Detailed Tutorial on the Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods for Ephedra

Ephedra, also known as Caomahuang (Ephedra sinica), Huamahuang, etc., is a herbaceous shrub plant of the genus Ephedra in the family Ephedraceae. There are three species: Ephedra sinica, Ephedra equisetina and Ephedra intermedia. It grows 20-40 cm tall, with short or prostrate woody stems. In China it is produced in Liaoning, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, northwestern Henan and Shaanxi, and it has relatively high cultivation value. Let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for Ephedra below!

Growth Habits of Ephedra

Ephedra often grows on hillsides, plains, dry wasteland, riverbeds and grasslands, and is distributed in areas with low humidity and little water. It often forms large pure communities, can survive under extreme temperature conditions of -31.6 to 42.6°C, has the characteristics of both heat-tolerant and cold-tolerant plants, and has a relatively high probability of survival under extreme habitat conditions. Ephedra is suitable for growing in sandy soil. Soil is closely related to the distribution and growth of Ephedra. The 0-20 cm topsoil substrate layer is especially important for the distribution and development of the horizontal roots of Ephedra, and it grows well at a pH of around 8.

Propagation Techniques for Ephedra

1. Seed propagation: Ephedra is mostly sown and raised as seedlings in flat beds. Select mature and plump seeds and begin sowing in April in spring. For drilling, open furrows 5 cm deep with a row spacing of 30-40 cm, sow the seeds evenly in the furrows, cover with fine soil, press down, and irrigate with a small amount of water. For dibbling, the hole spacing is 30 cm, sow about 20 seeds per hole, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, press down and irrigate with a small amount of water. The seed germination rate is generally 60-80%, and seedlings emerge in 7-15 days.

2. Division propagation: Ephedra can also be propagated by division. Usually in autumn or after the spring thaw, dig out mature plants, divide them into 5-10 individual plants according to the size of the clump, open furrows at a row spacing and plant spacing of 30 cm each, plant them, cover with soil up to the root buds, compact the surrounding soil and water, and manage carefully to promote normal growth and development.

Cultivation Techniques for Ephedra

1. Select good varieties: There are 11 medicinal species of Ephedra in China. The main varieties in the Hexi Corridor are Ephedra intermedia, Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra sinica and Ephedra rhytidosperma. Among them, Ephedra intermedia has a large distribution area, high grade and good quality, is the main purchasing target of Ephedra processing plants, and is also the main variety cultivated.

2. Land preparation and fertilization: Ephedra is best planted in neutral sandy loam with deep soil layers, good drainage and rich nutrients. Before sowing, deep plowing and land preparation should be carried out. Deep plowing of 40 cm is appropriate, achieving depth, fineness, levelness, firmness and evenness. At the same time, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied in combination with land preparation. Generally, more than 5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 40-45 kg of standard nitrogen fertilizer and 45 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate are applied per mu.

3. Fine sowing: Before sowing Ephedra, soak the seeds in warm water at 30°C for 4 hours to promote germination. Drilling or hole sowing can be used for sowing, with a sowing depth of 1.50-2 cm. After sowing, cover with 2 cm of river sand. Generally, seedlings emerge 10-15 days after sowing. The sowing rate per mu is 300 grams, and the plant and row spacing is 20 cm × 20 cm. If plastic film mulching or seedling transplanting is used, the effect is even better.

4. Intertillage and weeding: Ephedra is a perennial plant and is often accompanied by many weeds that compete with Ephedra for water and fertilizer, which greatly affects the yield and alkali content of Ephedra. Therefore, weeding should be carried out in a timely manner in combination with intertillage. Loosen the soil 3-5 times each year, and remove weeds 3-5 times in combination with soil loosening.

5. Timely harvesting: Ephedra generally has a vigorous growth period from May to June, and September to October is the high-value period for ephedrine accumulation. Harvesting should not be carried out during the high-value period. For directly seeded Ephedra, late October or early November of the third year is appropriate. The regenerated plants growing after harvest are best harvested in rotation every two years. During harvesting, 3 cm of the rhizome base should be retained to facilitate regeneration.

Pest and Disease Control of Ephedra

1. Damping-off: Before sowing Ephedra, disinfect the soil by drenching with 15 kg of ferrous sulfate per mu. After the seedlings have all emerged, immediately spray or drench with fungicides such as cycloheximide thiram, chlorothalonil 2787, benomyl, kangkuning or mancozeb. Spray once more after two weeks. Whether to apply again afterward depends on the condition of seedling infection. At the same time, in disease-prone areas, control the amount and frequency of irrigation, and try not to raise seedlings in low-lying shady and wet land with high or low groundwater levels.

2. Damping-off disease: For Ephedra damping-off disease, spraying baiweiling, amprolium, dichlone and the like are all effective. Spray once at the initial stage of the disease, and spray once more after two weeks. If the disease spreads over a relatively large area, spray once every 5 days.

3. Aphids: During the occurrence period of Ephedra aphids, promptly use insecticides in alternation for control. You can spray 50% fenitrothion 000-2000 times solution or 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1000-1500 times solution, or 20% sumicidin emulsifiable concentrate 4000-000 times solution, or insecticides such as menazon and pirimicarb. After spraying, spray continuously once or twice more at an interval of one week, which can eliminate the occurrence and spread of the pest damage.

4. Dodder: Ephedra is a strongly heliophilous plant, so the occurrence of weeds must be resolutely eliminated. For Ephedra fields with only scattered patchy dodder parasitism, the host plants attached by dodder can be cut off with a sickle or pulled out together with the roots. If large areas of dodder appear and cause harm, herbicides can be used to eliminate them.