A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Achyranthes bidentata
Our country's traditional Chinese medicine culture has a long history and is broad and profound. Many Chinese herbal medicines may be unrecognizable to people who have not specifically studied Chinese materia medica or engaged in cultivation. Today we will explain to you one Chinese herbal medicine——Achyranthes bidentata.
I. What is Achyranthes bidentata
Achyranthes bidentata, also known as ox knee, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Achyranthes of the Amaranthaceae family, 70-120 cm tall; the root is cylindrical, 5-10 mm in diameter, earth-yellow; the stem is angular or square, green or tinged with purple, with white appressed or spreading soft hairs, or nearly hairless, and the branches are opposite. The flowering period is July-September, and the fruiting period is September-October.
Achyranthes bidentata generally uses its root as medicine, taken raw, and it can invigorate blood and free the meridians. In the traditional Chinese medicine text “Shennong Bencao Jing” it is recorded of Achyranthes bidentata: “For cold-dampness flaccidity and impediment, spasms of the limbs, knee pain that prevents bending and stretching, it drives out blood and qi, treats fire damage and scorching, induces abortion, and taken over a long time makes the body light and resistant to aging.” Besides being taken by humans, veterinarians also use Achyranthes bidentata to treat cattle soft-leg disease, injuries from falls, and broken bones, among others.
II. Planting Techniques
Achyranthes bidentata is a deep-rooted plant. In the wild it grows beside houses, in woodland, and in grassy slopes, while cultivated plants are mostly grown in plain areas. So how exactly should Achyranthes bidentata be planted?
1. Choose a warm, humid climate and loose, fertile sandy loam and yellow soil. Except for clay and saline-alkali soil, it can generally be planted in ordinary soil.
2. During the seedling stage, Achyranthes bidentata fears high temperatures and waterlogging. After the seedlings emerge completely, watering can be stopped. As a folk saying goes, too much water in the early stage makes the seedlings collapse, too much water in the late stage rots the roots, and too much water in the middle stage gives deep roots and high yield.
3. Apply topdressing once at the end of September. In early October, if conditions permit, apply calcium superphosphate once as a foliar fertilizer. Be sure to avoid water accumulation in the field.
4. Achyranthes bidentata is generally harvested around the time of Frost's Descent, when the aboveground leaves wither. Harvesting too early leaves the roots underdeveloped and the yield low. Harvesting too late makes the roots prone to lignification or frost damage, affecting quality.
5. The pests and diseases of Achyranthes bidentata are generally leaf spot disease, root rot, red spider mites, and so on. Once discovered, timely chemical treatment or timely drainage should be carried out.
The above are the main planting techniques for Achyranthes bidentata. When planting Achyranthes bidentata, you must thoroughly understand the knowledge required for planting as well as the local climate and resource conditions, and refer to expert opinions, so as to avoid improper planting and losses.