Detailed Explanation of Atractylodes macrocephala Cultivation Techniques and Field Management Methods
Atractylodes macrocephala, also known as Shanjii, Tianjii, Shanjiang, Qilijia, Dongbaizhu, etc., uses its rhizome as medicine. It tonifies the spleen, benefits the stomach, dries dampness, harmonizes the middle, and calms the fetus. It treats weak spleen and stomach qi, loss of appetite, fatigue and shortness of breath, deficiency distension, diarrhea, phlegm-fluid retention, edema, jaundice, damp impediment, difficult urination, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, and restless fetal qi. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hebei, Shandong and other provinces, and can also be introduced and cultivated; it is commonly planted in Shaanxi.
Morphological Characteristics
Perennial herb, 30-60 cm tall. Rhizome thick and fleshy, somewhat fist-shaped. Stem erect, branched above. Leaves alternate, leaf blade 3, deeply lobed, or leaves on the upper stem not lobed, lobes elliptical. Margins spiny. Flower heads terminal, involucre bell-shaped, corolla purplish red, achene elliptical, slightly flattened. Flowering period July-September, fruiting period August-10.
I. Growth Habits
It prefers a cool climate, fears high temperature and high humidity, is cold-tolerant, and has no strict requirements for soil moisture, but should be watered appropriately at the seedling stage. If drought occurs at this time, seedling growth is delayed, but in high-temperature and high-humidity seasons, attention should be paid to drainage, otherwise diseases are likely to occur. In the late growth stage, the rhizome expands rapidly, and the soil should be kept moist at this time; if the soil is dry, it will affect rhizome expansion. Atractylodes macrocephala has no strict requirements for soil; acidic clay loam and slightly alkaline sandy loam can both support its growth, with well-drained sandy loam being best, and it is not suitable for planting in low-lying land or saline-alkali land. For the seedling nursery, it is best to choose a shady slope of virgin wasteland or abandoned land with a slope of less than 15-20 degrees, preferably poorer soil; if the soil is too fertile, the Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings will have overly tender branches and leaves and reduced disease resistance.
Atractylodes macrocephala cannot be continuously cropped; after planting, it must be left for 5-10 years before it can be planted again. The previous crop is best a grass family crop, because grass family crops are not infected by southern blight (wheat, corn, millet). It cannot be rotated with peanuts, Xuanshen, cabbage, tobacco, rapeseed, aconite, rehmannia, tomato, radish, white peony, rehmannia, etc. However, newly reclaimed wasteland can also be planted with Atractylodes macrocephala.
II. Sowing
1. Seed Selection and Seedling Raising
Seed selection: distinguish true from false seeds. New Atractylodes macrocephala seeds are reddish with fine hairs, have a glossy surface, a clear cross-section, and a pink line in the middle bud embryo.
Seedling raising: Soak the seeds first in warm water at 25-30 °C for one day and night. Seedling raising can be done in spring or autumn; raise seedlings in the first year and transplant in the next year. Spring sowing is from late March to early and mid-April, and sowing is best when the ground temperature is above 12 °C. On a leveled and finely raked seedbed, open horizontal furrows for drilling, with row spacing 15-20 cm, sowing width 7-10 cm, furrow depth 3-5 cm, and the furrow bottom should be level. Soak the selected and treated seeds in a 1000-fold solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl for 3-5 minutes to prevent leaf blight. Mix the air-dried seeds evenly with sand and scatter them into the furrows, press slightly with the foot, cover with plant ash, to the extent that the seeds are no longer visible, then spread a layer of superphosphate or cake fertilizer, cover with a thin layer of soil, and cover with a layer of dry grass to keep warm and moist, so as to facilitate seed emergence; remove it gradually after emergence. The seeding rate per mu is 5-8 kg, and 1 mu of tall seedlings can be transplanted to 7 mu of field. If sowing in holes, use row spacing 20 cm, plant spacing 10 cm, hole depth 3-5 cm, 3 seeds per hole, and emergence occurs in about 7 days.
