chengde in Hebei, Chifeng in Inner Mongolia, and several of the largest-scale production areas. It is also distributed in Eastern Siberia in Russia, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.

Field Management of Astragalus membranaceus

During the emergence stage, the soil should be kept moist frequently, and when the soil is dry, it should be watered in time. After the plants mature, their drought resistance increases, so they can be watered less. During the rainy season, attention should also be paid to drainage to prevent waterlogging. At ordinary times, attention should also be paid to loosening the soil and removing weeds at any time. In addition to strengthening general management, attention should also be paid to fertilization. In the first year, after seedling thinning, the first fertilization should be carried out: apply 500 kg of diluted human manure and urine per mu or 3-5 kg of urea, and in June-July, topdress 30 kg of ammonium phosphate. In the second and third years, after greening, apply 40-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, and before ridge closing in late June, apply 30-40 kg of granular ammonium phosphate fertilizer. When fertilizing, it should be applied in furrows, and after application, cover with soil and water.

Harvesting and Processing of Astragalus membranaceus

Scutellaria baicalensis is best harvested 2-3 years after sowing. The harvest season is in late autumn or before spring sprouting. When harvesting, dig carefully and never break the roots. After digging out, shake off the soil, sun-dry until half dry, rub off the outer skin, then quickly sun-dry or oven-dry. At the same time, prevent rain and washing with water. The method for rubbing the skin of Scutellaria baicalensis is: when sun-dried to 30% dry, rub the first time; when sun-dried to 50-60% dry, rub the second time; when sun-dried to 70-80% dry, rub the third time; when sun-dried to 100% dry, rub the fourth time at noon, until it becomes yellow-white. Each mu can yield 150-200 kg of dried medicinal material.

Astragalus membranaceus is currently distributed in a relatively wide area in China, but there are still only four main producing areas. When planting Astragalus membranaceus, it is necessary to first understand its growth habits, then do a good job in site selection, and finally carry out planting. In the later stage, field management should also be strengthened so that Astragalus membranaceus grows well.