Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for High-Yield Cultivation of Atractylodes macrocephala

Atractylodes macrocephala is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family, and its rhizome is used medicinally. It is one of the four famous Chinese medicines along with ginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria and licorice. It has effects such as strengthening the spleen and stomach, drying dampness, promoting water movement, and preventing miscarriage. It is a traditional specialty product of Xinchang County, Zhejiang Province, and is renowned nationwide for its large quantity and high quality. In order to seek cultivation techniques for high yield and high quality of Atractylodes macrocephala, we conducted experiments, demonstrations, and application promotion for a period of 5 years, and achieved good results. The yield per unit area increased from about 180kg to 300-350kg, with the highest reaching 401.5kg, an increase of 67%-112% compared with conventional cultivation.

(1) Carefully select the land and sow at the right time. Selecting good land is the prerequisite for obtaining high yield and high quality of Atractylodes macrocephala. Atractylodes macrocephala has the characteristics of "four fears and three preferences" (fear of drought; fear of wetness and preference for dryness; fear of heat and preference for coolness; fear of cultivated land and preference for virgin land): it has strict soil requirements. It is advisable to choose fields or virgin land with high and dry terrain, a cool climate, sufficient sunlight, an altitude above 350m, deep soil layers, a groundwater level below lm, convenient drainage and irrigation, slightly acidic yellow sandy loam, and land that has been planted with grass family crops for more than 5 years. This can not only reduce the harm of diseases and insects, but also help the root system of Atractylodes macrocephala develop fully, laying the foundation for high yield. Atractylodes macrocephala can be planted from "Great Cold" to "Pure Brightness", but planting too early not only makes it susceptible to freezing, but also increases the chance of pathogen infection and rot; planting too late results in weak rhizomes of the seedlings, low stress resistance, and a shortened growth period, affecting yield and quality. According to experimental evidence: planting within 20 days before and after "Awakening of Insects" is most suitable. Atractylodes macrocephala grows quickly, has a well-developed root system, and has strong fertilizer and water absorption capacity. The yield increase range is large.

(2) Reasonable close planting, with moderate depth. For Atractylodes macrocephala, select strong-growing, highly disease-resistant, high-yield and high-quality Xianggan variety or Daye variety for seed retention, and carry out reasonable close planting. If the planting density is too sparse, the yield will not be high; if too dense, it affects ventilation and light transmission, breeds diseases and insects, and although the number of rhizomes is large, the individual rhizomes are not large, so the yield is also not high. Generally, the degree is that after Atractylodes macrocephala grows, the stems and leaves do not overlap each other. It can be planted in beds, with a bed surface width of 1.2-1.3m, in a turtle-back shape; the bed ditch width is 23-27cm and the depth is 20-23cm. Plant each bed at a row spacing of 25x20cm, with 11000-12000 plants of Atractylodes macrocephala per 667m2. The sowing depth should be moderate. If too shallow, heat preservation is poor, it is easily frozen in the early stage, and in the middle and late stages it is prone to wind damage and lodging. The soil temperature rises quickly and promotes "tiller buds", resulting in poor rhizome shape and low yield and quality; if too deep, germination is slow and the rhizome shape is slender, which is also unsuitable. Generally, a depth of 5-7cm is best, and covering with 3cm of soil after planting is optimal, which helps uniform emergence, strong seedlings, reduces "tillering", and enhances plant stress resistance.

(3) Apply the "four fertilizers" well. For a yield of 350kg of Atractylodes macrocephala per 667m2, each 667m2 requires 24-26kg of nitrogen, 15-17kg of phosphorus, 13-15kg of potassium, and 0.5-0.7kg of borax. 1. Base fertilizer. It should be "rich in fertilizer and complete in nutrients", mainly organic fertilizer, with 1500-2000kg of fully decomposed high-quality barn manure, 750-1000kg of human excrement and urine, 50-60kg of cake fertilizer, 2000-2500kg of burnt mud ash, 30-40kg of superphosphate, and 0.5-0.7kg of borax applied per 667 m2. 2. Seedling fertilizer. It should be early and light. Generally around "Grain Rain", when the seedlings are about l0cm high, apply 300-400kg of dilute human excrement and urine per 667 m2, or 10kg of ammonium bicarbonate to promote seedling growth. 3. Stem fertilizer. It should be applied in appropriate amount and timely. Around "Grain Full", when the seedlings are about 30cm high, apply 500-600kg of human excrement and urine or 15-17kg of compound fertilizer per 667 m2 to meet the fertilizer demand of Atractylodes macrocephala before the formation of reproductive organs. 4. Rhizome fertilizer. It should be heavy and complete. Around "Minor Heat", when the rhizome begins to expand, apply 25-30kg of decomposed rapeseed cake, 750-900kg of human excrement and urine (or 30kg of compound fertilizer), 25kg of superphosphate, and 40kg of ammonium bicarbonate per 667 m2 to provide sufficient fertilizer for the rhizome expansion period. During this period, spray 1-2 times with a mixed solution of 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus 0.2% borax to promote rhizome expansion.

