High-yield cultivation experience and key technical points for cassia seed
1. Growth habits: Cassia seed prefers a warm and humid climate, is not tolerant of cold and fears frost, but has low soil requirements; it can be planted in sandy soil and clay soil, and grows best in slightly alkaline soil. When planted in well-drained, loose and fertile soil, the root system is well developed, with the most nitrogen-fixing root nodules, prefers phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and is relatively drought-tolerant.
2. Propagation and cultivation: Seed propagation method, divided into spring sowing and summer sowing. Spring sowing is around Qingming, and summer sowing is before Xiazhi. Before sowing, apply some fertilizer to the field, sow in rows or broadcast at a row spacing of 30 cm, open shallow furrows 2-3 cm deep, maintain suitable moisture, and seedlings generally emerge in seven days. When the seedlings are 6 cm high, shallow loosening of the soil, weeding, and thinning can be done, with a plant spacing of 25-30 cm. Check the seedlings and fill gaps; transplanting is possible. When the seedlings are more than 40 cm high, water and fertilizer must keep up to promote more branching, more flowering, and more pod setting, and be careful to prevent lodging. It is best to mound some soil around the roots and remove the lower leaves to facilitate ventilation and light exposure, enhance seed plumpness, and achieve the goals of high and stable yield.
3. Pest and disease control: Cassia seed generally has fewer diseases, but water accumulation easily causes root rot, affecting yield. Pests include aphids, spider mites, cabbage caterpillars, etc., which can be controlled by foliar spraying with trichlorfon, dimethoate, and pyrethroid pesticides.
4. Harvesting and processing: Generally in autumn in September, when the pods turn from green to yellow, be careful to prevent people and livestock from entering the field and bumping the pods so the seeds fall out. After Shuangjiang, choose a sunny morning when the dew has not yet dried, cut the whole plant, thresh it in the yard, dry it in the sun, winnow it clean, and remove various impurities, pods, etc.