How to grow Saposhnikovia divaricata for high yield? Detailed cultivation techniques

Saposhnikovia divaricata, also known as Guandefangfeng, Baifeiyu, etc. Its underground rhizome is used as medicine, with the effects of relieving the exterior and inducing sweating, dispersing wind and drying dampness. It mainly treats influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, spasms and convulsions, etc. The one mainly produced in the three northeastern provinces, Inner Mongolia, Hebei and other provinces is called Guandefangfeng or Beifangfeng; the one produced in Yunnan, Guizhou and other provinces is called Yunfangfeng; the one mainly produced in Gansu, Shaanxi and other provinces is called Xifangfeng. However, Beifangfeng is superior in quality.

Its morphological characteristics are a perennial herb of the Apiaceae family, 30-80 cm tall, the whole plant hairless, with 5-12 basal leaves, the base expanded into a sheath, the leaf blade triangular-ovate, 2-pinnate or nearly 3-pinnate, entire; the stem leaves are smaller, those near the branch tips often have incomplete blades or only a broad leaf sheath; the florets are white, compound umbels terminal, often arranged in cymose panicles; without involucral bracts, rarely 1; bracteoles 4-5, linear to lanceolate, the umbellules have 4-9 flowers, the sepals short triangular, relatively obvious; petals 5, white, stamens 5, inferior ovary, schizocarp, mature fruit yellow-green or deep yellow; long ovate, with wart-like protrusions, slightly laterally compressed; the fruit has 5 ribs, with the remains of the superior disc (stylopodium) and calyx at the apex.

I. Growth habits Saposhnikovia divaricata prefers a cool climate, is cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and afraid of waterlogging. It has no strict requirements for soil, but cultivation is best in deep, loose and fertile sandy loam. Low-lying land and saline-alkali land are not suitable for planting.

II. Land preparation and fertilization Select a plot with high terrain and good drainage, and plow deeply and harrow finely. In combination with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer: 3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, 50 kg of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and 20 kg of urea. Then make beds and level them, waiting for sowing.

III. Sowing Saposhnikovia divaricata is propagated by seeds, and can also be propagated by root division. The sowing period includes spring sowing and autumn sowing; spring sowing is around Qingming; autumn sowing is around Shuangjiang. For seed propagation, first use a drill to open shallow furrows on the prepared bed surface, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, and then rake level so that the soil covers the seeds. The sowing rate is 3 kg per mu. For rhizome propagation, select one-year-old Saposhnikovia divaricata root strips free of pests and diseases and uniform in thickness, cut them into 5 cm long sections, and air-dry them for half a day to let the wounds heal. Then dibble them on the prepared bed surface. The row and plant spacing is 50×15 cm, and 50 kg of seed roots are used per mu. Water to preserve soil moisture and promote survival.

IV. Field management After Saposhnikovia divaricata seedlings emerge uniformly, attention should be paid to intertillage and weeding. If planting on a large scale, soil treatment with a medicinal field herbicide should be carried out before seedling emergence, which can effectively control various weeds. Water in time in dry weather, and pay attention to drainage in rainy weather. In fields propagated by seeds, thinning should be carried out when the seedlings are 10 cm tall, removing the weak and keeping the strong. Apply topdressing once around the Beginning of Autumn: apply 5 kg of urea and 5 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu. Saposhnikovia divaricata over two years old tends to bolt; except for plants retained for seed, the bolting parts should be cut off to reduce nutrient consumption and promote the growth of the underground rhizome.

V. Pest and disease control The main disease of Saposhnikovia divaricata is powdery mildew, which can be controlled with triadimefon at the early stage of the disease. The main pests are the larvae of the yellow swallowtail butterfly, which bite the leaves and flower buds, and can be killed with pyrethroid pesticides.

VI. Harvesting and processing Beifangfeng is dug in autumn after 2-4 years of planting, while Yunfangfeng is dug in the autumn of the same year. After the aboveground stems and leaves of Saposhnikovia divaricata wither, first cut off the aboveground stems and leaves, then dig out the underground rhizome, remove the soil completely, and sun-dry it for medicinal sale. The yield per mu is 350 kg.