Where Is the Main Production Area of Salvia miltiorrhiza? Detailed Explanation of Propagation Methods
Salvia miltiorrhiza is also known as red ginseng, purple salvia, red root, etc. It is a perennial upright herbaceous plant whose roots are used as medicine. Sowhere is the main production area of Salvia miltiorrhiza? How is Salvia miltiorrhiza propagated?Let's find out together.
1. Where is the main production area of Salvia miltiorrhiza?
In China, except for the high-cold regions of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and northern Inner Mongolia, it is distributed in almost every province, autonomous region, and municipality, being produced in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hunan, among other places, and it is also distributed in Japan.
2. How is Salvia miltiorrhiza propagated?
1. Root division propagation: At harvest in autumn, select current-year Salvia miltiorrhiza roots with a diameter of 0.7-1 cm, purple-red color, free of pests and diseases, and well developed as seed roots, and store them in moist sand until the following spring. In early spring from March to April, cut the seed roots into 4-6 cm small sections, and according to the specifications of row spacing, plant spacing, and depth of 35 cm × 25 cm × 6 cm, place the cut seed roots vertically into the holes, one section per hole, with the thick end facing up, and never upside down, then cover with about 2 cm of soil, which should not be too thick, otherwise it will affect emergence. Use about 50 kg of seed roots per mu. When planted with root sections, flowering is late, and it is difficult to harvest seeds in the same year, but the roots grow faster and the medicinal material yield is high.
2. Rhizome head propagation: At harvest of Salvia miltiorrhiza, select robust, disease-free plants, cut off the thick roots for medicinal use, and use the thin roots together with the rhizome head and heart leaves as seedlings for planting. Large seedlings can be divided into 2-4 plants according to the natural growth conditions of buds and roots, and then planted. Wild Salvia miltiorrhiza can also be dug up, the thick roots cut off for medicinal use, and the thin roots together with the rhizome head planted. The plant and row spacing are the same as for root division propagation, and the time should be late autumn or early spring. When propagated by rhizome head, it can be harvested in the following year after planting, with a short production cycle and good economic benefits.
3. Cutting propagation: In the north from June to July, and in the south from April to May, select robust, disease-free Salvia miltiorrhiza branches and cut them off at ground level, cut them into 13-16 cm long sections, with the lower cut close to the stem node and in a horseshoe shape. Remove the lower leaves, and according to row and plant spacing of 20 × 10 cm, insert the cuttings diagonally into the seedbed to a depth of 1/2-2/3 of the cutting, cover with soil and press firmly, leaving 1-2 leaves above ground. Cut and insert as you go, and do not leave them for long, otherwise it will affect the survival rate of the cuttings. After insertion, keep the soil moist and provide appropriate shade, and in 15-20 days new roots will grow from the lowest stem node. When the roots reach 3 cm, set them out in the field.
4. Seed propagation: Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds are small, with a germination rate of about 70%. Direct sowing often results in uneven emergence, so the seedling transplanting method is mostly used. Seeds should be selected from those matured after June, and sown as collected or sown in September. Generally, sow in the seedbed in March, either in drills or broadcast. For drilling, the row and plant spacing is 30 × 20 cm, the furrow depth is 1-1.3 cm, the seeds are mixed with river sand and evenly scattered in the furrow, then covered with 0.5-0.7 cm of soil. For broadcasting, the seeds can be evenly scattered on the ground, then stepped on once so that the seeds adhere tightly to the soil, without the need to cover with soil. The sowing rate is about 0.5 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. When the soil temperature reaches about 20°C, seedlings emerge in 15-20 days. When the seedlings have 3-5 true leaves, if they are found to be too dense, thinning should be carried out, and the thinned seedlings can be planted elsewhere and cultivated. After 2 months of growth after sowing, they can be transplanted.