High-quality and high-yield cultivation experience and key technical points for Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong)
1. Site selection and land preparation
In the Sichuan production area, early rice fields are chosen for planting. After harvesting the early rice, plough and harrow the field into beds and level them.
2. Cultivating planting material
The above-ground stem nodes of Chuanxiong, commonly known as “lingzi”, are specially cultivated in mountainous areas at an altitude of 900-1500 m to supply “lingzi” for planting in flatland or hilly areas. Before the Beginning of Spring, the stem nodes of Chuanxiong are planted in holes at a row and plant spacing of 20 cm × 20 cm. They emerge in early March, and are harvested in mid-July when the stem node disc swells and the stem turns flower-red. The cut-off rhizome, called “shan chuanxiong”, can be used medicinally, and the stems are then tied into small bundles and stored in cool mountain caves as propagation material.
3. Planting
This is done around the Beginning of Autumn and no later than the end of August. On the prepared land, open furrows with a row spacing of 30 cm and a depth of 3 cm, and a plant spacing of 20 cm. Place the lingzi diagonally into the furrow with the bud pointing upward. Do not plant too deep or too shallow; half exposed above the soil surface is sufficient. After planting, cover the bed surface with a layer of rice straw to prevent direct sunlight. Use about 40 kg of lingzi per mu.
4. Field management
By late August, all planted taizi have emerged. At this time, timely intertillage and weeding should be carried out 1-3 times, combined with topdressing. Human excrement and urine can be mixed with chemical fertilizer to ensure vigorous growth of Chuanxiong. During the vigorous growth period, root rot occurs frequently, so drainage should be timely and diseased and dead plants should be pulled out; chemical control is difficult. Diseases on stems and leaves include powdery mildew and leaf blight. Powdery mildew can be controlled by foliar spraying with triadimefon, and leaf blight can be controlled with zineb.