Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques for Paris polyphylla

Paris polyphylla is the dried rhizome of the Liliaceae plant Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis or Paris polyphylla (seven-leaf-one-flower). It is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb with effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and calming the liver to relieve convulsions. In recent years, many regions have begun large-scale cultivation of Paris polyphylla to find a path to prosperity. Below we introduce the planting methods for Paris polyphylla cultivation.

I. Site Selection and Land Preparation

The seedling nursery is generally chosen in a shaded, well-covered open space under forest with good drainage and irrigation, or in a vegetable garden plot. Since Paris polyphylla is a shallow-rooted crop and the plants grow slowly during the seedling stage, it has high soil requirements. The soil must be loose and porous with rich organic matter content. After site selection, land preparation should be done well: choose clear weather, deeply plow the soil to a depth of more than 25 cm, mainly to break the plow pan. During land preparation, promptly clear stones, weeds and stubble from the field to ensure the ground is level and the soil is fine and crumbly. Combined with land preparation, apply 3500 kg of fully decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, then level the ground. Make beds 120 cm wide, and dig a drainage ditch 35 cm wide and 25 cm deep. Build a wire-and-cement post trellis frame using wire and cement posts, and cover the top of the trellis frame with a shading material to help create a shaded and moist environment for the growth of Paris polyphylla.

II. Seedling Raising

1. Scientific Seed Selection

Select Paris polyphylla seeds that are plump, highly mature, free from pest and disease threats, and not moldy or deteriorated. After seed selection, manually remove the outer skin and sun-dry them in clear weather for 2-3 days to improve the seeds' water absorption capacity. Then mix the seeds with fine sand at a ratio of 1 : 3 and store them, with the storage temperature controlled at 20°C. During this period, keep the sand moist and turn it once every half a month to ensure the seeds breathe fully and avoid seed rot. On the previously prepared seedbed, make raised bed surfaces 1.2 m wide, and dig drainage ditches 25 cm deep and 35 cm wide around the bed surfaces. One week before sowing, use a 0.5% carbendazim solution to disinfect the soil.

2. Scientific Sowing Management

When 30% of the seeds have sprouted (white root tips showing), take the seeds out and sow them. Sowing can be done by broadcasting or dibbling. Generally, the planting density is maintained at 4 cm×4 cm, and the sowing depth is controlled at 2 cm. After sowing, cover with a layer of decomposed leaves, then irrigate thoroughly. After sowing, irrigate appropriately according to the seedbed moisture to keep the seedbed moist, and remove weeds promptly when found. After the seeds grow radicles, spray once with a 0.2% monopotassium phosphate solution and a 0.5% carbendazim solution after irrigation.

After Paris polyphylla emerges, do a good job of shading and strictly control the amount of irrigation, generally irrigating once every half a month, and promptly pull out any weeds found in the seedbed. Throughout the seedling stage, irrigate with pig manure water 2-3 times per year. Generally, after about 3 years of cultivation, they can be transplanted. During the entire cultivation process, the covering material can be appropriately reduced to increase light exposure.

III. Timely Transplanting

When the seedlings have grown for more than 3 years, dig out the seedlings in the winter of the 3rd year when the adventitious buds of Paris polyphylla form, and plant them at a row spacing of 20 cm×25 cm. After transplanting, promptly cover with a shade net above; the height of the shade net is generally controlled at 1.8-2.0 m. Generally, the best transplanting season is winter, after the above-ground parts have wilted and the roots have entered dormancy. Throughout the transplanting process, ensure transplanting with soil to keep the terminal buds and fibrous roots undamaged, so as to improve the survival rate.

IV. Doing Good Field Management Work

1. Cultivation and Weeding

Paris polyphylla is a shallow-rooted crop, and it mainly sprouts new roots in autumn and winter. Therefore, after Paris polyphylla is planted, cultivation and weeding should be done well. The weeding date is generally chosen during the early growth stage of the underground rhizomes between September and October, mainly shallow cultivation, to avoid cultivating too deep and damaging the roots. Cultivation and weeding should be combined with earthing up, and fertilizer should be applied as appropriate to ensure Paris polyphylla overwinters safely. Around the Beginning of Spring, the seedlings of Paris polyphylla will gradually grow out, and field weeds should be pulled out promptly. During weeding, avoid damaging the roots and underground rhizomes of Paris polyphylla, so as not to affect its normal growth.

2. Scientifically Doing Good Water and Fertilizer Management Work

During the growth period of Paris polyphylla there is more rain, so irrigation is usually not needed; during concentrated rainfall periods, field drainage should be done well. Promptly clear the drainage ditches around the field to ensure all ditches are connected and can drain smoothly. When drought weather occurs, irrigate promptly according to field moisture. After the above-ground rhizomes emerge, irrigation is not suitable, otherwise it can easily cause root rot in Paris polyphylla. Paris polyphylla needs topdressing about 2 times per year, once in spring and once in winter each year. Winter topdressing is generally carried out from late November to early December; after field cultivation, apply topdressing promptly, applying 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. Spring fertilization is generally carried out in early to mid-April, applying 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu.

3. Doing Good Pest and Disease Control Work

The main pests and diseases of Paris polyphylla include root rot, leaf blight, cutworms, and white grubs. For these pests and diseases, on the basis of doing good agricultural control work, chemical pesticides should also be scientifically selected for scientific control. When the field incidence reaches the control threshold, use 500-times diluted carbendazim or 200-times diluted quicklime for root drenching to control Paris polyphylla root rot. For Paris polyphylla leaf blight, use 200-times diluted Bordeaux mixture for field spraying, which has a very good control effect. For cutworms and white grubs, use 20 mL of 2.5% deltamethrin EC diluted in 50 kg of water for field spraying, with a remarkable control effect.

The above are the key technical points on Paris polyphylla cultivation compiled by the editor. Growers must do a good job of the relevant cultivation technical points such as site selection and land preparation, seedling raising, timely transplanting, and field management during the Paris polyphylla planting process, to ensure high quality, high yield and high efficiency of Paris polyphylla!