Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods for Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis, also known as Qin Gui, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of enriching blood, invigorating blood circulation, relieving pain and moistening the intestines. It is mainly produced in Gansu, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Sichuan and other provinces, and is cultivated in most areas of Shaanxi. Its cultivation techniques are introduced as follows.

Morphological characteristics

Angelica sinensis is a perennial herb, 0.4-1 m tall. The root is fleshy, conical, and mostly branched after cultivation. In the second year after planting, it bolts; the stem is upright, 1-1.2 m tall, light purple (a few are pale brown). The leaves are 2-3 times pinnately compound, with the leaf stalk base forming a sheath that clasps the stem. The terminal compound umbel has small white flowers. The fruit is an elliptical schizocarp, splitting into two mericarps when mature. The flowering period is June-July, and the fruiting period is August-September.

Growth habits

Angelica sinensis is an alpine plant and requires cool, humid climatic conditions. It is characterized by liking fertilizer, fearing waterlogging and fearing high temperatures. When cultivated in low-altitude areas, it is difficult for it to survive the summer, and it easily dies when the temperature is too high. Seeds germinate well within the range of 10-25°C, and seedlings emerge in 10-15 days. Angelica sinensis has the phenomenon of early bolting, which should be overcome in production. Generally, seedlings are raised and then transplanted, and digging can be done in the third year.

Cultivation techniques

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose gently sloping land facing south with a semi-shaded, semi-sunny aspect, requiring loose soil and good structure. Deep plow once before Grain Full, break up the clods to make a seedbed. The bed surface is 1 m wide, and the length varies with the terrain. Between beds, open a drainage ditch 30 cm wide and 15-20 cm deep. The planting site should be deeply plowed and finely harrowed, with 2500-5000 kg of base fertilizer applied per mu, evenly turned into the soil, and made into high beds 1.2-1.5 m wide. Between beds, open a drainage ditch 30 cm wide and about 20 cm deep.

2. Propagation methods

In production, seedling raising and transplanting are often used. The sowing period should be determined according to the altitude and temperature of each place: about July in Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan, and around August in Shaanxi. The sowing method is broadcasting; mix the seeds with ash and scatter them on the bed surface, press lightly, cover with a small amount of fine moist soil, and cover with grass to achieve light penetration and moisture retention. The seedling age should not exceed 110 days. The sowing rate is 4-5 kg per mu. Transplanting is divided into winter planting and spring planting, with a plant spacing and row spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm. Spring planting is around Qingming, and winter planting is suitable after Cold Dew and before Frost Descent. When using the direct seeding method for production, it can be done in winter, spring or autumn, and can control early bolting of Angelica sinensis; among these, winter direct seeding is slightly better, but the yield is not high.

3. Field management

① Seedling stage management: after sowing, the soil must be kept moist to facilitate seed germination. After about 40 days, loosen the covering grass. When the seedlings are about 3 cm tall, loosen the soil once and immediately pull out weeds. After the dog days, choose a cloudy day to remove all the covering grass. During the seedling stage, pay attention to preventing drought and draining waterlogging.

② Digging up and storing seedlings: from Cold Dew to Frost Descent, when the temperature drops to about 5°C and the seedling leaves begin to wither, dig up the seedlings, bring a little soil, tie them into small bundles, air-dry the moisture, and store them in cellars or piles. Seedlings that are too old are not suitable for pile storage. When storing in piles, pay attention to placing the tops facing outward and the roots facing inward.

③ Replanting and thinning: under normal circumstances, about 20 days after transplanting, when the seedlings have all emerged, carry out thinning and replanting. It is best to replant with small seedlings with soil on cloudy and rainy days. About 3 months after planting, final thinning should be carried out, removing diseased and weak seedlings, and keeping 1 plant per hole.

④ Cultivation and weeding: in mid-May, carry out the first weeding, preferably by shallow hoeing, so that soil does not bury the seedlings. In mid-June, carry out the second weeding, which can be deep hoeing, to promote root development.

⑤ Bolting removal: after transplanting, plants that flower and fruit in the same year are called early bolting plants; their roots cannot be used as medicine and should all be pulled out.

⑥ Topdressing: Angelica sinensis is a fertilizer-loving plant. In late June during the peak leaf stage and in early August during the root growth stage, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen fertilizers should be applied as topdressing.