Detailed Explanation of Coptis chinensis Cultivation Methods and Planting Techniques

Coptis chinensisis one of the precious traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The "cultivating Coptis chinensis under forest" technique developed in recent years saves labor and materials compared with the trellis cultivation method, saves investment, reduces labor intensity, and yields high economic benefits. The specific method is as follows:

I. Selecting a Good Forest Site

Be sure to select a forest site with relatively high shade density. For natural forest tree species, the evergreen Ilex chinensis that does not shed leaves year-round is the most ideal, and short-statured trees about 3.3 m tall are suitable; for artificial Chinese fir forest land, the degree is a continuous tree canopy with a tree height of about 3.3 m. The slope should be between 20° and 25°. Soil with deep humus, rich in organic matter, and loose on top with a firm subsoil is best; heavy clay dead yellow mud and white eel mud should not be chosen.

II. Preparing the Shade Shed

For natural forest, all dead branches, small trees, and thatch grass in the forest land should be cut down, while shrubs and short small trees should be kept, and small branches below 2 m from the ground should be pruned; the shade density should be maintained between 70% and 80%. For artificially cultivated Chinese fir forest, young forest land should be selected, and it is basically sufficient for the branches to be connected; if a gap appears in some places, simply inserting branches around the Coptis chinensis will provide shading.

III. Land Preparation and Bed Making

Before land preparation, use a wooden rake to rake residual branches, fallen leaves, and stones from the surface soil out of the forest. Bamboo roots, small tree roots, and thatch grass roots in the forest must be completely removed. Take care not to damage the tree roots too severely when digging, and absolutely avoid deep digging. For artificially cultivated Chinese fir forest, only shallow digging once is needed, picking out weed roots and stones; where soil is lacking around the trees, soil should also be banked up so that the roots are not exposed. The next step is to open ditches and make beds, opening straight ditches from top to bottom, with a ditch width of 23 cm and a depth of 10 cm, and the soil at the bottom of the ditch is lifted and placed on the beds on both sides.

IV. Transplanting

For Coptis chinensis seedlings planted under forest, two-year-old seedlings with more than 12 leaves should be selected. As for the transplanting time, if it is evergreen tree or coniferous forest land, transplanting can begin at Qingming Festival; for broadleaf forest land, planting should wait until the trees have grown new leaves.

V. Field Management

1. Weeding and topdressing: Keep the bed surface free of weeds, and remove them early and while small. In the first and second years after planting, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied mainly, and in the later period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied mainly.

2. Banking soil and applying mud: After the Coptis chinensis seedlings survive, use 25 kg of cake meal fertilizer mixed with smoked fire soil per 667 sq m (1 mu) and sprinkle a thin layer on the bed surface. After autumn, mix some fine soil with cow and horse manure and sprinkle it on the bed surface. In the following years, apply a layer of mud and bank soil each summer and autumn as appropriate.

3. Picking out dead branches and fallen leaves: Every autumn and spring, carefully gather the fallen leaves by hand into the middle of the row spacing of the Coptis chinensis, and sprinkle a little soil on top.

4. Branch pruning and thinning: In the first year after planting Coptis chinensis, only 20% to 25% light transmission is needed; in the second and third years, 35% to 40% light transmission is needed; in the fourth year, light transmission needs to increase to about 60%; in the fifth year, the shed is fully opened to promote the accumulation of underground dry matter, so branch pruning is needed year by year. In the first two or three years, pruning part of the branches will not affect tree growth. In the fourth year, pruning should be increased; for natural forest, some leaves should be knocked down or branches and leaves tied up with vines to increase light transmission in the forest. For artificially cultivated Chinese fir forest, appropriate thinning and branch pruning can be carried out according to forestry technical regulations and in combination with the growth of the Chinese fir forest. Thinning should be carried out when the forest trees have stopped growing and the Coptis chinensis has not yet budded and sprouted, generally preferably in winter.