Summary of Experience in Scutellaria baicalensis Planting and Cultivation Management

I. Uses of Scutellaria baicalensis and Post-Harvest Benefits

Scutellaria baicalensis is the root of a perennial plant in the Lamiaceae family, with effects of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and detoxifying, stopping bleeding and calming the fetus. It is commonly used for damp-warm disease, summerheat-warm disease with chest tightness, nausea and vomiting, damp-heat with spleen fullness, diarrhea and dysentery, jaundice, lung-heat cough, high fever with thirst, blood-heat vomiting and epistaxis, carbuncle swelling and sore toxin, fetal restlessness, and other conditions. Whether in clinical practice or as an ingredient in Chinese patent medicines, the dosage of this product has increased year by year. Especially in recent years, Scutellaria baicalensis extract is not only in great demand domestically but is also highly favored internationally, selling well without decline. Most of the Scutellaria baicalensis produced in 2006 was purchased by extraction plants at the fresh product stage as raw material for extracts. Therefore, this year the medicinal market will rely on old stock from before 2006 to maintain supply, with sources more than 50% less than normal years. Its price will also rise day by day as it is consumed, and by this year's new harvest season, its price rising 20—30% from the current level of 8 yuan per kilogram is already reasonable. At a general yield of 200 kilograms per mu, calculated at a unit price of 10 yuan, the benefit per mu can reach more than 2000 yuan. This is far higher than the benefit of growing grain. Therefore, planting Scutellaria baicalensis this year is the best year for medicinal farmers to profit and increase income.

II. Suitable Cultivation Regions and Soil for Scutellaria baicalensis

Because Scutellaria baicalensis is drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant, and its roots can withstand low temperatures of minus 30℃, but it prefers warmth and fears waterlogging and standing water, this product is only suitable for planting in regions north of the Yellow River. It is quite selective about soil. The most suitable soil for its growth is fertile sandy land. Although this kind of land loses water easily, it is not afraid of drought. As long as it is watered and fertilized in a timely manner, its root system will develop quickly and become large, with high yield. Although it can also grow in clay soil, the yield is low. Every organism has its own specific living environment and growth habits, which are determined by the organism's internal genetic conditions. Therefore, when we engage in medicinal herb cultivation, we must also follow this principle; otherwise, we cannot achieve the goal of high yield.

III. Key Points of Cultivation Techniques

1. Selecting a good plot and land preparation First, we should select fertile, well-drained sandy plots according to the above requirements, then apply sufficient base fertilizer. Among this, high-quality farmyard manure should be applied at 2500—3000 kilograms per mu, plant ash at 500 kilograms, and superphosphate at 50 kilograms. Then deep plow the land to a depth of 25—35 cm, then harrow the land finely and level it, making beds 1.5 m wide.

2. Timely sowing About 1 kilogram of Scutellaria baicalensis seed can be used per mu. Spring sowing should be completed before mid-April. Before sowing, soak Scutellaria baicalensis seeds with a germination rate above 80% in warm water for one week, then remove them and let them dry slightly before sowing. When sowing, in the prepared beds, open small furrows 0.5—1 cm deep at a row spacing of 30 cm, evenly scatter the seeds into the beds, cover with soil and press lightly, then water immediately. Afterward, attention should be paid to maintaining soil moisture to prevent dry soil from affecting seed emergence. When the soil temperature reaches 16—17℃, seedlings will emerge in half a month.

IV. Field Management

1. Thinning and gap filling When all seedlings have emerged and grown to 5 cm, thinning should be carried out, removing overly dense and weak seedlings. When seedlings reach 10 cm in height, final spacing can be set, with a plant spacing of 10 cm being appropriate. For missing seedling spots, seedlings should be taken from nearby and transplanted to fill the gaps, so as to ensure complete and strong seedlings.

2. Cultivation and weeding As Scutellaria baicalensis continues to grow and become larger, weeds also grow accordingly. Therefore, cultivation and weeding must be carried out. This not only benefits the growth and development of Scutellaria baicalensis but also prevents weeds from competing with it for soil fertility.

3. Timely topdressing When seedlings reach 15 cm in height, apply 25 kilograms of compound fertilizer and 5 kilograms of urea per mu. Entering June--July, apply another 20 kilograms of superphosphate. When Scutellaria baicalensis blooms for the third time, finally apply 0.5 kilograms of monopotassium phosphate per mu to the leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis. This amount can be divided into three sprays on sunny days.

4. Pest and disease control The main major enemy harming Scutellaria baicalensis is leaf blight. Once this disease occurs, it spreads quickly, causing leaves to wither and die rapidly. The incidence is especially high in hot and rainy seasons. The characteristics of this disease are irregular dark brown lesions, spreading from leaf tips or leaf edges toward the center of the leaf. Once this disease is found, spray 50% carbendazim 1000-fold solution immediately, spraying continuously three times, once every 7 days. In addition, Scutellaria baicalensis moths eat the leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis, and the damage is also very serious. Once they appear, spray with 9% trichlorfon 1000-fold solution. If root rot occurs, promptly pull out diseased plants, burn them outside the field, and at the same time sprinkle lime into the diseased holes for disinfection, then use 50% carbendazim 500-fold solution to irrigate the diseased area, so as to achieve the purpose of thoroughly sterilizing.

V. Harvesting and Processing

The suitable digging time for Scutellaria baicalensis should be after autumn when stems and leaves turn yellow and withered. It can also be dug in the same year, but the yield is low and the baicalin content is small. After three years, the baicalin content of dug Scutellaria baicalensis can exceed that of wild Scutellaria baicalensis. After digging, soil, stems, and leaves should be removed. Because new characteristics have appeared in market purchasing and sales, fresh products can be marketed, so medicinal farmers, for convenience, sell them while fresh.