(4) Careful management and chemical control to prevent lodging. The general requirement for the management of Atractylodes macrocephala is to achieve the "four nothings": no diseases or insects, no weeds, no tillers, and no standing water, so as to achieve strong seedlings and healthy plants. For intertillage and weeding of Atractylodes macrocephala, because the root system is close to the ground and planting is dense, intertillage should be shallow and the number of times should be few. During the seedling stage, 1-2 times combined with hilling is sufficient. After the stems are formed, switch to manual weeding. In drought, water timely for drought resistance, and ditch cleaning should be carried out frequently together with hilling. After topdressing is completed, before "Major Heat", cut grass and spread it on the ground to reduce weed growth and ground water evaporation, avoid rainwater splashing soil, and reduce the spread of pathogens on the soil surface. In order to concentrate nutrients from the Atractylodes macrocephala plant to supply rhizome growth and promote rhizome expansion, timely remove "tillers", cut off "branching stems", and spreading branches; from budding to before flowering, generally after "Summer Solstice", cut off the Atractylodes macrocephala flower buds, once every 6-7 days, for 3-4 consecutive times, cutting cleanly each time, with a flat cut to facilitate wound "healing". The removed tillers, buds, stems, and branches should be taken out of the field and centrally treated. To prevent lodging of Atractylodes macrocephala, 1-2 sprays of 600 times "Baizhuling" solution should also be applied around "Grain in Ear" to promote deep roots, vigorous roots, strong stems, and healthy plants. Enhance lodging resistance.

(5) Integrated control and timely spraying. Diseases and insect pests of Atractylodes macrocephala are the key issue determining whether its cultivation can succeed. Atractylodes macrocephala mainly has "four diseases": damping-off disease, root rot, southern blight, and iron leaf disease. The control measures are to focus on chemical control on the basis of good agricultural control: before sowing, soak the Atractylodes macrocephala planting material with 402 "600" times or 70% thiophanate-methyl 700 times solution to prevent the "four diseases". At the same time, after full emergence of Atractylodes macrocephala, spray 20% dexon 600 times solution or 77% fenaminosulf 800 times solution to prevent damping-off disease; for root rot, before the onset of disease in mid-May, apply "high comprehensive agent" 700 times solution or 75% chlorothalonil 600 times solution to the roots for control; for southern blight, before the onset of disease in late May, apply 20% tolclofos-methyl 800 times solution to the roots for prevention. For the above two diseases, after the first application, apply once every 15-20d for prevention, for 4-5 consecutive sprays, and the control effect can reach more than 95%. For iron leaf disease, spray an equal-amount Bordeaux mixture once in mid-April, or after "high comprehensive agent" 700 times solution, strengthen field inspection, and spray in time when disease centers appear. The main pests of Atractylodes macrocephala include aphids, white grubs, and scarab beetles. When the aphid population reaches more than 700 per hundred Atractylodes macrocephala plants, promptly spray 40% dimethoate 1000 times solution to kill them. To control underground pests such as white grubs, scarab beetles, and root aphids, in addition to applying 2-2.5kg of carbofuran per 667 m2 mixed with fine soil into the bottom of the planting holes before sowing, combine with the application of stem fertilizer and rhizome fertilizer by watering the roots with 50% phoxim or 50% methamidophos 1000 times solution. Other diseases and insect pests should also be controlled in time.

(6) Harvest at the right time to ensure quality and quantity. If Atractylodes macrocephala is harvested too early and is not yet mature, the water content is high, the fresh-to-dry ratio is low, and the drying time is long, affecting yield and quality. Generally, after being hit by frost, the stems and leaves wither, the upper leaves harden and become brittle, and the lower leaves turn yellow. Harvest from "Frost's Descent" to "Start of Winter". Harvesting at this time means the rhizome is already mature, and both the fresh-to-dry ratio and yield are high, with good quality. If after "Start of Winter" the upper leaves and branches and stems have not yet withered, and the underground rhizome has not yet produced "tiller buds", harvesting can be appropriately delayed to allow the rhizome to fully mature.