How to Grow Atractylodes macrocephala for High Yield? Detailed Planting Tips
Atractylodes macrocephala is a common bulk medicinal herb variety with strong demand in the traditional Chinese medicine market. Because the planting returns are considerable, farmers in Anguo, Dingzhou and other places grow it on a large scale. Traditional Atractylodes macrocephala varieties have been abandoned by farmers because of their small tubers, many fibrous roots, low yield and poor returns. The advantages of improved Atractylodes macrocephala have become increasingly prominent, and it is increasingly favored by farmers. Below is an introduction to the main cultivation points of improved Atractylodes macrocephala, for the reference of interested grower friends.
Tips for High-Yield Atractylodes macrocephala Planting
1. Choose superior varieties. Improved Atractylodes macrocephala has the characteristics of high yield, strong disease resistance, dark green leaves, thick stems, large tubers and few fibrous roots. Ordinary one-year-old small Atractylodes macrocephala yields 750-1000 kg of fresh roots per mu, while improved Atractylodes macrocephala yields about 1500 kg of fresh roots per mu, about 30% higher than small Atractylodes macrocephala. This year's local market purchase price for improved Atractylodes macrocephala is one yuan per jin higher than that of small Atractylodes macrocephala. Therefore, comparing both yield and purchase price, the returns from improved Atractylodes macrocephala are double those of small Atractylodes macrocephala, so improved Atractylodes macrocephala should be the first choice for planting.
2. Choose the plot. Atractylodes macrocephala is relatively sensitive to soil quality and previous crops, and this medicinal herb should not be continuously cropped. Soil rich in organic matter and neutral loam is best. Choose a plot with high, dry terrain that can drain during waterlogging and be irrigated during drought. Clay soil has poor water permeability, and during long rainy periods in the rainy season, waterlogging can easily occur and cause plant death. Sandy soil has poor water and fertilizer retention, so yield is difficult to guarantee. The previous crop is best corn, wheat and other gramineous crops. Avoid previous crops of cotton, chili, potato, sweet potato, peanut and other cash crops.
3. Land preparation and fertilization. Atractylodes macrocephala is a medicinal crop mainly grown for its tubers, has a large demand for fertilizer, and requires comprehensive and balanced nutrient supply. Therefore, to increase yield and ensure quality, fertilizer must be applied sufficiently. Apply 5000 kg of barnyard manure as base fertilizer, 100 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer with a total content of more than 45%, 1 kg of microelement fertilizer such as boron, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, iron and copper, and 2 kg of bioactive bacterial fertilizer. This can significantly improve common underground diseases such as root rot and increase yield. Mix the chemical fertilizers evenly and broadcast them in the field, then irrigate to build soil moisture, plow and prepare the land, level the bed surface, and wait for the right time to sow.
4. Sow at the right time. Atractylodes macrocephala is an extremely cold-tolerant crop. In North China, the suitable sowing period is generally from late March to early May. Each place can choose the sowing time appropriately according to local soil thawing conditions. The seeding rate is generally about 5 kg per mu. In production, the drill sowing method is often used, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a furrow depth of 3-4 cm. Too deep can easily make emergence difficult, while too shallow can easily cause water loss, drying out and death. Sow the seeds evenly in the furrows, then use a hoe to press and firm the sowing furrows.
5. Field management. From seedling emergence to June, there are many weeds in the field. Cultivate and hoe to remove weeds 3-4 times, raise soil temperature, promote root penetration downward, and help early growth. The first two hoeings should be deeper, and later ones shallower. After June, stems and leaves grow rapidly, so weeds in the field can be pulled by hand, and cultivation and hoeing should no longer be carried out. After entering July, Atractylodes macrocephala begins to bud. At this time, removing buds by hand or cutting them off with scissors can increase yield. Entering August and September is the period of rapid tuber expansion, with a large and relatively sensitive demand for water and fertilizer. Lack of water and fertilizer will cause yield decline. Therefore, apply 20 kg of nitrogen-potassium fertilizer once combined with irrigation.
6. Disease control. In production, the common diseases of Atractylodes macrocephala are mainly leaf blight and root rot. These two diseases are often devastating and difficult to control. Leaf blight, also called leaf blight disease, occurs frequently in years with more rain. The peak season is generally in the rainy season in July and August. It mainly damages leaves. Plants with dead symptoms should be pulled out in time. In the early stage of disease, use Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:100; in the later stage, spray with 800 times methyl thiophanate solution or 1000 times carbendazim solution two to three times. Root rot, also called rotten root disease, occurs frequently under conditions of more rain and heavy clay soil. Before sowing, soak seeds in 50% carbendazim 1000 times solution for 10 minutes, then dry in the shade before sowing. In the early stage of disease, drench roots with 50% methyl thiophanate 800 times solution. In plots where underground pests such as white grubs and wireworms occur frequently, drench roots with phoxim for control, which has an auxiliary effect on preventing root rot.
