Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Cultivation Techniques of Agrimony

Agrimony, also known as Longyacao. The whole plant, including the above-ground stems and leaves and the underground roots, is used as medicine. It has the effect of stopping bleeding. Clinically it is mainly used to treat hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematuria, bloody dysentery and other conditions. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan and other provinces. It is mostly wild, and artificial cultivation is still at the experimental stage.

Morphological characteristics: It is a perennial herb of the Rosaceae family, 30-60 cm tall, densely covered with long soft hairs. The odd-pinnate compound leaves are alternate, with 5-7 leaflets, and the leaf rachis often bears several small leaflets; the leaflets are roundly ovate, obovate or oblong, 3-6.5 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, with serrated edges, and both surfaces and the compound leaf petiole are covered with soft hairs; the stipules are obvious and ovate. The flowers open in summer, yellow, with several arranged in terminal or axillary racemes; the bracts are small; the flower diameter is 0.6-1 cm; the calyx tube is cup-shaped, grooved outside, with hooked bristles at the apex, and 5 calyx lobes; 5 petals; 10 stamens; 2 carpels. The achene is obconical and bears the persistent sepals.

I. Growth habits: Agrimony prefers a warm and humid environment. The suitable growth temperature is 20—30℃. It has no strict requirements for soil, but sandy loam with deep soil layers and loose, fertile texture is best.

II. Land preparation and fertilization: Select a suitable field and carry out intensive cultivation. In combination with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer: 3000 kg of farmyard manure, 20 kg of urea, and 50 kg of phosphate and potassium fertilizer per mu. Then make beds and wait for sowing.

III. Sowing: Agrimony is propagated by seeds and can also be propagated by rhizomes. The sowing periods are autumn sowing and spring sowing. Autumn sowing is before the ground freezes, and spring sowing is around Qingming. Before sowing, first open shallow furrows on the prepared bed surface with a hoe, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows. Rake level so that the soil covers the seeds, water, cover with soil, and preserve soil moisture to facilitate emergence. The sowing rate is 3 kg per mu.

IV. Field management: The seed coat of agrimony is relatively thick, making emergence difficult. Therefore, mulching measures must be taken to facilitate emergence. There are two mulching methods: one is mulching with crop straw. The other is mulching with plastic film. After the agrimony seedlings are fully established, attention should be paid to cultivating and weeding. Water frequently in dry weather, and drain immediately in rainy weather. Apply topdressing once before and after the ground freezes: apply 10 kg of urea and 5 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu.

V. Pest and disease control: Agrimony is mostly wild and has few pests and diseases. If any are found, control them promptly by conventional methods.

VI. Harvesting and processing: Agrimony is generally harvested after autumn from the bud stage to the full flowering stage. At harvest, cut the above-ground plants off at the root, or dig them out together with the roots, dry them in the sun, remove impurities completely, and then they can be sold as medicine. The yield is 300—500 kg per mu.