The Latest Ophiopogon japonicus Planting Technique Method Tutorial

Ophiopogon japonicus, also known as dwarf lilyturf, ribbon grass, maidong, and cundong, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Ophiopogon in the Liliaceae family. Its fibrous roots are relatively thick and strong, and the tip or middle of the root often swells into a spindle-shaped fleshy small tuber. The tuberous roots are used as medicine.

Site selection and land preparation

It is advisable to choose loose, fertile, moist and well-drained sandy loam soil, and sloping land can also be selected for cultivation. Ophiopogon japonicus avoids continuous cropping. After the current crop is harvested, prepare the land in time. Plow 20-25 cm deep and harrow repeatedly to achieve a loose, fine and level soil surface. In Sichuan production areas, beds are generally not made; if the field is too large and the soil surface is uneven, small soil ridges can be built separately to facilitate drainage and irrigation. In Zhejiang production areas, flat beds are made, with a bed width of 1.5-1.7 m and a ditch width of 40 cm. Apply sufficient base fertilizer during land preparation. Generally, 1500-2000 kg of compost is used per mu, or 50-70 kg of superphosphate, or 1000-1500 kg of barnyard manure can be used. It can be scattered into the furrow at planting time, or scattered into the soil during land preparation.

Planting method

1. Seedling preparation and treatment. Ophiopogon japonicus is propagated by division. In Sichuan around Qingming, and in Zhejiang from Lixia to Mangzhong, when digging Ophiopogon japonicus, select dark green and robust plants, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, divide into individual plants, trim off residual fibrous roots, and cut off part of the stem base (to the extent that a white core appears in the rhizome cross-section and the leaves do not spread apart), then plant immediately. If it cannot be planted in time, it must be "nursed": soak the stem base of the seedlings in clean water briefly so that they absorb enough water, then stand them upright together, place them on loosened soil already dug in a cool place, and cover with soil around them for preservation. If the temperature is too high, water once a day or every other day. The seedling nursing time should not exceed 7 days.

2. Planting. In Sichuan in April, and in Zhejiang in May, choose a sunny or cloudy day. Sichuan adopts furrow drilling and row planting, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a depth of about 5 cm. First apply dilute pig manure water in the furrow, then plant seedlings at a plant spacing of 6-9 cm, with 3 plants per cluster. After planting, cover with soil, press firmly, and tamp down so that the seedlings stand upright and stable, achieving level ground and upright seedlings. Zhejiang adopts hole planting, with holes 3-5 cm deep, a row spacing of 25 cm and a plant spacing of 15 cm, planting 9-10 seedlings per hole. Cover the base and press firmly.

Field management

1. Intercropping. Ophiopogon japonicus needs a shaded and moist environment, and main production areas all practice intercropping. In Sichuan, corn is usually intercropped in summer and autumn. For spring corn, on the 2nd day after Ophiopogon japonicus planting, intercrop 1 row of corn every 5 rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, with a plant spacing of 50 cm. After emergence, keep 1-2 seedlings per hill, preferably 1, and harvest before Liqiu. Before Dashu, among the other rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, intercrop 1 row of autumn corn every 5 rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, and harvest at Qiufen. In winter and early spring, which is the period of tuberous root growth of Ophiopogon japonicus, crops are generally not intercropped to avoid affecting the yield of Ophiopogon japonicus. In Zhejiang, Ophiopogon japonicus has wide row and plant spacing and a long growth period, and intercrops are mostly watermelon, kohlrabi, red onion, summer corn, broad bean, etc. Generally, intercropping is done in the 1st and 2nd years. In the 3rd year, no intercropping is done to avoid affecting the yield and quality of Ophiopogon japonicus.

2. Cultivation and weeding. About half a month after planting seedlings, weed once and loosen the soil to a depth of about 3 cm. From May to October, weeds grow vigorously, so choose a sunny day each month to weed and shallowly loosen the surface soil once.

3. Fertilization. In Sichuan, topdressing is generally done 3-4 times. The 1st time in July, apply 1200 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake. The 2nd time in early to mid-August, apply 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 40-50 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake and 75 kg of wood ash. The 3rd time in early November, apply 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of rapeseed cake and 75 kg of wood ash or 20-25 kg of superphosphate. The 4th time in late February of the 2nd year after planting, apply 2000-2500 kg of pig manure water per mu, plus 5 kg of urea, 7 kg of superphosphate, and 5 kg of potassium chloride. Fertilization in Zhejiang is slightly different from that in Sichuan. There is a habit of "applying root-promoting fertilizer early and applying spring and autumn fertilizer heavily." When Ophiopogon japonicus turns green half a month after planting, combined with drought resistance, apply 700 kg of light human and livestock manure per mu and 10 kg of superphosphate to promote early rooting, more rooting, and early tillering. After July, apply 1200 kg of human and livestock manure and urine per mu, plus 15 kg of superphosphate. Spring and autumn are the periods of tuberous root expansion and massive tillering, so phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied heavily. Apply once each in March and September, with 50 kg of superphosphate or 100-120 kg of cake fertilizer, 1200 kg of human manure and urine, and 150-200 kg of plant ash per mu. Thereafter, fertilize 2-3 times each year.

4. Irrigation. After Lixia, the weather gradually becomes hotter and water evaporation is large, so irrigation should be done in time. If drought occurs in winter and spring, irrigate 1-2 times around Lichun to promote tuberous root growth. In summer, rainfall is concentrated, so accumulated water in the field should be drained in time to prevent pests and diseases caused by high temperature and high humidity and to avoid affecting production.

Pest and disease control

1. Diseases

① Black spot disease: The pathogen is a kind of imperfect fungus among fungi, damaging leaves. The pathogen overwinters on seedlings, begins to cause disease in mid-April each year, and under suitable temperature and humidity develops quickly, causing patches of dead plants.

[Control methods] Select green, robust and disease-free seedlings; in the early stage of disease, when the morning dew is not yet dry, scatter 100 kg of plant ash per mu; drain accumulated water in time during the rainy season to reduce field humidity; soak seedlings for 5 minutes with 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 800-fold liquid of 65% amobam wettable powder, or spray over a large area. In Zhejiang production areas, when the disease is severe, cut off the aboveground parts of diseased plants so that they sprout again.

② Root-knot nematode disease: Root-knot nematodes can occur throughout the year in Guangxi. They mainly damage the roots.

[Control methods] Practice crop rotation; where conditions permit, practice paddy-upland rotation, and avoid rotation with flue-cured tobacco, Chinese milk vetch, cowpea, taro, sweet potato, Trichosanthes kirilowii, monk fruit, Atractylodes macrocephala, Salvia miltiorrhiza, belladonna and other crops; select disease-free seedlings and cut off all old roots; select disease-resistant varieties; carry out soil disinfection.

2. Insect pests

White grubs, mole crickets, cutworms, wireworms, etc. damage roots and stems.

[Control methods] Rotate with rice; after flooding in paddy fields, they can all be eliminated in one season; or kill them with pesticides by conventional methods.