Detailed Explanation of Key Scientific Planting Techniques for White Peony (Baishao)

I think many people are very familiar with White Peony (Baishao). It is a relatively common and commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in our country. The culture of traditional Chinese medicine in our country has been passed down from ancient times to the present, with a history spanning several hundred or even several thousand years. In the hearts of our people, traditional Chinese medicine culture has long been deeply rooted.

What Is White Peony (Baishao)

White Peony is a perennial herbaceous vine; root cylindrical, grayish-black, about 8 mm in diameter; stems covered with two rows of hairs. Leaves opposite, membranous, ovate-lanceolate, 7-10 cm long, 4-8 cm wide at the base, apex long acuminate, base deeply auriculate-cordate, leaf auricles rounded, drooping, both surfaces pubescent. Umbellate cymes axillary, bearing more than 20 flowers; calyx externally puberulent, with 5 glands on the inner surface at the base; corolla white, lobes oblong, internally puberulent; corona cup-shaped, slightly longer than the gynostegium, with 1 small tooth in the middle of the lobes, or with wrinkles or absent; pollinia 1 per chamber, pendulous; stigma apex slightly 2-lobed. Follicles paired or only 1 developing, shortly lanceolate, about 8 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, tapering toward the apex, narrower at the base, exocarp with straight striations; seeds ovate, 6 mm long, 3 mm wide; seed hairs white silky, 3 cm long. Flowering period June-October, fruiting period August-November.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Choose plots with loose soil texture, fertile soil, deep soil layer, high and dry terrain, and good drainage for planting. Prepare the land finely, plow 1-2 times, to a depth of 45 cm. Combined with land preparation, apply 2500-4000 kg of farmyard manure, 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and 0.5 kg of phoxim (to prevent underground pests) per 667 sq m. Rake fine and level, and make turtle-back-shaped high beds 130-230 cm wide.

2. Propagation Methods

Peony has many lateral roots. At harvest, cut off the thick roots for medicinal use, keep all roots of chopstick or pencil thickness, and according to the natural distribution of buds and roots, cut into 2-4 branches, each branch retaining 1-2 plump thick buds, cut off excessively long roots and lateral roots, for use as planting stock. When pruning peonies in the field in September and October, roots suitable for planting stock can also be cut off together with buds and planted directly. The seed roots taken at harvest generally need 3-4 months before they can be planted, so they must be stored. In a dry, cool, and ventilated room, spread a layer of 8-10 cm thick moist fine soil, pile the peony roots on top, 15-20 cm thick, with the buds of the peony roots facing upward, then cover with 12 cm thick moist fine soil. During storage, check frequently; if dry, sprinkle water appropriately, but not too much, on the principle of not letting the soil dry out. Too much water easily causes mold and rot. During storage, check once every 15-20 days. If mold and rot are found, turn the pile in time and pick out the moldy and rotten peony roots.

3. Planting

Before planting, divide the peony bud roots into two classes by size and plant them separately for future management. Planting time is generally around Cold Dew, the earlier the better, and at the latest not beyond Frost Descent. If too late, on the one hand, because the stored peony buds have already developed new roots, they are easily broken during planting; on the other hand, after planting, the temperature gradually drops. Rooting is poor, affecting germination and growth the following year. Planting row spacing 50-60 cm, plant spacing 40 cm, 2500-2800 plants per 667 sq m. When using peony heads as seed, open shallow flat holes, plant 2 peony heads per hole, 4 cm apart, cut surface facing down, placed side by side in the hole, and cover with 8-10 cm of soil. When using peony roots as seed, use a hoe to open holes with walls at 35°-45°, about 20 cm deep. Plant two roots per hole; when planting, the head faces south, the root faces north, the bud is level with the bed surface, and plant on the slope so that the two seedlings form an outward splayed shape. Use a small amount of soil to fix the peony roots, then apply human manure and cake fertilizer and superphosphate above the root tail, then cover with soil. The soil-covering operation should be careful, the soil should be fine and broken; do not cover with clods of soil; buds covered with clods cannot closely combine with the soil, ventilation is strong, and the buds are susceptible to drought and freezing damage, which will delay germination or even prevent germination.

Field Management of White Peony (Baishao)

1. Cultivation and Weeding

Peony is most afraid of weed infestation, especially in the second year after planting, because the row spacing is wide, each plant sends out few shoots, and weeds easily grow. If not weeded in time, it will hinder the growth of peony. Therefore, after planting, when the seedlings emerge from the soil, cultivation and weeding should be carried out, and thereafter about once every month, to achieve the requirement of loose soil and no weeds. Each cultivation should only shallowly loosen the surface soil 3-5 cm to avoid damaging the roots, and be careful not to break the seedlings and buds; if broken, they will not germinate again that year, affecting growth.

