Field Preparation Experience Before Sowing Dahurian Angelica

Dahurian angelica prefers warmth and moisture with plenty of sunlight; it fears high temperatures, can tolerate cold, and has fairly strong adaptability.

Dahurian angelica is not strict about the preceding crop, and even a continuous cropping field where Dahurian angelica previously grew well can be selected. It is best to choose level terrain, plenty of sunlight, a deep tillage layer, and loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil.

After the preceding crop is harvested, apply 2500—5000 kg of decomposed compost or barnyard manure, 100 kg of cake fertilizer and 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer; fertile land may be given less. After applying, plow to a depth of more than 1 chi; after plowing, sun the soil to let it fully weather, then plow once more. Deep plowing and fine harrowing are required, and the fertility of the upper and lower soil layers should be even, to prevent excessive surface fertility from causing many fibrous roots and affecting yield and quality. After leveling and fine harrowing, make beds 15—20 cm high and 1—2 m wide; the bed surface should be level to facilitate irrigation and drainage, and the topsoil should be level and finely broken up to help seedlings emerge.

Propagation methods of Dahurian angelica: propagate by seed, generally by direct sowing; transplanting is not suitable, as transplanted plants have many forked roots and poor main root growth, affecting yield and quality.

1. Sowing time: Production requires strict sowing time, and sowing at the right time is one of the important steps for obtaining high yield. If sown too early, seedlings grow too vigorously before winter, and the following year some plants will bolt and flower early, with roots becoming lignified or rotting, so they cannot be used medicinally, thus affecting yield. If sown too late, the temperature drops, affecting germination and emergence; seedlings are prone to frost damage, grow poorly, and yield is low. Because seed germination rate is low after a year and fresh seed germination rate is high, production must use fresh seed harvested in the current year for sowing, generally mainly autumn sowing; spring sowing gives low yield and poor quality. The suitable sowing time varies with climate and soil fertility. With high temperatures, sow later; otherwise sow earlier. Fertile soil may be sown somewhat later; otherwise it should be sown a little earlier.

2. Sowing methods: drilling, dibbling and broadcasting are all acceptable, but drilling is generally most common. Drilling method: row spacing 25—30 cm, open a shallow furrow (about 4—5 fen deep), sow the seed evenly into the furrow, and cover with a thin layer of fine soil; generally use 1—1.5 kg of seed per mu.