Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Cultivation Techniques of Balloon Flower
Balloon FlowerIt is the dried root of Platycodon grandiflorus of the Campanulaceae family, either wild or cultivated, and is produced in most regions of China.
Balloon flower has no strict requirements for climate and environment, but a mild and humid environment with ample sunshine and abundant rainfall is preferable, and it can tolerate cold. The best soil is sandy loam with deep soil layers, fertility, good drainage and rich in humus.
Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water for 24h, or soak them in 0.3% potassium permanganate for 12h, or treat them with ultrasound, which can significantly increase the seed germination rate.
Cultivation Techniques
1 Site Selection and Land Preparation
Balloon flower is a deep-rooted perennial crop that prefers a sunny, cool and humid environment, tolerates cold, and dislikes waterlogging. Choose flat plains or hills at an altitude of 450--1500m; when choosing mountain land, select sandy loam or silt loam with high humus content that is sheltered from wind and faces the sun, with loose and fertile soil. Soil that is too loose and dry, or yellow clay that is compacted, is not easy to grow in and causes many forked roots. In the selected plot, deep plow about 35cm, and combine with basal fertilizer application; farmyard manure can be applied at 60,000--75,000 kg/hectare. Break up the clods, level the ground, and make flat beds 1.3--1.7m wide. In areas with more rain and convenient irrigation, high beds can also be made, with a bed width of 1.5m, a height of 15--20cm, and bed furrows of 15--20m.
2 Sowing
Balloon flower can be sown in spring, summer and autumn, and autumn sowing from late October to early November is best; after sowing, seedlings emerge in the same year, the growth period is long, and the fruiting rate and root thickness are clearly higher than with spring sowing. In northern regions, summer sowing can follow a wheat crop, giving high land utilization and easy seed germination and seedling emergence, and it is worth promoting. Direct sowing is generally used, and seedling transplanting is not recommended, because the yield of direct sowing is higher than that of transplanting, and the root quality is clearly better than that of transplanting. For drilling, open horizontal furrows on the bed at a row spacing of 15--20cm, 5--7cm deep, with a sowing width of about 10cm; for hole sowing, dig 1 hole every 8--10cm and scatter the seeds. After sowing, cover with wood ash or fine soil.
3 Thinning and Reseeding
Thin the seedlings when the seedlings are 2cm high. For drilling, keep 1 strong seedling at a spacing of 8--10cm; for hole sowing, keep 2 plants per hole at 6cm intervals. Reseeding is carried out at the same time as thinning; for ridges or holes lacking seedlings, transplanting with soil makes survival easy.
4 Topdressing and Weeding
The first weeding is carried out during thinning: first thin the seedlings, then weed, then apply 150.0 kg/hectare of superphosphate in the drilling furrows or holes, then apply 12,000 kg/hectare of dilute human feces and urine water, and cover with fine soil while avoiding the seedlings. The second fertilization is carried out 60d after the first topdressing, applying 25,000 kg/hectare of farmyard manure and 18,000 kg/hectare of human and livestock feces and urine in the holes, followed by weeding and earthing up. The third topdressing is in the spring of the second year when the seedlings are 6--7cm high and before flowering, applying about 23,000 kg/hectare of human feces and urine and 75.0--105.0 kg/hectare of urea each time, and carrying out weeding.
5 Bud Removal and Flower Stalk Removal
The flowering period of balloon flower is relatively long, and the growth and development of flowers and fruits consume a large amount of nutrients. Bud removal and flower stalk removal are yield-increasing measures. Except for the seed plants selected and retained, spraying 0.1% ethephon once at the full flowering stage and flower stalk stage can basically achieve the purpose of flower removal. In order to promote main root growth, branch buds must be removed, leaving only 1--2 main buds per plant and removing all the rest to take back for eating.
6 Pest and Disease Control
6.1 Root-knot nematode disease When damaged, the roots have diseased protrusions and the aboveground stems and leaves wither early. Control method: apply 1500 kg/hectare of tea seed cake fertilizer as basal fertilizer, which can reduce the damage, and disinfect the soil with calcium cyanamide or dibromochloropropane before sowing.
6.2 Violet root rot
The damage is severe in mid-September, and the roots rot in October. The affected roots initially turn red, densely covered with reticular reddish-brown mycelium, and later form purple sclerotia the size of mung beans, and the stems and leaves wither and die. Control method: never practice continuous cropping, and implement crop rotation; pull out diseased plants and burn them, and drench the diseased holes with 5% lime water for disinfection.
6.3 Anthracnose
The disease is likely to occur under high temperature and high humidity in July--August, spreads rapidly, and causes plants to lodge and die in patches. It mainly damages the base of the stems. In the early stage, brown spots appear at the stem base and gradually expand around the stem; in the later stage, the diseased part shrinks and the plants lodge. Control method: before the seedlings emerge, spray 20% thiram wettable powder 500-fold solution for prevention; in the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 800-fold solution, once every 10d, for 3--4 consecutive sprays.
6.4 Ring spot and leaf spot
They damage the leaves. In the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 50% carbendazim wettable powder 1000-fold solution, for 2--3 consecutive sprays.
6.5 False wireworm
It damages the roots of balloon flower. During the adult mating period in March--April and the larval period in May--June, spray to kill with 90% trichlorfon 800-fold solution or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 1000-fold solution.