Field Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points for Dwarf Lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Dwarf Lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus), the tuberous root of the Liliaceae plant Ophiopogon japonicus (dwarf lilyturf), is slightly sweet and bitter in taste, and cold in nature. Sweet, slightly bitter, cold. It enters the Lung, Stomach, and Heart meridians. Below is an introduction to the field cultivation methods for dwarf lilyturf.
Site selection and land preparation: Dwarf lilyturf has well-developed fibrous roots, so the land should be deep-plowed and finely harrowed to make the soil loose, which favors root extension. It is best to choose loose, fertile, moist, and well-drained sandy loam soil, and sloping land can also be used for cultivation. Dwarf lilyturf should not be continuously cropped. After the current crop is harvested, prepare the land promptly. It grows poorly, and may even die, in places with lime and cement construction waste. Generally, deep-plow 23-26 cm and make high beds 132-165 cm wide with furrows 33-39 cm wide to facilitate drainage and irrigation. Apply sufficient base fertilizer during land preparation; generally use 1500-2000 kg of compost per mu, or 50-70 kg of superphosphate, or 1000-1500 kg of barnyard manure, scatter it into the furrows at planting time, or scatter it into the soil during land preparation.
Propagation method: Division propagation. From Qingming (early April) to early May, select healthy dwarf lilyturf plants that are free of pests and diseases and have not yet sprouted tender leaves as planting stock.
The specific procedure is as follows: after dwarf lilyturf is dug out of the soil, remove the soil, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, and cut away part of the rhizome, leaving 2-3 cm. The cut surface should be white and the leaves should not fall apart. At the same time, cut off about 1/3 of the leaves, then divide into individual plants. Before planting, soak the stock in clean water for 10-15 minutes so it absorbs enough water to favor rooting. Plant while soaking the roots; if it cannot be transplanted in time, keep it in a cool place by heeling in.
The cultivation period varies by region; choose a sunny or cloudy day. In Sichuan and Hubei, plant between the Spring Equinox and Qingming, using furrow planting in rows with a plant spacing of 15×9 (cm) and a depth of about 5 cm. First apply diluted pig manure water in the furrow, with 3 plants per clump; for Ophiopogon japonicus, open holes at 13.2×13.2 (cm), plant 3-4 plants per hole in clumps, at a depth of about 3.3 cm, then press the soil firmly so the seedlings stand straight and stable. Water after planting. Intercropping corn, peanuts, or soybeans immediately after planting dwarf lilyturf is one of the measures to increase dwarf lilyturf yield. This is because legume crops grow quickly, can provide the shade conditions required by dwarf lilyturf seedlings, and at the same time can increase soil nitrogen and promote vigorous growth. When dwarf lilyturf enters the tuberous root expansion period after October and requires sufficient sunlight, the crops have already been harvested, so they do not affect each other, achieving two benefits at once. In the 3rd year, no more intercropping is done, so as not to affect the yield and quality of dwarf lilyturf.
Field management
Watering and weeding: Within half a month after planting, water frequently to keep the soil moist and ensure a full stand. From May to July, dwarf lilyturf seedlings grow slowly and weeds proliferate, so loosen the surface soil frequently and remove weeds.
Topdressing: When dwarf lilyturf turns green half a month after planting, combine with drought resistance measures and apply 700 kg of light human and livestock manure and 10 kg of superphosphate per mu to promote early rooting, more roots, and early tillering. (Spring and autumn are the periods of tuberous root expansion and heavy tillering, so apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.) From June to August, during the tillering and flowering period of dwarf lilyturf, apply 1200 kg of human and livestock manure and urine per mu, plus 15 kg of superphosphate. Apply once each in March and September, with 50 kg of superphosphate or 100-120 kg of cake fertilizer, 1200 kg of human manure and urine, and 150-200 kg of plant ash per mu. Thereafter, fertilize 2-3 times each year. For those intercropped with peanuts, after the August harvest, spread the peanut stems and leaves between the rows, which can both keep the soil moist and serve as fertilizer. From October to November, when the tuberous roots expand, in addition to applying an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer, mainly increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Before the Start of Spring in the second year, apply only plant ash or turf mud to promote tuberous root growth and increase yield.
A method to increase yield is provided: cutting fibrous roots and exposing to the sun. Through experiments and production observations, the broadleaf dwarf lilyturf cultivated in Guangxi produces few and small tuberous roots from the fibrous roots grown in the early growth stage, generally 5-10 per plant. In some production areas, the old fibrous roots are cut off in autumn to let new roots regrow, which can expand to form tuberous roots. When fibrous roots on one side are cut, each clump forms 60-80 tuberous roots; when both sides are cut, 100-120, and their size is about twice as large as those without root cutting.
The specific method: In early September, dig away the soil on both sides of the dwarf lilyturf to expose the fibrous roots, then cut the fibrous roots with a shovel or knife about 3.3 cm from the root, and expose them to the sun for 1-2 days (half a day in strong sunlight is enough). To increase the yield of dwarf lilyturf, in addition to cutting the roots, it is also necessary to combine this with topdressing salt fertilizer, turf mud, and lime to promote tuberous root formation and growth. That is, when cutting the fibrous roots, mix salt and turf mud (each 50 kg of mixed fertilizer contains 0.75 kg of salt) and apply it in the furrow, then cover with about 5 cm of soil. In late September, water once with 3% salt water; after 10-15 days, apply 50 kg of lime per mu and water it onto the roots.
Pest and disease control:
Diseases. Black spot disease: The pathogen is a type of imperfect fungus among the fungi, which damages the leaves. The pathogen overwinters on the planting stock, begins to develop in mid-April each year, and under suitable temperature and humidity develops very quickly, causing patches to wither and die. Control methods: Select planting stock with green leaves that is healthy and disease-free; in the early stage of the disease, when the morning dew has not yet dried, scatter 100 kg of plant ash per mu; drain standing water promptly during the rainy season to reduce field humidity; soak the planting stock for 5 minutes in a 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 800-fold dilution of 65% amobam wettable powder, or spray it over a large area. In severe cases in Zhejiang production areas, cut off the aboveground part of diseased plants to let them sprout again.
Root-knot nematode disease: Root-knot nematodes can occur throughout the year in Guangxi. They mainly damage the roots. Control methods: Implement crop rotation; where conditions permit, practice paddy-upland rotation, and avoid rotation with crops such as flue-cured tobacco, Chinese milk vetch, yardlong bean, taro, sweet potato, Trichosanthes kirilowii, monk fruit, Atractylodes macrocephala, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and belladonna; select disease-free planting stock and cut off all old roots; select disease-resistant varieties; carry out soil disinfection.
Insect pests: White grubs, mole crickets, cutworms, click beetles, and others damage the rhizomes. Control methods: Rotate with rice; after flooding in paddy fields, they can all be eliminated in one season; or kill them with conventional pesticide poisoning methods.