The Latest High-Yield Pinellia Planting Technique Tutorial
Pinellia is a medicinal plant of the Araceae family, and the medicinal part is the tuber. It is harvested in summer and autumn when the stems and leaves are lush, the outer skin and fibrous roots are removed, and it is sun-dried or oven-dried to become raw Pinellia. Because of its relatively high toxicity, it is mostly used after processing; according to different processing methods, it is divided into Fa Pinellia, Jiang Pinellia, Qing Pinellia, etc. Its taste is pungent, its nature is warm, and it is toxic; it enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians. Its functions are to dry dampness and transform phlegm, harmonize the middle and strengthen the stomach, direct rebellious qi downward and stop vomiting, and resolve distention and dissipate nodules; for external use it can reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Pinellia Planting Techniques
1. Site selection and land preparation: Choose a sunny sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, a previous crop of legumes or grasses, no underground weed growth, good drainage, and rich organic matter for planting. Deep plow 20-25 cm and make beds 1.2 m wide, with bed furrows 30 cm wide and 15-20 cm deep. Apply 1500-2000 kg of decomposed fine farmyard manure or compost per mu, and 20-25 kg of superphosphate.
2. Sow at the right time: Sowing can be done in spring, summer, or autumn, but sowing in spring from late February to early March is best. On the bed, open furrows 5-7 cm deep at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, with a furrow width of about 15 cm, sow the tubers in the furrows at a plant spacing of 2-5 cm, using about 60 kg of seed per mu. After sowing, scatter decomposed fine farmyard manure or compost to cover the seeds, then pour 1500-2000 kg of clear manure water, and afterward cover with soil until level with the bed surface. The bed surface can be covered with thatch or rice straw for 1-2 cm to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing. Generally after 20 days, observe once every 2 days, and when the seedling emergence rate reaches about 60%, remove the covering after 6 p.m.
Pinellia Field Management
A cool and moist cultivation environment can prolong the growth period of Pinellia, delay seedling collapse, favor photosynthesis, and accumulate more dry matter. Therefore, strengthening water and fertilizer management is the key to increasing Pinellia yield. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, topdress 4 times during the growing period.
1. Fertilization: Around 20 days after the seedlings have emerged completely in early April, apply 1000 kg of 1:3 human and livestock manure water per mu; inspect and manage the field at any time, and if weeds are found, pull them out promptly. Use a hoe to shallow-cultivate between rows to a depth of about 2.5 cm, avoiding root damage. Because Pinellia roots grow around the tuber, and its root system is concentrated in the 12-15 cm surface layer, intertillage should be shallow rather than deep.
2. Timely topdressing: In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, in the middle growth stage, about 70 days after planting, around late May during the bulbil formation stage, apply the 2nd fertilizer. Use 30 kg of oil cake soaked in 60 kg of water for 3-5 days per mu, then apply the soak solution with 1000-1500 kg of clear manure water as a topdressing, or apply 10 kg of ammonium sulfate with 1000 kg of clear manure water. The 3rd time is after seedling collapse in August, when Pinellia exposes new buds and the mother Pinellia sheds its shell and regrows new roots; splash-irrigate with 1:10 manure water once every half month until seedlings gradually emerge after autumn. The 4th time is in early September, when Pinellia has full and uniform seedlings; apply 25 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, 20 kg of superphosphate, and 10 kg of urea per mu, mix evenly with furrow mud, and scatter on the soil surface to build up soil and favor grain filling.
3. Hilling: The purpose of hilling is to cover the bulbils so that they take root and sprout in moist soil and form new plants as early as possible. This is an important high-yield technical measure. Generally, for sowing before early March, the bulbils on the petioles gradually mature and fall to the ground in early June, and the seeds also mature one after another and fall with the withering of the plants, so hilling should be done once around June 10. Use about 200 kg of fine plow-sole layer soil per mu, scatter it over the bed surface to a thickness of about 1.5 cm, cover the bulbils and seeds, and press lightly. Using fine plow-sole layer soil for hilling can reduce weed growth and is a powerful measure for increasing Pinellia yield per unit area. Hill again once around July 15 and once around September 10.
4. Irrigation and drainage: Pinellia likes moisture and fears drought. If there is a long clear and dry period, after 6 p.m., fill the bed to 3/5 for half an hour and then drain. If there is too much rain, drain promptly to avoid tuber rot caused by waterlogging in the field.
5. Bud removal: Except when seed propagation is needed, all flower buds drawn out during the growing period should be removed so that nutrients are concentrated in the growth of the underground tubers and yield is increased.
Pinellia Pest and Disease Control
1. Leaf spot disease
[Disease characteristics] When the disease occurs, there are purplish-brown spots on the leaves. In the later stage, many small black dots appear on the diseased spots. When the disease is severe, the spots cover the entire leaf, causing the leaves to curl, scorch, and die.
[Control method] Spray 500 times dilution of 65% zineb in the early stage of the disease, once every 8 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.
2. Tuber rot disease
[Disease characteristics] It mostly occurs in high-temperature and humid seasons in years with excessive rainfall. It damages the underground tubers, causing rot, and soon the aboveground parts turn yellow, collapse, and die.
[Control method] ① Drain ditches promptly during the rainy season and after heavy rain; ② In the early stage of the disease, pour 5% lime milk into the holes; ③ Control underground pests promptly to reduce damage.
3. Viral disease
[Disease characteristics] Viral disease mostly occurs in summer. The leaves of diseased plants curl into a mosaic pattern, and the plants are short and deformed.
[Control method] ① Select disease-free plants for seed preservation; ② Control pests promptly; ③ When diseased plants are found, pull them out immediately, burn them in a centralized manner or bury them deeply, and pour 5% lime milk into the diseased holes to prevent spread.
4. Red hawk moth
[Damage characteristics] The red hawk moth mostly occurs in summer. Its larvae bite and eat leaves and have a very large appetite. When the infestation is severe, they can eat all the leaves.
[Control method] Spray 800 times dilution of 90% trichlorfon or 1500 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsion during the young larval stage, once every 5-7 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.