Characteristics, Propagation, and Pest and Disease Control Cultivation Techniques of Euonymus bungeanus

Characteristics, Propagation, and Pest and Disease Control Cultivation Techniques of Euonymus bungeanus

1 Overview of the Characteristics of Euonymus bungeanus

Euonymus bungeanus belongs to the Celastraceae family and is also known as winterberry euonymus. The tree is usually 6 to 8 m tall, with rounded leaves that are elliptical or nearly circular, light green in color, and small flowers; the wood of Euonymus bungeanus is fine and workable, and is often used for carving everyday utensils; its seeds are rich in oil and are an excellent raw material for industrial oil production. Euonymus bungeanus is a sun-loving species and grows best in places with plenty of sun and little cold and shade, and its root system has strong adaptability to neutral and slightly acidic environments. Euonymus bungeanus has a relatively strong demand for fertilizer and water and is suitable for growing near water or in fertile, moist places. Because it has a certain tolerance to acidic soil, it can absorb acidic gases in the air to some extent and also has a certain purifying effect on airborne pollutants such as dust.

2 Cultivation Techniques for Euonymus bungeanus

2.1 Nursery Site Selection, Fertilization, and Land Preparation. The nursery site for Euonymus bungeanus should be selected according to its biological characteristics, such as acid tolerance and its need for water and fertilizer, and the humidity of the nursery site and the content of beneficial substances in the soil should be kept at a relatively suitable level as much as possible. In addition, the soil should be kept in a slightly acidic environment, and land where Euonymus bungeanus has been grown for many years should be excluded. The treatment of the nursery site should be carried out before planting. Generally, the soil is deep-plowed in winter, using weathering to eliminate some harmful microorganisms in the soil. Half a month before sowing, this step needs to be repeated, and visible foreign matter in the soil, such as stones and plastic bags, and other substances not conducive to seedling growth, should be removed. At the same time, the soil also needs to be fertilized in advance to increase the organic matter content in the soil, and the nursery site should be divided into raised beds 1.2 m wide and 0.2 m high, with a ditch spacing of 0.3 to 0.35 m.

2.2 Sowing and Seedling Stage Management. Before storing Euonymus bungeanus seeds, the seeds should be dried in the shade, and the fruit peel should be removed as much as possible. At the same time, before sowing, the seeds should be soaked to remove the aril, and then the treated seeds should be mixed with wet sand. Once soil conditions are suitable, the water content in the environment can be increased to catalyze seed germination. Before sowing, the nursery site should be irrigated, and furrow sowing should be carried out on raised beds. After emergence, observe the growth of each bed, fill in gaps where seedlings are sparse, remove poorly growing seedlings, and adjust seedling spacing to reduce intraspecific and interspecific competition. Increase or decrease irrigation according to weather conditions, topdress according to the growth of the seedlings, and remove weeds in time. The growth of side branches of Euonymus bungeanus inhibits the growth of the main trunk, so side branches should be pruned in time to cultivate a thick, straight main trunk.

2.3 Pest and Disease Control. The main insect pest is the Euonymus looper, which likes to eat the leaves of Euonymus bungeanus and hinders its growth. Taking advantage of the phototaxis of the Euonymus looper, black light lamps can be used for trapping and killing, and at the same time, pupae can be killed in combination with nursery site preparation. During the larval stage of the Euonymus looper, a 600-fold dilution of Bt emulsion can be used for control, and when the pest breaks out, a 2,000-fold dilution of 20% fenvalerate-malathion emulsifiable concentrate can be used for control.