Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Cultivation Techniques of Dipsacus asper

Dipsacus asper, also known as Chuan Duan or Chuan Xu Duan. Its underground rhizome is used as medicine and has the functions of tonifying the liver and kidneys, mending tendons and bones, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain. It mainly treats soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, joint pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, threatened miscarriage, traumatic injuries, and other conditions. It is mainly produced in Sichuan and other provinces.

Morphological characteristics: It is a perennial herb of the Dipsacaceae family. It has a main root or several main roots growing together. The stem has 6-8 ridges, with sparse weak prickly hairs on the ridges. The basal leaves have long petioles, and the leaf blades are pinnately parted, with the terminal lobes relatively larger; the cauline leaves are opposite, with short petioles to sessile. The capitulum is round, and the corolla is white. The tip of the fruit bract has a spiny long beak, the involucel is 4-angled and obovate, and the tip of the achene is exposed.

I. Growth Habits

Dipsacus asper prefers a warm and humid environment. It is cold-tolerant. As for soil requirements, deep, loose, fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter is best. Heavy clay, saline-alkali land, and low-lying land are not suitable for planting.

II. Land Preparation and Fertilization  

Choose a field with high terrain and good drainage, and plow deeply and cultivate carefully. In combination with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer: 5000 kg of farmyard manure, 20 kg of urea, and 50 kg of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per mu, then make high beds 1 meter wide and wait for sowing.

III. Sowing

Dipsacus asper is propagated by seeds. The sowing period is divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing. Spring sowing is around Qingming; autumn sowing is before the ground freezes. Before sowing, first open shallow furrows on the prepared bed surface with a drill, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, and rake level so that the soil covers the seeds. Water to preserve moisture and promote seedling emergence. The sowing rate is 2 kg per mu.

IV. Field Management

After the Dipsacus asper seedlings emerge uniformly, pay attention to intertillage and weeding. Water during dry weather, and drain promptly during rainy weather. When the seedlings are 10 cm high, thin them to a set spacing, with row spacing and plant spacing of 20*10 cm. Apply topdressing once around the Beginning of Autumn: apply 10 kg of urea and 10 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu.

V. Pest and Disease Control  

The main disease of Dipsacus asper is nematode disease, which can be controlled by applying 5 kg of carbofuran per mu, or isofenphos-methyl, into the soil during land preparation. Aphids can be controlled with omethoate.

VI. Harvesting and Processing

Dipsacus asper is dug after the stems and leaves wither in autumn. Remove the soil from the dug-out underground rhizome, cut off the rhizome head, and dry it in the sun before it can be sold as medicine. The yield is 250 kg per mu.