Production Areas and Planting Methods of the Chinese Herb Atractylodes macrocephala
Atractylodes macrocephala (zhú), a Chinese herb, may be relatively unfamiliar to many people, but many have consumed it. Its current market price is around 30 yuan per kilogram, and its cultivation prospects are fairly promising. So, do you knowwhere the main production areas of Atractylodes macrocephala are? What are its planting methods?
1. Where are the main production areas of the Chinese herb Atractylodes macrocephala?
1. Growing environment requirements of Atractylodes macrocephala
Atractylodes macrocephala grows best in cool, shady and humid areas at an altitude of roughly 200 m or more, where the annual maximum temperature does not exceed 35°C, the minimum temperature does not fall below 10°C, and the slope is about 5 degrees.
Therefore, when cultivating it artificially, one should also try to choose a site that meets the growing environment requirements of Atractylodes macrocephala, so that the quality and yield of the harvested Atractylodes macrocephala can be substantial.
2. Production area distribution of Atractylodes macrocephala
The production areas of Atractylodes macrocephala in China are mainly distributed in the central region and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang area, and it is one of the famous “Zhejiang Eight Flavors”. Specifically, they include:
(1) Wild Atractylodes macrocephala: Jiangxi (Xiushui, Tonggu, Yifeng), Hunan (Pingjiang, Chupu, Longhui, Longshan, Ningxiang), Zhejiang (Xinchang, Shengxian, Pan'an, Dongyang, Tiantai), Sichuan (Baoxing).
(2) Artificially cultivated Atractylodes macrocephala: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hebei, Chongqing, Hubei and Hunan, among other places.
2. What are the planting methods of Atractylodes macrocephala?
1. Selection of Atractylodes macrocephala seeds
Atractylodes macrocephala is generally grown from seed. One should distinguish true from false seeds and purchase superior varieties. Good-quality Atractylodes macrocephala seeds are generally reddish with fine hairs, and the seed surface is glossy with relatively clear cross-sections.
2. Selection of the planting plot for Atractylodes macrocephala
If you decide to plant Atractylodes macrocephala, it is best not to rotate it onto a plot where crops such as peanuts, cabbage, tomatoes or potatoes have been grown. Instead, choose a sandy loam with relatively good drainage. The fertility does not need to be very good, but the land must not be especially barren.
Before planting, the plot should be deeply plowed once and given a base fertilizer application.
3. Sowing of Atractylodes macrocephala
Atractylodes macrocephala can be sown in both spring and autumn, but spring sowing is generally preferable. Basically, sowing can be done between mid-to-late March and mid-to-early April each year. Before sowing, the Atractylodes macrocephala seeds can be soaked in warm water at about 28°C for 24 hours, then dried and sown in drills after opening furrows.
4. Seedling-stage management of Atractylodes macrocephala
After the Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings emerge, intertillage and weeding are needed, along with topdressing. Topdressing can be carried out when the Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings have grown 3 true leaves, and potassium fertilizer is preferable.
5. Transplanting of Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings
If the Atractylodes macrocephala is spring-sown, the transplanting time can be chosen between late December and early April. At this time the temperature is relatively low, which favors root development and is very critical to whether a high yield can be achieved later.
When transplanting, 10000 Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings per mu is appropriate, and the row spacing and plant spacing can be chosen as 24*15 cm.
6. Field management of Atractylodes macrocephala
In addition to intertillage, weeding and topdressing, bud removal and pest and disease control management are also needed for Atractylodes macrocephala.
Around July, Atractylodes macrocephala will begin to form flower buds, and bud removal can be carried out on sunny days.
The main diseases of Atractylodes macrocephala include root rot, southern blight, damping-off and iron leaf disease, and the main pests include white grubs, scarab beetles and aphids. Normally, drainage and irrigation should be actively managed to avoid waterlogging, and if diseases occur, the appropriate pesticide can be applied according to the symptoms.
Warm tip: Harvested Atractylodes macrocephala can undergo simple processing, either sun-drying or oven-drying, so that it can fetch a higher price during sale!