Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for High-Yield Cultivation of Cnidium monnieri

Cnidium monnieri, also known as wild carrot seed. The mature seeds are used medicinally. It has the effects of killing parasites and relieving itching, and warming the kidney to strengthen yang. Clinically it is mainly used to treat impotence and muscular paralysis and atrophy. For external use, it treats prurigo, eczema, skin tinea, chronic lower limb ulcers, vaginitis and vaginal trichomoniasis and other conditions. The main producing areas include Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Henan and other provinces.

Morphological characteristics: It is an annual herb of the Apiaceae family, 20-70 cm tall. The root is slender and conical. The stem is erect or ascending, much branched, hollow, with deep longitudinal stripes on the surface. The basal leaves have short petioles, with short broad leaf sheaths at the base, membranous at the margins; the upper leaves are almost entirely reduced to sheath-like forms; the leaf blade outline is ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-8 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, 2-3 times ternate-pinnately dissected, the final rounded lobes linear to linear-lanceolate, 3-10 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, with a small pointed tip at the apex, rough on the margins and veins. The compound umbel is terminal or lateral, 2-3 cm in diameter, with 6-10 involucral bracts, linear to linear-lanceolate, about 5 mm long, membranous at the margins, with short pubescence; 8-25 rays, 0.5-2 cm long; numerous bracteoles, linear, 3-5 mm long, with short pubescence at the margins; the umbellule has 15-20 flowers, calyx teeth inconspicuous, petals white, with an infolded small ligule at the apex, stylopodium slightly raised, styles recurved downward. The schizocarp is oblong, 1.3-3 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, nearly pentagonal in cross-section, with 5 main ribs, all extended into wings, with 1 oil tube in each rib furrow, 2 on the commissure, and the endosperm flat and straight on the ventral side.

I. Growth habits: Cnidium monnieri prefers a cool and moist environment and likes water and fertilizer. It has low requirements for soil and can be cultivated in general soils. However, loam soil with a thick layer, loose texture and fertility is best.

II. Land preparation and fertilization: Choose a field with flat terrain, loose and fertile soil, and rich in organic matter, and cultivate it finely. In combination with land preparation, apply sufficient base fertilizer: apply 3000 kg of farmyard manure, 20 kg of urea, and 50 kg of phosphate and potassium fertilizer per mu. Then make beds, clear the drainage ditches, and wait for sowing.

III. Sowing: Cnidium monnieri is propagated by seeds. The sowing period includes autumn sowing and spring sowing. Autumn sowing is in September to October; spring sowing is around Qingming. When sowing, first use a seed drill to open shallow furrows on the prepared bed surface, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, then turn the rake over and level it twice, so that the soil covers the seeds, water to keep moisture, so as to facilitate seedling emergence. The sowing rate per mu is 2-3 kg.

IV. Field management: After Cnidium monnieri seedlings emerge uniformly, attention should be paid to intertillage and weeding. Water immediately in dry weather, and drain promptly in rainy weather. After Cnidium monnieri buds appear, topdress once: apply 5 kg of urea and 5 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu.

V. Pest and disease control: The main disease of Cnidium monnieri is leaf spot, which can be prevented and controlled by spraying with 500 times dilution of 40% carbendazim at the early stage of the disease. Once a week, spray 3 times continuously. Powdery mildew can be controlled with triadimefon at the early stage of the disease. The main insect pests include patterned green caterpillars that bite and eat the leaves, or leaf-rolling caterpillars that eat the flower buds, which can be killed with phoxim and fenvalerate.

VI. Harvesting and processing: Cnidium monnieri is generally harvested from June to July. When 90% of its seeds are mature, cut off the upper seed-bearing branches with a sickle, dry them in the sun, thresh, winnow out impurities, and then it can be sold as medicine. Those with yellow color, plump grains and strong fragrance are the best quality. The yield per mu is 200 kg.