2. Topdressing

After planting in the same year, peony does not need topdressing. In the second year, topdress 4 times. The first time after cultivation and weeding in March, apply 1500-2000 kg of human manure and urine per 667 sq m; the second and third times in May and July, each time apply 1500 kg of human manure and urine and 25 kg of rapeseed cake fertilizer per 667 sq m; the fourth time in November-December, apply 1500-2000 kg of human manure and urine per 667 sq m. In the third year, topdress 3 times, and superphosphate can be used for foliar topdressing. In the spring of the fourth year, according to the growth of peony, topdress 1-2 times. Each topdressing should be applied in holes or shallow ring trenches opened beside the plants, and soil should be covered after application to prevent fertilizer loss.

3. Irrigation and Drainage

Peony is relatively drought-tolerant, but if there is a long period of clear weather and excessive dryness, it is unfavorable for growth, so irrigation is still necessary during drought. Peony is also afraid of waterlogging and often suffers from diseases due to accumulated water, so more attention should be paid to drainage.

4. Bud Removal

When buds appear in mid-April, choose a sunny day to remove all flower buds, so as to concentrate nutrients, promote root growth, and improve yield and quality. Bud removal should not be too late.

5. Pruning

In order to improve the quality of Baishao and promote the growth of the main root, pruning is generally carried out in September and October, during the free time before autumn harvest and winter planting. The method is to loosen the soil between the plants, expose most of the main root, and cut off the roots growing from the sides of the main root with a knife or scissors; if part of the main root is found to be rotten, the rotten part should all be cut off with a knife, and the scar will heal. The cut fine roots should be handled according to the situation; if they can be used as planting stock, they can be cut off as planting stock; finer ones that cannot yet be used as planting stock can be kept a few, and after growing a little larger the next year can be used as planting stock; all the excess should be cut off to concentrate nutrients and promote main root growth; the bottom roots extending into the soil below the main root absorb nutrients and must not be cut off, then cover with soil and fertilize. This work is a very important link for improving the quality of White Peony and cultivating strong seedlings.

What Are the Effects of White Peony (Baishao)  

1. Effects on the cardiovascular system. Dilates coronary arteries, lowers blood pressure.  

2. Liver-protective effect. Has obvious protective effect against liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride, aflatoxin B1, and D-galactosamine.  

3. Antispasmodic effect. Has an inhibitory effect on intestinal tract and in situ gastric movement, and significantly antagonizes uterine contractions caused by oxytocin.  

4. Analgesic effect. Can inhibit writhing, squeaking, and hot-plate reactions in mice, has a synergistic effect on morphine's inhibition of writhing reactions, and can antagonize convulsions caused by pentylenetetrazol.  

5. Enhances hypoxia tolerance and has antioxidant and anti-fatigue effects. Total paeonol glycosides and total paeony glycosides have scavenging effects on oxygen free radicals, indicating that the components of White Peony have antioxidant effects.  

White Peony is rich in paeoniflorin, a substance that can prevent stress ulcers and has significant anti-inflammatory effects. It can also resist liver injury. The effects of White Peony can protect human liver tissue, so it can be said to be a natural excellent product for nourishing and protecting the liver. It can also improve human immunity and is a herb with very wide uses.

Analysis of the Current Market Situation of White Peony (Baishao) and Future Planting Prospects  

I. Incalculable Hidden Inventory  

When speaking of White Peony, the first thing that comes to mind is how much hidden inventory there actually is. Because White Peony is easy to plant and easy to store, as early as the planned economy period, the government promoted large-scale planting of White Peony nationwide. As of now, some medicine merchants still have a little low-priced stock from those years. Exactly how much inventory there is, no one can give exact data.  

II. Continuous Low Prices and Reduced Production  

White Peony is a 3-4 year variety, with a single yield of 400-500 kg per mu. In 2003, the price of White Peony fell to the bottom, and the market appeared "ruined," at only 2-3 yuan per kg, with the selling price falling below cost. "Cheap medicine hurts farmers." White Peony was dug up in large quantities, and the planting area decreased. In 2005, as the White Peony market improved and prices rose, farmers' enthusiasm for planting was stimulated, and the planting area expanded slightly. After four years of low-price wandering, in 2010 White Peony was affected by the increased planting expansion in 2005, with production and harvest at around 10,000 tons, but then in 2011 production again dropped to 6,000 tons.  

III. Human Factors Influence It  

As a bulk medicinal material variety, White Peony has a large annual demand, a long growth cycle, and prices that remain low year-round. In addition, its production areas are concentrated and easy to grasp, so White Peony is year-round sought after by hot money speculation, causing the White Peony market to be full of variables.  

IV. High Planting Costs and Low Farmer Enthusiasm  

For rhizomatous White Peony at the current market price, the planting stock for sowing (2500 plants/mu), the expenditure on White Peony buds (700-800 yuan), plus labor, time management, fertilizer input and various other expenses, totals about 2000 yuan over four years, while the yield per mu is 400-500 kg. After deducting costs, farmers' income is only about one thousand per year on average, and this income makes it very difficult for farmers to maintain enthusiasm for planting.

White Peony has many effects and functions, so our country's demand for White Peony is also very large, but growers should not blindly follow the trend in planting. Before planting, they should first understand the market conditions and market status of White Peony, so as to avoid unnecessary economic losses caused by blindly following the trend.