Detailed Explanation of Saposhnikovia divaricata Propagation Methods and Cultivation Techniques

Propagation method: propagate by seed.

1. Site selection and land preparation. Saposhnikovia divaricata is a deep-rooted plant. Choose well-drained, loose, dry sandy loam soil. Apply 3000 kg of topdressing per 667 sq m, plow deeply 20-30 cm, break up the soil finely and level it, and make beds 1.2 m wide.

2. Seed harvesting. Saposhnikovia divaricata does not flower or set seed in the same year after sowing. When digging up the medicinal roots in autumn, select disease-free, thick roots as seed roots for planting. Alternatively, in autumn select plants that are more than 2 years old, growing vigorously, and free of pests and diseases as seed plants. In August-September of the following year, when the seeds gradually mature from green to yellow-brown, cut the plants down and dry them in the sun, thresh out the seeds, and store them for later use. Immature seeds have a very low germination rate or do not germinate. Fresh seeds have a germination rate of 50%-70%; seeds stored for more than one year have a low germination rate and may even be unusable as seed.

3. Sowing methods. Both spring sowing and autumn sowing are possible.

(1) Seed soaking. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water for 1 day, remove them and keep them at a certain humidity, and sow when the seeds begin to sprout.

(2) Furrow drilling. For autumn sowing in September-October, open shallow furrows 1-1.5 cm deep along the beds at a row spacing of 30 cm, sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with soil, press down lightly, and water. At a temperature of 25-28°C, keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about 20 days. For spring sowing from late March to mid-April, the method is the same as above. Autumn sowing is better than spring sowing; Saposhnikovia divaricata produced from autumn sowing is thick and strong, has high powder content, and does not develop furrowed roots. The seeding rate is 2.5 kg per 667 sq m.

Cultivation management:

1. Thinning. When the seedlings are 6 cm tall, thin them to a plant spacing of 5 cm; when the seedlings are 10 cm tall, thin them to a final spacing of 15 cm.

2. Cultivation and weeding. After emergence, cultivation and weeding should not be too deep. As the seedlings grow taller, cultivation can be deepened. After August, root growth is mainly focused on thickening, and by this time the plants have closed the rows, so cultivation and weeding should be stopped.

3. Topdressing. In mid-May, apply 1 light application of diluted human and livestock manure water; in early August, apply 2000 kg of slightly concentrated human and livestock manure water per 667 sq m, or apply compost mixed and fermented with superphosphate.

4. Drainage and irrigation. Saposhnikovia divaricata has strong drought resistance, so it generally does not need watering. However, before emergence, the soil needs to be kept moist to promote uniform emergence. During the rainy season, pay attention to timely drainage to prevent root rot.

5. Removal of bolting stems. For plants more than two years old, except those kept for seed, any bolting stems found should be removed promptly to benefit root development, prevent the roots from becoming woody, and avoid reducing quality.