Key cultivation techniques for Achyranthes bidentata, planting methods for root-type Chinese medicinal herbs

Growth habits: Achyranthes bidentata grows beside houses, at forest edges, and in hillside grass. It prefers a warm, dry climate and is not cold-tolerant; the plant dies at a temperature of -17°C. It is not suitable for planting in clay or alkaline soil, and it tolerates continuous cropping. Growth and development are divided into four stages: seedling stage (from emergence to a plant height of 15-20 cm, July), the rosette stage (rapid aboveground growth, August), the rapid root growth stage (slow aboveground growth, rapid root thickening, September-October), and the mature harvest stage (aboveground parts wither, early to mid-November).

Cultivation techniques. 1. Site selection and land preparation. Achyranthes bidentata is a deep-rooted crop, so it is best to choose sandy loam with deep, loose, fertile soil, good drainage, and a relatively low groundwater table. Plow the soil deeper than 60 cm, and apply 3000 kg of fully decomposed farmyard manure, 50 kg of superphosphate, and 50 kg of rapeseed cake per mu. Mix these fertilizers evenly, pile and compost them for several days, spread them evenly over the topsoil, and then plow once more. Make raised beds or flat beds 1.3 m wide; raised beds have a bed width of 40 cm, with relatively deep drainage ditches opened around them. 2. Propagation method. Seed propagation is used, and early to mid-July is the suitable sowing period. Sowing too early causes the roots to branch heavily and lowers medicinal quality; sowing too late results in low yield. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 20°C for 12 hours, remove them and dry them, then mix them evenly with plant ash and human and livestock manure and urine, broadcast them over the bed surface, gently rake the soil surface so the seeds sink into the soil, then scatter a layer of fine soil (fine sand) 1-1.5 cm thick, and finally scatter a thin layer of rice husks over the bed surface to aid emergence. The sowing rate is 500-750 g per mu. If sown before early May, the plants bloom and bear fruit the same year and the roots cannot be used as medicine. Seeds are divided into autumn seeds, autumn vine-bolt seeds, and vine-bolt seeds; autumn seeds are the best, and vine-bolt seeds are the worst.

Field management. Emergence begins 5 days after sowing. The seedlings are weak in the early stage; if dry weather occurs, water promptly to protect the seedlings. When the seedlings are 5-6 cm tall, begin the first thinning, removing weak ones and keeping strong ones, maintaining a seedling spacing of 6-7 cm; when the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, thin to a final stand at a row spacing and plant spacing of 15 cm × 15 cm. Where seedlings are missing, replant on cloudy days. Generally, cultivate and weed 3-4 times. After full emergence, carry out the first cultivation and weeding, and scatter dilute human and livestock manure and urine along with plant ash; the second time, after final thinning, combine cultivation and weeding with a topdressing of 1000 kg of organic fertilizer, 5 kg of urea, and 10-15 kg of potassium nitrate. When buds appear, promptly remove the flower clusters growing from the top in batches so that nutrients are concentrated in supplying the roots. From the seedling stage to early August, irrigation should be controlled to encourage the main root to grow downward. After August, the main root no longer elongates, so irrigation can be increased to promote a thick main root. During the rainy season and after heavy rain, clear the ditches promptly to drain water.