How much does a golden nanmu (Phoebe zhennan) sapling cost per plant?
Golden nanmu (Phoebe zhennan) is a tree species of the genus Phoebe in the Lauraceae family. It is a precious timber species unique to China and also a rare and endangered species under China's second-class key protection. Nanmu in China is mainly distributed in subtropical regions such as Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Hainan; while golden nanmu is mainly produced in Sichuan and Guizhou, among which the best comes from Sichuan. So what is the price of golden nanmu saplings and what are the technical measures for cultivating golden nanmu saplings?
Golden nanmu is by nature fond of warm and humid environments, tolerant of heat and resistant to cold. Its timber has the characteristics of being moisture-proof, corrosion-resistant, non-deforming, mild with a subtle fragrance, warm in winter and cool in summer, and emitting strands of golden light under illumination. It is a rare and fine economic tree species that combines biodiesel, medicinal, spice and important timber uses. Gaozhou City is located in the western part of Guangdong Province, in the northern margin of the tropics, and its warm and humid climate suits the growth of nanmu.
Price of golden nanmu saplings
According to local seedling-raising experience and cost accounting, although the thousand-grain weight is relatively large, the germination rate is very good, so the price of golden nanmu seedlings will not be too high. Generally, one-year-old bare-root small seedlings are quite reasonable at around 2 yuan, container seedlings are slightly more expensive, and larger specifications are even more expensive, but buying large seedlings for cultivation is not recommended.
Technical measures for cultivating golden nanmu saplings
1. Harvest seeds at the right time
The seed maturation period of golden nanmu is around “Minor Snow”, when the fruit skin turns from green to blue-black, indicating maturity. At present, there is no harvesting of golden nanmu seeds in Gaozhou City, and the seed sources are all purchased from the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Science Seed and Seedling Station or from other provinces. Because its seeds have relatively high oil content and moisture content, and once the moisture falls below 30%, the seeds will crack and the cotyledons will become moldy, which directly affects the germination rate of the seeds. Therefore, when purchasing seeds, be sure to pay attention to their freshness.
2. Seed treatment
After the seeds are purchased, they should be treated promptly. Because the seeds have relatively high oil content and moisture content, and when the moisture is below 30%, the seeds will crack and the cotyledons will become moldy, therefore, the purchased seeds must immediately be mixed with moist river sand for storage. During storage, be sure to properly control the humidity of the river sand, that is, squeeze a ball of sand tightly in the hand; it is best if no water can be squeezed out with force and the sand ball does not immediately fall apart after the hand is released. Around the Beginning of Spring, when the seeds begin to sprout, they can be sown. Because of their relatively high oil content, stored seeds generally cannot exceed 3 months, otherwise the germination rate of the seeds will be reduced.
3. Seeds must be carefully germinated
Golden nanmu seeds should be raised in a germination bed, which facilitates management and improves the germination rate. The germination seedbed should have weeds and debris completely removed, be leveled and formed into beds. The bed width is 1 m, and a 20 cm thick layer of river sand is spread on it. Before sowing, soak the seeds for 6 h in warm water of about 40 years with trichlorfon pesticide added, then remove the shriveled seeds and other debris floating on the surface. After scooping them out, soak the seeds for 30 min in “carbendazim” or another fungicide for sterilization treatment. The seedbed should also be sterilized with a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution. After sowing, cover the seeds with clean river sand about 1-2 em thick, water thoroughly with a shower head, then cover with plastic film to keep warm and retain moisture. During this period, it is necessary both to maintain the moisture of the bed surface and to avoid either drought or waterlogging.
4. Seedling management
When the seeds have grown in the germination bed for about 30 d, they will germinate one after another. At this time, the plastic film can be uncovered, and a fungicide and foliar fertilizer (potassium dihydrogen phosphate) should be sprayed once every 10 d. Fungicides should be used in rotation. Wait until the seedlings have produced 1-2 true leaves and the seedling stems have turned semi-lignified, then promptly transplant them into nutrient cups. This period is the key to the survival rate after transplanting the seedlings.
5. Nutrient cup seedling raising requires strict management
In seedling raising, the nutrient soil for the nutrient cups should be prepared with 60% red-hearted loam plus 39% organic humus soil and river sand, and 1% superphosphate. The nutrient cups should be placed in a shade shed with 50%-75% shading. When transplanting seedlings, weak seedlings should be removed, the roots of the seedlings must not be damaged when lifting them, and at the same time the roots should be coated with yellow mud slurry mixed with “carbendazim”. After planting, promptly water thoroughly to settle the roots, and set up bamboo arches on the seedbed and cover with light-transmitting film to keep warm and retain moisture, so as to improve the transplant survival rate. After the seedlings have settled their roots, they can be watered once every 10 d with 0.2% compound fertilizer. After fertilizing, water with an appropriate amount of clear water to avoid burning the leaves and stems of the seedlings. The best time to apply fertilizer is in the evening.