Seedling stage management: After the seedlings emerge uniformly, cultivate and weed, ensuring no weeds in the field and no soil compaction. When seedlings are 7 cm tall, thin to a plant spacing of 3-5 cm. Seedlings fear both waterlogging and drought, so drainage and irrigation should be timely. Apply the 1st topdressing when there are 2-3 true leaves; apply the 2nd topdressing in early July during the underground rhizome expansion stage, using 500-800 kg of manure water per mu; in the late growth stage, remove flower buds as early as possible to promote rhizome growth.
Seedling Storage Methods
In order to overwinter safely, the seedlings must be dug up and stored. From early to mid-October to early November of the sowing year, dig up the seedlings on a sunny day when the soil is dry, shake off the soil, remove diseased, weak, and damaged seedlings, spread them in a ventilated place to dry in the shade, and store them only after the outer skin turns white, so as to avoid mildew and rot.
Jar and crock storage: A small number of seedlings can be stored in jars or crocks over winter. Insert a handful of rice straw in the middle of the container to allow air circulation and heat dissipation, first lay a layer of green pine leaves on the bottom and around the four sides, then put in the Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings, and cover the top with green pine leaves or dry moss; after the green pine leaves turn yellow and dry, replace them promptly to maintain sufficient moisture.
Sand storage method: This method can be used when the quantity is large. Indoors in a cool, ventilated place, first build a square enclosure with bricks or stones, then spread fine sand 3-4 cm thick on the earthen floor, and stack the seedlings in layers, that is, one layer of seedlings and one layer of sand, inserting 1 straw bundle every 0.6-1 m. When the pile reaches 35 cm high, cover with 7 cm of sand or soil to seal the top, and place fir branches on top to prevent rat damage. When the winter temperature is relatively low, add another layer of rice straw. The sand and soil must be moderately moist; turn and inspect the pile every 15-30 days, and remove diseased seedlings promptly.
Overwintering in place: Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings from autumn sowing can be covered with dry grass or film and overwintered in place. In the following spring, dig and plant as needed.
2. Field Cultivation
Seedling selection: Select rhizomes with plump terminal buds, well-developed root systems, delicate epidermis, slender tops, and large round tails as seed material; classify by size and plant separately, which can make the seedlings uniform, facilitate management, and increase yield.
Planting time: The transplanting period should be determined according to local climate, soil, and cropping system. From late December to early April of the following year. Early planting is better; those planted early first develop roots and then grow buds, with well-developed root systems, vigorous growth, strong cold and drought resistance, and high yield. Those planted too late, because the temperature rises, first grow buds and then roots, have poor root development, and lower yield.
Planting methods: There are hole planting and furrow planting. Planting density depends on soil fertility and fertilizer conditions. Appropriate close planting can increase yield. The basic seedling number per mu is 8000-15000 plants, using 40-60 kg of seedlings, planted in holes with row spacing 23-26 cm and plant spacing 13-16 cm, hole depth 7 cm. First apply human manure and urine, and after it dries, place the seedlings in the holes with the buds pointing upward and the fibrous roots spread out, then cover with soil to bury them, with the terminal bud 3.5 cm from the soil surface. If buried too shallow, it is prone to freezing damage, then there are many buds and the rhizome shape is poor; conversely, if buried too deep, sprouting is slow, emergence is difficult, the rhizome shape is slender, and quality is also poor.
III. Field Management
1. Cultivation and Weeding: After Atractylodes macrocephala emerges, weed frequently and loosen the soil shallowly, keeping the field free of weeds. After the plants close the rows in mid-May, only weed, do not cultivate. Do not weed when the morning dew has not dried, otherwise it is easy to become infected with disease.
2. Topdressing: The growth period of Atractylodes macrocephala is long, 220-240 days. In addition to applying sufficient basal fertilizer before planting, topdressing should also be applied 3 times. The 1st time is in early April, during the period of vigorous aboveground growth of Atractylodes macrocephala, with 800 kg of manure water per mu; the second time is in late May, with 500 kg of manure water per mu; the third time is from mid-August to late September, with 2000 kg of manure water and 100 kg of cake fertilizer per mu. In addition, within more than 40 days before digging up Atractylodes macrocephala, spraying 1% superphosphate solution as foliar fertilizer can increase yield, spraying once every 10 days, for a total of 2-3 sprays. In short, the principle of “apply sufficient basal fertilizer, apply seedling fertilizer early, and apply bud fertilizer heavily” should be mastered.