Precautions for Drought Prevention and Water Retention in Polyporus umbellatus Cultivation

Polyporus umbellatus is a fungus of the family Polyporaceae, and its underground sclerotium is a rare traditional Chinese medicinal material, with effects such as promoting diuresis and draining dampness, and relieving strangury and reducing swelling. Polyporus umbellatus is mostly supplied to the market as wild product, and wild Polyporus umbellatus is distributed in mountainous areas at an altitude of 1000-2000 m. In recent years, with excessive digging in Polyporus umbellatus production areas, wild resources have sharply declined, and the contradiction between supply and demand of Polyporus umbellatus has become increasingly prominent. This article introduces a technique for semi-wild cultivation of Polyporus umbellatus under forest.

Site selection:

Polyporus umbellatus relies on Armillaria mellea to provide nutrients, and Armillaria mellea is an active microorganism that must parasitize or saprophytically live on trees. The key to high quality and high yield of Polyporus umbellatus is the harmonious symbiosis between Polyporus umbellatus and Armillaria mellea. Therefore, when selecting a site, the vegetation conditions on which Polyporus umbellatus depends for survival must be taken into consideration. Secondary small shrub fuelwood forest is most suitable for planting Polyporus umbellatus, and loose, fertile humus soil, a temperature of 6°C-30°C, soil moisture of 30%-50%, and relative air humidity of 65%-85% are the most suitable environment for the growth of Polyporus umbellatus.

Planting period:

After Armillaria mellea invades the sclerotium of Polyporus umbellatus, the sclerotium appears in 3 colors, white, gray, and black, commonly known as white Ling, gray Ling, and black Ling, which roughly represent the growth stages of Polyporus umbellatus in the current year, the next year, and the 3rd year. When digging wild Polyporus umbellatus for use as seed Ling, except during the winter freezing period when planting is not possible, it can be planted at other times. For replanting artificially cultivated Polyporus umbellatus, March to May is most suitable; during this period, the white Ling newly grown in the previous year all turns into gray Ling, which is just suitable for use as seed.

Seeding rate:

The sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus vary in size. Before planting, large sclerotia can be separated at the abscission layer or at the narrow waist of the sclerotium into small pieces of 100-150 g, and 1-2 pieces are planted per hole.

Planting method:

Beside shrub bushes, dig a small pit about 10 cm deep and 30 cm long, where thicker tree roots and interlaced fine capillary roots can be seen. At the bottom of the pit, first spread a layer of half-rotted moist leaves and twigs, place one piece of fungal wood flat, clamp the sclerotium of Polyporus umbellatus between the tree roots and the fungal wood, then cover with another layer of leaves, fill the hole with soil, and cover the top of the hole with a thicker layer of leaves.

Forest management:

For semi-wild cultivation of Polyporus umbellatus in forest areas, no special management is required. However, in summer, if drought occurs during the peak growth season of Polyporus umbellatus, water can be diverted for irrigation. The key to managing semi-wild cultivated Polyporus umbellatus is to add a layer of leaves on top of the cultivation holes every spring, which can greatly reduce soil moisture evaporation and prevent drought and retain water. At the same time, the rotted leaves can also supplement and increase organic matter in the soil, improve soil fertility and the yield of Polyporus umbellatus.