A detailed guide to new Codonopsis pilosula planting techniques, master scientific cultivation methods
Codonopsis pilosula is the collective name for the plant Codonopsis pilosula and the traditional Chinese medicinal herb. There are about 40 species of Codonopsis plants worldwide, about 39 species in China, of which 21 species and 4 varieties are used medicinally. The traditional Chinese medicine Codonopsis pilosula is the root of the perennial herbaceous plants Codonopsis pilosula, Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta, Codonopsis tangshen and various plants of the same genus in the Campanulaceae family. Codonopsis pilosula is a commonly used traditional tonic medicine in China. In ancient times, the Codonopsis pilosula produced in the Shangdang area of Shanxi was considered the best, with the effects of tonifying the middle and boosting qi, and strengthening the spleen and lungs. Modern research shows that Codonopsis pilosula contains various sugars, phenols, sterols, volatile oils, baicalein glucoside, saponins and trace alkaloids, and has the effects of enhancing immunity, dilating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, improving microcirculation, and enhancing hematopoietic function. In addition, it has a raising effect on the decrease in white blood cells caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, it is contraindicated for those with qi stagnation and excessive liver fire; it is not suitable for those with excess pathogenic factors but without deficiency of vital qi.
Cultivation management
Plant characteristics
Perennial herb. The root is cylindrical, light gray on the surface, with a chrysanthemum heart inside. The stem is twining, with white milky sap in the cross-section, long and much branched, often dark purple, with short rough hairs on the lower part and smooth on the upper part. Leaves are opposite or whorled, stalked, with ovate or broadly ovate blades, entire margins. Flowers are solitary, axillary or terminal; the corolla is broadly bell-shaped, yellow-green with red spots; 5 stamens; ovary 3-loculed. The capsule is conical. Seeds are small, brown and glossy. Flowering period is August to September, fruiting period is September to October.
Growth characteristics
Codonopsis pilosula has strong cold resistance, drought resistance and adaptability, and has been introduced and cultivated throughout the country. It likes mild and cool places. During the seedling stage it likes moisture and shade, and drought will kill the seedlings. When raising seedlings, it should be intercropped with tall-stemmed crops. Large seedlings like light, and high temperature and high humidity easily cause root rot.
Cultivation techniques
1. Site selection and land preparation. For the seedling field, choose a semi-shaded and semi-sunny slope, close to a water source, with no underground pests and no perennial weeds, on hillside land and second-year wasteland. Use loose and fertile sandy loam, apply about 30,000 kg of barnyard manure or compost per hectare, plow, harrow finely, level and make flat beds or high beds. The requirements for the transplanting field are not strict; hillsides, terraced fields, virgin land and cultivated land are all acceptable. If it is virgin wasteland, first burn the wasteland, then plow. For cultivated land, apply base fertilizer, such as stove wall soil, mule and horse manure, pig manure, etc. About 60,000 kg per hectare. Plow for one day, harrow finely and level, and make beds or ridges 100-120 cm wide, with a ridge spacing of 30 cm.
2. Propagation methods. Codonopsis pilosula propagation must use new seeds, with a germination rate of 85%. Seeds from the previous year have a very low germination rate, or even no germination ability. The optimum germination temperature is 18-20°C. The sowing period is divided into spring, summer and autumn, among which summer and autumn sowing are better. For spring sowing, in March, spring sowing should be carried out in places close to a water source. For summer sowing, sow in the rainy season in July and August. For autumn sowing, sow before the ground freezes.
Seed treatment before sowing: In order to make the seeds germinate early, before sowing put the seeds in warm water at 40-50°C. Put in the seeds while stirring, and stop when the stirring water temperature is the same as hand temperature, then soak for another 5 minutes; remove the seeds, put them into a gauze bag, wash them several times with clean water, then place them on a sand pile indoors at 15-20°C, rinse with clean water every 3-4 hours, and sow when the seeds crack after about a week.
Sowing methods: divided into broadcast sowing and drill sowing.
