Field Management Experience for Sophora flavescens Cultivation

Sophora flavescens is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Leguminosae family, with its dried roots and rhizomes used as medicine. It is also known as Shanhuaizi, Dihuai and Kugu, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and relieving pain, killing insects, promoting diuresis, strengthening the stomach and relieving constipation. It is often used to treat sore and swollen throat, itchy skin and other ailments. In agricultural production it is a fairly good insecticide and a raw material for developing biological pesticides. Its main chemical components are matrine and oxymatrine.

Growth Habits of Sophora flavescens

It mostly grows on hillside grasslands, plains, hills and riverbanks. It is not very demanding about soil, and can grow fairly well in all types of soil. Its root system is well developed, its water requirements are not very high, and its light requirements are not strict either; the intensity of light has little effect on its growth, but plants growing in moist, fertile, deep soil with strong natural fertility are tall and sturdy. The plant height is over 150 cm, with many branches on the upper part. The main root is thick and cylindrical, with a bitter taste. The petals are yellow or yellowish white. The pods are cylindrical, and the seeds are brownish yellow or brownish brown and do not split open after maturity. The flowering period is June to July, and the fruit ripening period is September to October. The withering period is early October, with an annual growth period of 150 to 160 days. The 1000-seed weight is about 50 grams; the storage life under natural conditions is 3 years; the suitable germination temperature is 15 to 30°C. The germination rate of untreated seeds is not high; at 30°C for 5 days the germination rate is only 20%. In production, seeds must undergo mechanical treatment before sowing.

Sowing Methods for Sophora flavescens

1. Site selection and land preparation: Sophora flavescens is a deep-rooted plant. It is best to choose deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam and clay loam. Apply compound fertilizer, plow 20—25 cm deep, break up the soil finely and level it, and make beds 1.5 m wide.

2. Sowing time: Both spring sowing and autumn sowing are acceptable. After autumn sowing, mulching is needed, otherwise the soil surface tends to crust, which is unfavorable for seedling emergence in spring. Autumn sowing should be early rather than late; sowing can be done as soon as the seeds mature, and at the latest it must be completed before the soil freezes. Spring sowing should be done around Qingming, when the soil moisture is relatively good, which is favorable for seedling emergence.

3. Sowing: Drilling or hole sowing. From the perspective of field management, hole sowing is better. Some also use seedling raising and transplanting, but transplanting is rather troublesome. First rake the bed surface repeatedly, then dig holes at a row spacing of 40-50 cm and a plant spacing of 30 cm, with a hole depth of about 3 cm, sow 6 to 8 seeds per hole, cover flat, and press lightly. The sowing rate is 2 kg per mu. For drilling, the row spacing is 30 cm and the plant spacing is 20 cm, using 4 kg of seeds per mu.

Field Management of Sophora flavescens

Under normal conditions, seedlings emerge about 7 days after sowing. Because weeds grow quickly, they should be removed in time, and the soil should be loosened appropriately. In early May, root topdressing is carried out, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, to promote the early vegetative growth of the young seedlings; in early July, another topdressing is carried out, mainly with phosphorus and potassium, to strengthen rejuvenation, promote the accumulation of nutrients in the roots, and promote the differentiation of overwintering buds; in mid-to-late August, earth up once to promote the formation and protection of overwintering buds. Cultivate 4 to 5 times. In northern regions, drought easily occurs in spring, so irrigation should be carried out in time to ensure the normal growth of the young seedlings. Because the seed coat does not easily absorb water, untreated seeds and seeds covered too deeply at sowing may still emerge in the second or even the third year.

In the current year, the plant height can reach about 60-70 cm, and it basically does not flower. After the plants wither in autumn, clear away the dead branches and cover with decomposed livestock manure: first, to protect the overwintering buds, and second, to serve as topdressing for the growth in the second year.

Before harvesting, repeat the previous year's management work each year, and at the same time remove the flower clusters and pinch the tops, so as to ensure the accumulation of nutrients in the roots and obtain high-yield, high-quality medicinal material.

Harvesting and Processing of Sophora flavescens

Sophora flavescens is used as medicine through its roots. After 2 to 3 years of cultivation, dig them up in spring or autumn, and those harvested in autumn are better. After digging out the roots, remove the root heads and fibrous roots, wash off the sand and mud, and dry in the sun. Fresh roots sliced and dried in the sun are called Sophora flavescens slices.

Speaking of Sophora flavescens, perhaps many people do not understand it particularly well, but just from hearing its name I think everyone can still guess. Sophora flavescens is a traditional Chinese medicine, and in China there is relatively a lot of cultivation of Sophora flavescens; many people rely on growing Sophora flavescens as a means of livelihood.