Detailed Explanation of the Key Cultivation Techniques for the Chinese Medicinal Herb Qianjinzi

Qianjinziis the seed of Euphorbia lathyris, a plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. Also known as Qianliangjin, Pusa Dou, Xusuizi, Judongshi, Lianbu, Judongzi, Tanbanjiu, Kanyuanlao, Baiyaojie, Gan Jinyaojie, and Xiaobadou. The original plant, Euphorbia lathyris, is also known as: Judong, Banzhilian, and Xianglongcao. It has the effects of promoting diuresis to reduce edema, breaking blood stasis to eliminate abdominal masses, and detoxifying and killing parasites.

Annual herb, 30-90 cm tall. Culms tufted, erect in the upper part, geniculate at the base, with 3-6 nodes, smooth and hairless. Leaf sheaths mostly shorter than the internodes, hairless; ligules membranous, mostly lacerate, with small cilia; leaf blades linear-lanceolate, hairless, often rolled and folded. Inflorescence paniculate, with long branches, composed of numerous spike-like racemes; spikelets containing 3-7 florets, arranged in 2 rows on one side of the rachis, often purplish; glumes with 1 vein, the second glume slightly shorter than the first lemma; lemmas with 3 veins, hairless or sparsely pubescent in the lower part. Caryopsis oblong. Seedlings pale green; the first leaf 2-2.5 mm long, elliptical, with distinct veins, the second leaf 5-6 mm long; tillers, stolons and adventitious roots appear at the 7th-8th leaf. Distribution area: in China it is mostly distributed in East China, Central China, South China, Southwest China and Shaanxi and other places. It grows in paddy fields, low-lying wet dry fields and field edges. Its cultivation techniques are introduced as follows:

I. Land preparation and fertilization: This variety has no strict requirements for soil texture; sandy loam, loess, white mealy soil and wheat field soil are all acceptable, but sandy loam humus soil is best. Before land preparation, according to the fertility of the plot, generally apply 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer, 20-25 kg of urea or 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, plow normally, harrow fine, and prepare flat beds 2-3 m wide. Wait for sowing.

II. Sowing: Qianjinzi is propagated by seed, divided into autumn sowing and spring sowing. Autumn sowing is around October; spring sowing must be early, preferably around the Spring Equinox, as the yield decreases noticeably if it is late. Direct sowing is mostly used, with a row spacing of about 40 cm; open small furrows 2 cm deep, sow the seeds and then tread lightly once. If it is dry, water may be applied; if the soil surface is moist, no watering is needed. The seeding rate is 2 to 3 kg per mu.

III. Field management: After the seedlings emerge completely, attention should be paid to intertillage and weeding; water in dry weather, and drain promptly in rainy weather. Stop watering during the fruiting period. Qianjinzi has strong adaptability, and there are rarely pests or diseases throughout its growth process.

IV. Harvesting and processing: Autumn-sown Qianjinzi matures in June of the following year; spring-sown Qianjinzi matures when the fruit ripens from White Dew to the Autumn Equinox of the same year. After maturity, Qianjinzi can be harvested with a combine harvester. Sun-dry the harvested Qianjinzi and remove all impurities thoroughly before it can be sold as medicine. The yield per mu is 150—200 kg.