(1) Broadcast sowing. Evenly scatter the seeds on the bed surface, then cover with a thin layer of soil, just enough to cover the seeds, then press down so that the soil and seeds are closely combined to facilitate emergence. The sowing rate is 7.5-15 kg per hectare.
(2) Drill sowing. Open furrows 2 cm deep at a row spacing of 3 cm, evenly sow the seeds in the furrows, and cover with soil. Drill sowing facilitates loosening the soil and weeding.
3. Field management
(1) Intertillage and weeding. Removing weeds is one of the main factors ensuring the yield of Codonopsis pilosula, so weeds should be removed frequently, especially in early spring and the seedling stage. Generally, weeding is often carried out together with loosening the soil.
(2) Topdressing. In the early growth stage (late May), apply 15,000-22,500 kg of human and animal excrement per hectare. Later, because the vines and leaves spread out, it becomes inconvenient to apply fertilizer.
(3) Drainage and irrigation. After planting, irrigate. After survival, irrigation may be omitted or reduced. Pay attention to drainage in the rainy season. The water requirement depends on the growth of the Codonopsis seedlings. When the seedlings are more than 5 cm tall, water should be controlled to avoid excessive vegetative growth.
(4) Trellising. When the seedlings are 30 cm tall, set up supports so that the stems and vines grow along the trellis; otherwise, poor ventilation and light transmission easily lead to disease and affect the yield of Codonopsis roots and seeds. The trellising method can use local materials and varies from place to place.
4. Transplanting. After the Codonopsis seedlings have grown for one year, plant them in autumn or spring. In spring, after the ground thaws (mid-to-late March to early April), and in autumn, transplant in mid-to-late October. On the prepared bed surface, open deep furrows 5-6 cm deep at a row spacing of 18-30 cm, place the Codonopsis seedlings obliquely in the furrows at a plant spacing of 2-3 cm, cover with 2 cm of soil, press firmly, and water. Each hectare requires 375 kg of seedlings.
5. Pest and disease control
(1) Rust disease. It is a basidiomycete fungus that damages leaves. The back of diseased leaves slightly protrudes (urediniospore piles), and when severely protruding it ruptures and releases orange-yellow urediniospores.
Control method: At the early stage of the disease, spray 200-fold solution of 50% dinitro dispersion or 400-fold solution of dinocap sodium. After the Codonopsis pilosula harvest, burn all the residual branches and fallen leaves on the ground.
(2) Root rot. Also called root decay disease, it mainly damages underground fibrous roots and lateral roots. It appears dark brown and causes the aboveground part to wither and die.
Control method: Pull out diseased plants in time, and disinfect the planting holes with lime. Disinfect the soil when preparing the land, adopt high beds, pay attention to drainage, and avoid continuous cropping. For cutworms, white grubs, mole crickets and red spiders, refer to the control of other diseases.
6. Precautions for Codonopsis pilosula cultivation
For the Codonopsis pilosula seedling field, choose a semi-shaded and semi-sunny slope, close to a water source, with no underground pests and no perennial weeds, on hillside land and second-year wasteland. Codonopsis pilosula propagation must use new seeds. To make the seeds germinate early, before sowing put the seeds in warm water at 40-50°C, and add New High-Fat Film to repel underground pests and diseases, isolate virus infection, strengthen respiration intensity, and increase the seed germination rate. Remove weeds and loosen the soil in time, topdress regularly, irrigate after planting, and after survival irrigation may be omitted or reduced; pay attention to drainage in the rainy season. Trellis so that the stems and vines grow along the trellis; otherwise, poor ventilation and light transmission easily lead to disease and affect the yield of Codonopsis roots and seeds. When the leaves begin to expand, spray the medicinal material Gentamycin on the leaf surface. Make the photosynthetic products (nutrients) of the leaf surface transport to the root system, improve the nutrient conversion rate and soil-loosening capacity, make the rhizome expand rapidly, and greatly increase the medicinal content. At the same time, strengthen comprehensive pest and disease control, and spray New High-Fat Film to enhance the control effect. In late autumn, do a good job of overwintering cold protection and heat preservation to ensure safe overwintering.