7. Harvest at the right time. One-year-old Atractylodes macrocephala is mainly used as planting stock, and most is transported to medicinal herb planting bases in Anhui, Zhejiang and other places for commercial medicinal material production. The best harvest period for Atractylodes macrocephala planting stock is before Frost's Descent in mid-to-late October. Dig them out with a pickaxe, cut off the stems with scissors, and leave 1 cm of stem on the upper part of the tuber to protect the tuber and allow nutrient return. Then, after drying in the sun for a day, pick out diseased stems or damaged roots and tubers, remove soil or mud clods, bag them and sell the fresh roots.
What Is Atractylodes macrocephala
Atractylodes macrocephala is the dried rhizome of the Asteraceae plant Atractylodes macrocephala. In terms of effects, Atractylodes macrocephala has the functions of invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi, drying dampness and promoting diuresis, stopping sweating, and calming the fetus. It is used for spleen deficiency with poor appetite, abdominal distention and diarrhea, phlegm-fluid dizziness and palpitations, edema and spontaneous sweating, and restless fetus. In shape, the commercial product of Atractylodes macrocephala is in fist-like lump form with irregular nodular protrusions. The surface is grayish yellow or grayish brown, with shallow and fine longitudinal wrinkles.
The lower part is swollen on both sides, resembling a ruyi head, commonly known as "cloud head". It gradually narrows upward, and the middle part that is plump and smooth is customarily called the "Atractylodes macrocephala leg". In processing, besides being divided by harvest season into "raw rhizome", "sun-dried rhizome" and "winter rhizome", it is also specially processed according to clinical needs. Common forms include directly stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, scorched Atractylodes macrocephala, or stir-frying with auxiliary materials such as bran, loess, honey water, ginger juice, rice soup and wine.
Effects and Functions of Atractylodes macrocephala
1. Atractylodes macrocephala is an important medicine for tonifying qi and invigorating the spleen. It is used to treat spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome, spleen deficiency diarrhea, indigestion, and gastrointestinal disorders. It is used to harmonize the middle and tonify the spleen, remove dampness and replenish qi, and when included in tonic formulas, it tonifies qi and blood.
2. Atractylodes macrocephala can both tonify qi and invigorate the spleen, and dry dampness and promote diuresis, so it is a good medicine for treating phlegm-fluid and edema. It is used to treat various types of edema (such as renal, gestational and nutritional edema).
3. Atractylodes macrocephala replenishes qi and tonifies the spleen, and has the effect of consolidating the exterior and stopping sweating. It is used to treat spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency and arthritic rheumatic pain.
4. Atractylodes macrocephala replenishes qi and invigorates the spleen, and has the effect of calming the fetus. It is used to treat restless fetus.
Analysis of the Planting Prospects of the Chinese Medicine Atractylodes macrocephala
First, planting area has increased. Because the prices of Saposhnikovia divaricata and Salvia miltiorrhiza planted in 2013 were relatively low, while the returns from planting improved Atractylodes macrocephala were much higher than these two, many growers shifted to planting Atractylodes macrocephala, causing an increase in planting area.
Second, seed quality has declined. Although improved Atractylodes macrocephala has high yield, good quality and a high selling price, its only drawback is that Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings grown from seed basically do not produce seeds. To harvest seeds, Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings must be planted, and the management technical requirements are very high. Slight carelessness in management can lead to large numbers of dead seedlings and rotten plants, and in severe cases even "total annihilation". Some so-called improved Atractylodes macrocephala seeds sold on the market are not genuine seeds at all, but are inferior goods passed off as good ones, at best second-generation Atractylodes macrocephala or already degraded Atractylodes macrocephala seeds. Products grown from such seeds can hardly meet purchasing standards, so poor sales are only natural.
Third, many manufacturers, merchants and stockpilers hold the mindset of cautious operation and frequent purchasing with quick turnover, so few buyers dare to hold inventory and stockpile goods. Naturally, they cannot drive up the price in the Atractylodes macrocephala market, causing the price of dried Atractylodes macrocephala to remain sluggish.
I think many people are not very familiar with Atractylodes macrocephala. It is a relatively common Chinese medicine. From the current market situation analysis, its planting prospects are still quite good, and Atractylodes macrocephala has many effects and functions. It has very good therapeutic effects on many human diseases.