How to cultivate intercropped Bupleurum for high yield?
Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense), also known as Di Xun, Zi Hu, Qie Cao, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant with a plant height of 80-100 cm, compound umbel inflorescence, yellow plump flowers, roots with irregular branching, varying in thickness, the main root often not obvious, bark black or white. In the early stage of plant growth, the above-ground stems and leaves grow mainly, and in the later stage the roots grow. Seeds from the previous year should not be kept for sowing. The rhizome is used as medicine. It has the effects of soothing the liver, relieving fever and relieving pain, and is mainly used to treat colds, fever, alternating chills and fever, chronic hepatitis, hypochondriac pain or intercostal neuralgia, gynecological diseases, etc.
Bupleurum was originally mainly grown by direct seeding in the field and by raising seedlings for transplanting. In recent years, during the GAP standardized cultivation and development of Bupleurum in Fang County, Hubei, it was found that Bupleurum intercropping technology has more advantages than seedling transplanting and direct seeding in the field, and is worth promoting. This is mainly shown in: (1) it saves labor and manpower; (2) it effectively solves the problem of shading and moisture retention during the Bupleurum period, which helps ensure full stands; (3) Bupleurum intercropping does not affect the yield of the intercropped crop in that year, ensuring income every year while making rational use of the land.
Land selection, land preparation and fertilization. Choose soil with deep soil layers, fertility, loose texture and some sand. Saline-alkali soil and poorly drained clay soil are not suitable for growth. In combination with land preparation, apply 3000 kg of farmyard manure and 20-30 kg of superphosphate as base fertilizer.
Sowing. First, select and breed good seeds; use healthy, disease-free 2-3 year old Bupleurum plants with divided growth as mother plants for seed production. In September-November, when the fruit changes from green to slightly brown, cut the whole plant back, place it in a ventilated and dry place, and air-dry it for several days. Then sun-dry, thresh, clean and select, and store for later use. Seeds from the previous year should not be kept for sowing. Put the seeds in 55°C water and stir continuously until room temperature, remove the shriveled seeds floating on top, then wash the full seeds that sink to the bottom and set them aside for sowing; or soak the seeds in a 500-fold carbendazim solution for 25 minutes, then wash the seeds with clean water to eliminate pathogens on the seed surface.
Sowing methods are divided into drilling and broadcasting. For drilling, open furrows 2-3 cm deep between the crop rows, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with soil 1-1.50 cm and press lightly; for broadcasting, do not harrow for the time being, evenly scatter the seeds into the field, then harrow 3-4 times, so that the topsoil is loose and the subsoil is firm, to facilitate germination and emergence, with a sowing rate of 2-3 kg per mu.
Where irrigation conditions are convenient, after the crop emerges, when releasing seedling water, evenly scatter the seeds into the seedling field, immediately release water, and do not cover with soil. Bupleurum sowing can only be shallow, not deep; the soil cover should not exceed 1.50 cm, otherwise it is not easy for the seeds to emerge.