Cultivation Methods and Key Planting Techniques for Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a well-known large-scale cultivated traditional Chinese medicinal herb, known as the "holy medicine for gynecology." It is not only used in the traditional Chinese medicine formula principle of "nine out of ten formulas include angelica," but is also an important raw material for Chinese patent medicines. The cultivation methods for Angelica sinensis involve 7 steps, introduced below:

1. Site selection and land preparation: For the seedling nursery, a cool, semi-shaded hillside is preferable, with loose, fertile sandy loam soil being best; for the cultivation site, deep-soiled fallow land or secondary wasteland should be selected. In mid-July, first cut down shrubs and weeds, spread them on the ground, burn them to clear the land, then deep-plow the soil to more than 25 cm and let it sun-weather and mature. Then, before planting, apply 2500 kg of decomposed barnyard manure per mu during land preparation, plowing it into the soil as base fertilizer. Before sowing, shallow-plow once more, make high beds 1.3 m wide with 40 cm wide furrows between beds, and dig drainage ditches around the perimeter.

2. Transplanting: Generally, mid-to-early April is the suitable transplanting period. If too early, seedlings are susceptible to late frost damage after emergence; if too late, the seedlings have already sprouted, reducing the survival rate. On the finely raked planting site, take the stratified seedlings and dig holes in a triangular staggered arrangement at a row-to-plant spacing of 33×27 cm, with holes 20 cm deep. Then, select seedlings with a root crown diameter of 0.3-0.4 cm, and plant 3 seedlings per hole arranged in a triangle pattern. After planting, cover with soil while pressing firmly, and when the soil covers half the hole, gently lift the seedlings upward to let the roots spread out, then fill the hole with soil, apply an appropriate amount of burnt earth ash or farmyard manure, and cover with fine soil to just cover the root crown by 2-3 cm.

3. Thinning and final singling: When seedlings reach 3 cm in height, carry out the first thinning; after another half month, carry out the second thinning; when seedlings reach 10 cm in height, carry out final singling. For hole sowing, keep 2-3 vigorous seedlings per hole.

4. Intertillage and weeding: Carry out 3-4 times per year. The first time is after full seedling emergence, when seedlings are 3 cm tall, combined with thinning and weeding; the second time is when seedlings are 6 cm tall, combined with thinning and another weeding, at which point since the main root has not yet penetrated deep into the soil, shallow intertillage is appropriate; the third time is after final singling, when it can be appropriately deepened; the fourth time is when seedlings are 20-25 cm tall, when deep hoeing can be done. After the canopy closes, no more intertillage and weeding is needed.

5. Topdressing: During the seedling stage, do not apply excessive nitrogen fertilizer to avoid excessive growth causing premature bolting. During the middle and late growth stages, appropriately increase the application of human and animal manure water, burnt earth ash, or compost at 2000 kg per mu. If conditions permit, mix cake fertilizer and superphosphate with barnyard manure, compost them together, and apply in furrows between rows, then cover with soil to cover the fertilizer and earth up to promote root growth.

6. Drainage and irrigation: In the early growth stage, aside from appropriate watering during drought, generally control water use. If there is excessive rain, promptly clear ditches for drainage. Especially in the late growth stage, there must be no water accumulation in the field, otherwise it easily causes root rot.

7. Breeding: Angelica sinensis is a herbaceous plant, but it is not annual; its growth cycle takes three years. First year: seed ----- seedling nursery; second year: seedling ---- mature plant; third year: mature plant ----- seed, such a process.