How to sow Dahurian angelica in autumn? Master these five steps

In recent years, in addition to its medicinal use, Dahurian angelica has also been widely used in the spice and food processing industries, and demand has gradually increased. Therefore, the prospects for cultivating Dahurian angelica artificially are promising. Dahurian angelica can be cultivated throughout northern and southern China, generally yielding about 400 kg of dried product per mu, and up to 500 kg at high yields, with returns of more than 3500 yuan. Its standardized cultivation techniques are described below:

Site selection and land preparation

Dahurian angelica prefers a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunshine, and should be cultivated on sandy soil that is high and dry, with deep, loose, fertile soil and good drainage. During land preparation, apply 2000 kg of compost per mu (or 25 kg of compound fertilizer and 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer) and plow it into the soil as a base fertilizer. Then level and harrow the land finely to make raised beds 1.3 m wide, open relatively deep drainage ditches around them, and rake the bed surface into a turtle-back shape; the topsoil should be loose and finely crumbled.

Sowing at the right time

Dahurian angelica is generally sown from early September to late October in autumn; in the warm southern regions sowing may be extended to early November, while in the cold northern regions it should be sown before Frost's Descent. Sowing can be done by dibbling or drilling: (1) Dibbling. On the bed surface, dig holes at a row spacing of 30-35 cm and a plant spacing of 20-25 cm, with holes 8-10 cm deep. Apply an appropriate amount of plant ash mixed with decomposed human manure and urine in the holes as a base fertilizer, then sow the seeds into them. (2) Drilling. Open transverse furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 30-33 cm, with furrows 10 cm wide and 7-9 cm deep, and sow the seeds mixed with plant ash evenly into the furrows. After sowing, cover with fine soil, just enough that the seeds are no longer visible. If the weather is dry, water appropriately after sowing and cover the bed surface with grass to retain moisture.

Field management

Carry out timely intertillage and weeding, and thinning: when the seedlings are about 5 cm tall, begin intertillage and weeding, and thin the seedlings while weeding. For dibbling, leave 5-7 seedlings per hole; for drilling, leave 1 seedling every 3-5 cm. When the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, carry out a second thinning: for dibbling, leave 4-5 seedlings per hole; for drilling, leave 1 seedling every 7-9 cm. When thinning, select and keep seedlings whose leaf stalks are bluish purple; any seedlings whose leaf stalks are bluish white or yellow-green and whose leaves are concentrated in the upper part and grow too vigorously will often flower early in the future, causing hollow roots, and should all be pulled out. In early spring of the following year, in late February, carry out final thinning: for dibbling, leave 3 seedlings per hole; for drilling, leave two seedlings at a plant spacing of 10-15 cm.

Scientific topdressing

Timely topdressing during plant growth can improve the yield and quality of Dahurian angelica. However, fertilization must also be moderate: too much fertilizer causes excessive growth, easily leading to bolting and flowering and reducing yield, while too little fertilizer causes poor growth and also low yield. Generally, topdress four times: the first and second times together with thinning, applying 1500 kg of dilute human manure and urine water per mu each time; the third time after final thinning, applying 2000 kg of human manure and urine water plus 30 kg of superphosphate per mu; the fourth time around Qingming, applying 2500 kg of human manure and urine water plus 150 kg of plant ash per mu.

Timely drainage and irrigation

Water accumulation in the field will cause root rot in Dahurian angelica; if the soil is too dry, the main root grows slowly, affecting yield. Therefore, during the rainy season, clear the ditches and drain frequently, and irrigate promptly during drought, choosing to irrigate in the evening.

Removing flower stalks: during May-June, some plants grow too vigorously and will bolt and flower; these should be removed promptly, otherwise once they flower the roots will become hollow or rot, reducing yield and quality.