Detailed Explanation of Baitqi Planting Methods and Key Technical Points

Baitqi likes fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam or humus loam. It prefers a warm, shady, and moist environment, and is best cultivated on a shady hillside. From July to September, water once in the morning and once in the evening to keep the soil moist, and also drain promptly to avoid damaging the roots. Spray with potassium dihydrogen phosphate or diluted human and livestock manure once a month. Field weeding should be done well, and pests and diseases such as cutworms, wireworms, and root rot should be controlled.

1. Soil: Baitqi requires fertile, loose, and well-drained sandy loam or humus loam. It should be cultivated on a shady slope or in a relatively shady and moist plot. Plow the soil more than 20 cm deep, apply barnyard manure and compost, with 1000 kg of farmyard manure per mu; if there is no farmyard manure, 50 kg of NPK compound fertilizer can be broadcast. Then plow again to mix the soil and fertilizer evenly. Before planting, shallow plow once, break the soil up finely, rake it level, and make raised beds 130--150 cm wide.

2. Watering: Baitqi likes shade and should be kept moist regularly. Water during drought, and in July to September water once in the morning and once in the evening. Baitqi is also afraid of waterlogging, so drain promptly after heavy rain to avoid damaging the roots.

3. Fertilizing: Baitqi is a fertilizer-loving plant. Spray with potassium dihydrogen phosphate or diluted human and livestock manure once a month. From July to August it stops growing and enters dormancy, but weeds must be prevented from growing thickly.

4. Weeding: Baitqi has strict requirements for weeding. After planting, spray acetochlor for pre-emergence closing. After the Baitqi seedlings emerge fully, they grow very vigorously from May to June, and weeds also grow quickly, so weed control should be carried out. Combine weeding with loosening the bed surface, and hoe shallowly when weeding to avoid damaging the roots.

5. Pest and disease control: Root rot occurs mostly in the rainy seasons of spring and summer in the south. Control methods: pay attention to drainage and waterproofing, and dig drainage ditches deep. Cutworms and wireworms can be captured manually or trapped.

Baitqi is actually similar in efficacy to Astragalus, but when grown in different soils the root bark color differs. It can tonify qi and stabilize the exterior, promote urination, and expel toxins, and is a very good traditional Chinese medicinal material.