Detailed Explanation of Key Points on Bupleurum Cultivation Techniques

One, Bupleurum is also known as hard-seedling Bupleurum and bamboo-leaf Bupleurum, and is a plant of the Apiaceae family. Northern Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense) is used medicinally for its root. It has the effects of releasing the exterior and harmonizing the interior, soothing the liver and clearing heat, and regulating menstruation. It is distributed in Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong and other provinces.

Two, characteristics:

Perennial herb, 40-90 cm tall. The main root is cylindrical, branched or unbranched; leaves are simple and alternate; the basal leaves and lower stem leaves have long petioles; the leaf blades are linear broadly lanceolate and entire. Compound umbels. Axillary and terminal; flowers small and yellow. The schizocarp is broadly elliptical, with ridged ribs, and turns brown after maturity. Flowering period is July-September, fruiting period is August-October.

Three, growth habits:

It grows wild on relatively dry mountain slopes, forest edges, gaps in forests, among grasses and beside ditches. The soil is mostly loam, sandy loam or humus soil. It has strong cold resistance and can tolerate drought, but dislikes waterlogging.

Four, cultivation techniques:

1. Site selection and land preparation: Bupleurum was originally wild, and artificially cultivated areas were relatively few. In recent years, with introduction and cultivation, the area has gradually expanded. It is advisable to choose mountain slope terraced fields with sandy loam or humus soil for cultivation, and it is not suitable to plant in clayey waterlogged sections. If sowing on newly reclaimed wasteland, be sure to clear stones, branches and other debris from the field, and apply sufficient base fertilizer in advance. Generally, about 1500 jin of barnyard manure is applied per mu, then carefully level the ground and make beds ready for sowing.

2. Propagation methods:

Use seed propagation, either direct sowing or seedling transplanting. Large-scale production mostly uses direct sowing. The seed germination rate is about 50%. At a temperature of about 20 degrees C, with sufficient moisture, seedlings can emerge 7 days after sowing. If the temperature is below 20 degrees C, it takes more than 10 days for seedlings to emerge. Direct sowing is done before the winter freeze or in spring. In North China, sowing is in April; in Northeast China, sowing is in early to mid-May. When sowing, first open furrows at a row spacing of 5-6 cun, with a furrow depth of 3-4 fen, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with 2-4 fen of soil, slightly press down and then water. The sowing rate is about 3 jin per mu. After sowing, pay attention to keeping the soil moist to help ensure full stands. Seedling raising: first choose a sunny place or make a sunny bed, sow from early March to late April, drill with a row spacing of 3 cun, open small shallow furrows, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover the soil firmly, press slightly, and sprinkle water with a watering can. Alternatively, first sieve and spread a layer of fine soil over the bed soil of the sunny bed to cover the bed surface. Cover the sowing bed with plastic film or a layer of straw curtains. This helps keep warmth and moisture and can accelerate seed germination and seedling emergence. When the seedlings are 2 cun tall, the seedlings with soil balls can be dug up and planted in the field. After planting, water promptly. When the planted seedlings have grown new roots and the leaves begin to expand, loosen the soil gently once. Doing a good job of preserving soil moisture and protecting seedlings is the key to creating high yield.

3. Field management:

Before emergence, keep the bed surface moist; after emergence, loosen the soil frequently. When the seedlings are 1-2 cun tall, thin them. When the seedlings are more than 3 cun tall, in combination with loosening the soil and hoeing weeds, set the plants at a spacing of 2-3 cun. When the seedlings grow to half a chi tall, apply 25 jin of superphosphate and 15 jin of ammonium sulfate per mu as topdressing. When loosening the soil, hoeing weeds or topdressing, be careful not to damage the stems, so as not to affect yield. In the first year, newly sown Bupleurum stems are relatively thin and weak, so before the rainy season, cultivate and earth up to prevent lodging. From June to September, use trichlorfon (800-fold solution) or Bacillus thuringiensis (100 billion spores per gram) to prevent papilionid butterflies and red-striped stink bugs.

4. Harvesting and processing: After sowing, it can be dug up after two years of growth. Harvest in autumn when the plants begin to wither, or in spring before new shoots grow out. After digging, remove the remaining stems, shake off the soil, and dry in the sun, or dry in the sun after cutting into sections for later use.