How to select yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium) seeds? What are the seedling raising methods?

Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium) is a woody oil tree species unique to China. Known as the "Oriental Sacred Tree" and "Oriental Bodhi", it has risen to prominence in the nursery stock market with its varied scenery, special efficacy and abundant products. And for such a tree species whose every part is a treasure, its cultivation is also very simple, and its economic benefits and planting prospects are very prominent. So how do you select yellowhorn seeds? What are the seedling raising methods? Let's find out together.

How to select yellowhorn seeds?

1. Check the dryness and moisture of the seeds: Seeds that are dry and have plump kernels are good seeds. When buying, try not to buy wet seeds, because even immature seeds look plump when wet; once dried in the sun, the kernels become shriveled and not plump, and the germination rate is extremely low.

2. Check whether the kernel color of dry seeds is pure white: Pure white and plump is a good seed. If the color is yellowish and not plump, it means the fruit was not mature and was harvested too early while still green. If the kernel is plump but dull and not white, it means the harvested fruit was kept in hot and humid conditions for too long and deteriorated from heat.

3. Check the appearance color of the seeds: Seeds that are light gray are mostly high-quality seeds, while seeds that are pure black are mostly inferior seeds.

What are the seedling raising methods?

1. Seed collection

Select plants with vigorous growth, strong high-yield performance and high seed oil content as mother trees for seed collection. In July and August, when the fruit skin changes from green to yellow-brown and the seeds change from red-brown to black, they can be harvested.

2. Seed soaking

30-40 days before spring sowing, soak the seeds in warm water with an initial temperature of about 45°C for 3 days, changing the water once a day, then take them out and put them in a basket, cover with a wet straw curtain, and place them in a warm room at 20-25°C to promote germination. Sow when two-thirds of the seeds have cracked open and shown white, or successively pick out the cracked seeds and sow them in batches.

3. Seedling raising

Choose flat terrain, deep and fertile soil, and sandy loam that is convenient for drainage and irrigation for seedling raising. In the autumn of the year before seedling raising, plow the nursery land 25 cm deep, shallow-plow in early spring, break up the soil, rake it level, and it is better to make raised beds, then disinfect the soil, and apply 32500-45000 kg of farmyard manure per hectare. When sowing, it is best to sow in holes in furrows, placing one seed every 6-7 cm, with the hilum placed flat to facilitate germination and emergence. The sowing rate is 225-300 kg per hectare: after sowing, cover the bed surface with grass to keep the soil moist. Seedlings emerge after 20-30 days, then remove the covering grass in stages.

4. Seedling stage management

During the seedling growth period, loosen the soil, weed, topdress, irrigate, thin out seedlings and finalize the stand in time, and carry out pest and disease control. After finalizing the stand, keep the seedling spacing at 9-12 cm. One-year-old seedlings can reach 40-60 cm in height, with 225,000 to 300,000 seedlings produced per hectare. Both 1-2 year old seedlings can be released from the nursery for afforestation.

5. Matters for sowing and seedling raising

During the seedling stage, slight shading is appropriate, and lodging should be prevented during the rainy season. One-year-old seedlings are 30 cm to 50 cm tall. During tending, fertilization and irrigation should be adapted as needed, but excessive soil moisture should be prevented to avoid root rot. For 2 to 3 year old seedlings, pruning should be noted to develop a good tree shape; 4 to 5 year old seedlings can be released from the nursery for permanent planting. The root system has poor callus ability, and after damage it is very easy to cause root rot, affecting survival. When transplanting, full attention must be paid to protecting the root system to increase the survival rate.

Yellowhorn has a well-developed main root and strong root-sprouting ability. Generally, it begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting, and the fruiting period can last for hundreds of years. Yellowhorn has strong environmental adaptability and can survive and grow in different postures in different environments. In order to further improve the fruit yield and economic benefits of yellowhorn, it is very important for maintenance and other personnel to master certain seedling raising and cultivation techniques.

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