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

Notopterygium, also known as Silkworm Notopterygium and Western Notopterygium. Its underground rhizome is used medicinally, with effects of relieving the exterior and dispersing cold, and preventing dampness and relieving pain. Clinically it is mainly used to treat wind-cold colds, headache and body pain, aching limbs and other symptoms. It is mainly distributed in Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Hubei and other places.

Morphological Characteristics

1. Notopterygium: It is a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family, 60-120 cm tall, with a distinctive aroma throughout the plant. The rhizome is thick and stout, elongated and bamboo-jointed in shape. The base of the rhizome has withered leaf sheaths. The stem is erect, cylindrical, hollow, and purplish. The stem leaves and lower stem leaves have petioles, and the base of the petiole has a membranous leaf sheath 2-7 cm long; ternate 3-pinnate compound leaves, compound umbels; involucral bracts 3-6, linear, early deciduous, rays 7-18 (39), 2-10 cm long, umbellules 1-2 cm in diameter; bracteoles 6-10, linear; flowers numerous, petals white, ovate to oblong-ovate; schizocarps oblong.

2. Broadleaf Notopterygium: Perennial herb, 80-180 cm tall. It has well-developed rhizomes, with many residual leaf sheaths at the base. The stem is erect, cylindrical, hollow, with straight longitudinal fine striations, and purplish. The stem leaves and lower stem have petioles, and the lower part has amplexicaul leaf sheaths; leaves large, ternate 2-3-pinnate compound leaves. Compound umbels terminal and axillary; involucral bracts 1-3, linear-lanceolate, early deciduous; rays 10-17 (23), 3-12 cm long; umbellules 1-3 cm in diameter, with numerous flowers; petals pale yellow, obovate; schizocarps nearly round.

I. Growth Habits

Notopterygium prefers a cool and humid climate. It is drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant. Continuous cropping is avoided. It has low requirements for soil, but loam or sandy soil with deep, loose and fertile soil is best.

II. Land Preparation and Fertilization

Select a field with high terrain and good drainage, and carry out intensive cultivation. Combined with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer: 3000 kg of farmyard manure, 20 kg of urea, and 50 kg of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per mu. Then make beds and wait for sowing.

III. Sowing

Notopterygium is propagated by seed. Sowing periods include 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, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with soil, water, and preserve moisture to promote emergence. The Notopterygium seeds can also be evenly dibbled on the prepared bed surface at a row spacing of 30×15 cm. The sowing rate is 3 kg per mu. Notopterygium can also be propagated by underground rhizomes. Select healthy root strips free of pests and diseases, cut them into 5 cm small sections, each with 1—2 bud eyes. Air-dry slightly, and after the wounds heal, plant them on the prepared bed surface at a row spacing of 30×20 cm. Water and preserve moisture to promote survival.

IV. Field Management

After the Notopterygium seedlings are fully established, attention should be paid to intertillage and weed control, watering to preserve moisture in dry weather, and timely drainage in rainy weather. Apply topdressing once around the Beginning of Autumn: apply 10 kg of urea and 10 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu. After cleaning the field in winter, spread a layer of farmyard manure. After Notopterygium buds, except for plants retained for seed, the flower buds should be removed to prevent nutrient consumption.

V. Pest and Disease Control

Notopterygium has relatively few diseases, and if found, control them by conventional methods. The main pest is the yellow swallowtail butterfly larva, which bites and eats the leaves. For control, use pyrethroid pesticides to kill them. For underground pests, use phoxim to kill them.

VI. Harvesting and Processing

Notopterygium is generally harvested in autumn 2—3 years after sowing, after the aboveground stems and leaves wither. Remove the rhizome head from the dug-out underground rhizome of Notopterygium, clean off the soil, and sun-dry or oven-dry it before selling it as medicine. The yield per mu is 300 kg.