How to Grow Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal Skullcap) for High Yields? Latest Cultivation Technique Guide
The Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal skullcap) is a perennial herb of the Lamiaceae family, with its roots used as medicine. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, blood pressure-lowering and diuretic, and detoxifying and cholagogue effects, and is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb, mainly produced in Hebei, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and other provinces and regions.
Scutellaria baicalensis prefers warm conditions and tolerates severe cold; its underground parts can withstand low temperatures of -30°C. It is drought-tolerant and fears waterlogging; when planted in poorly drained or rainy areas, it grows poorly and is prone to root rot. Its cultivation techniques are described below:
Propagation Methods
Scutellaria baicalensis is mainly propagated by seed, but can also be propagated by cuttings or root division.
1. Seed propagation: Direct sowing is generally used. Scutellaria baicalensis seeds are tiny and emergence is relatively difficult, so the soil should be finely prepared before sowing. When preparing the soil, apply 2000-3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, then deep plough and harrow finely, form ridges and make beds, requiring the bed surface to be fine and level. Sloping land without irrigation conditions does not need beds. Spring sowing is generally in March to April, summer sowing in June to July, and winter sowing is also possible, but spring sowing gives the highest yield. Drilling is generally used. Open shallow furrows 2-3 cm deep at a row spacing of 25-30 cm, sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with about 1 cm of soil, and press lightly after sowing. The sowing rate is 0.5-1 kg per mu. Water after sowing and keep the surface soil moist regularly; seedlings emerge in about 15 days. After emergence, thin out the overly dense weak seedlings; when the seedlings are 6-7 cm tall, thin to a plant spacing of 12-15 cm, and transplant seedlings with soil to fill in gaps where plants are missing.
2. Cutting propagation: The most suitable period for cuttings is May to June. Take the semi-lignified young tender parts at the upper end of stems and branches (cuttings taken from the middle and lower parts of stems have a very low survival rate), cut them into 6-10 cm lengths, remove the leaves from the lower 2 nodes, keep the upper leaves, and insert them into a prepared seedling bed at a row and plant spacing of 10×5 cm. Insert immediately after cutting, water after insertion, build a shade frame, and spray water frequently to keep the soil moist. With this method, the survival rate can reach more than 90%, and transplanting can be done 40 days after cutting.
3. Root division propagation: At harvest time, select and keep some high-yield, high-quality rhizomes as propagation material. If harvesting by digging in winter, bury the rhizomes indoors in a cool place and divide and plant them in the second spring; if harvesting in spring, dig and plant immediately. Divide the rhizomes into several plants, each with a few buds, and plant them in the field at a row and plant spacing of 30×20 cm. Using this method on sloping land gives a relatively high survival rate.
Field Management
Keep the soil moist during the emergence period. Pay attention to drainage and waterlogging prevention during the rainy season. Pay attention to loosening the soil and weeding. For the first topdressing after thinning, apply 500 kg of dilute human urine per mu or 3-5 kg of urea; for the second topdressing in June to July, apply 30 kg of ammonium phosphate per mu. In the second and third years, after the plants turn green again, apply 40-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu, and before the rows close in late June, apply 30-40 kg of ammonium phosphate in furrows, then cover with soil and water.
Harvesting and Processing
Harvest 2-3 years after planting. Generally, dig before the stems and leaves wither in late autumn or before sprouting in spring. When digging, dig deep to prevent breaking the roots. After the roots are dug out, shake off the soil, cut off the stems and leaves, and when dried to half-dry, rub off the outer skin, then dry quickly in the sun or by artificial drying. Avoid exposure to strong sunlight; excessive sun exposure will turn the color red. Prevent rain wetting; after rain wetting, the color turns green or black, affecting quality. The finished product is considered top grade when it is compact with no holes and bright yellow inside. Generally, 3-4 kg of fresh roots can be processed into 1 kg of dried product. The general yield is 200-300 kg of dried product per mu, and the highest can reach more than 380 kg.