Key points of Bupleurum cultivation techniques, a detailed explanation of Chinese medicinal herb planting methods

BupleurumThe main varieties are Bupleurum chinense and Bupleurum scorzonerifolium, with the root or the whole plant used as medicine. Bupleurum scorzonerifolium is mainly produced in Northeast China, North China, Northwest China, East China and other places, and is also distributed in Hubei and Sichuan provinces.

Growth habits: Bupleurum grows on hillsides and grasslands. It has strong adaptability, prefers a slightly cool and humid climate, is cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, avoids high temperatures, and fears waterlogging. During the seedling stage it prefers shade and can be slightly shaded, while in the later growth stage it prefers light. It should not be planted in continuous cropping. Its growth and development are roughly divided into four periods: the vigorous stem and leaf growth period (from greening to budding, when stems and leaves grow rapidly, April to June), the vigorous root growth period (when the stem and leaf growth rate gradually slows and the root grows rapidly, June to September), the late root growth period (when stem and leaf growth is slow or stops while root weight is still increasing, September to October), and the overwintering period (from the withering of the aboveground parts to greening the following year). In the first year of seed propagation there is a seedling stage (from seed germination to a seedling height of 6-10 cm).

Cultivation techniques

Site selection and land preparation: It is best to choose loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam or hillside land rich in humus for planting, and it is not suitable to plant in clay and easily waterlogged plots. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before sowing, generally 2500-3000 kg of barnyard manure and 50 kg of superphosphate per mu; after application, plow deeply 25-30 cm, level and harrow finely, and make beds or ridges ready for sowing, with beds 1.2 m wide and 15 cm high, or ridges 60 cm wide and 20 cm high. Propagation method: use seed propagation, either direct sowing or seedling raising and transplanting. The seed germination rate is about 50%; at a temperature of about 20°C, seedlings emerge 15 days after sowing. For direct sowing, it is best to sow in late autumn, and it can also be done before the winter freeze or in mid-to-late April in spring. On the bed, open furrows at a row spacing of 15-20 cm and a furrow depth of 1.5-2 cm, evenly scatter the stratified seeds into the furrows, cover with 1 cm of soil, press lightly, then cover with straw mats to retain moisture. The sowing rate is 1-1.5 kg per mu. Generally, autumn sowing produces more uniform seedlings than spring sowing. Spring sowing can be intercropped with corn. For seedling raising and transplanting, sow seeds and raise seedlings in mid-to-late April. Soaking the seeds in warm water at 20°C or in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours can increase the germination rate. Stratified seeds are soaked in warm water at 35°C for 12 hours, removed, air-dried and sown. Broadcast sowing is often used, and drilling can also be used, with a row spacing of 10 cm; open shallow furrows 1.5-2 cm deep, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with soil completely, cover with grass and water to retain moisture. When the seedlings are 5-6 cm high, transplant them with soil, with a row spacing of 15-20 cm and a plant spacing of 6-10 cm, and water promptly after planting. They can also be transplanted in autumn after the plants die back.

Field management

After emergence, loosen the soil and weed frequently. When the seedlings are 5-6 cm high, thin them; when the seedlings are more than 10 cm high, in combination with loosening the soil and weeding, thin to a plant spacing of about 10 cm. In combination with loosening the soil and weeding, after thinning, apply 15 kg of superphosphate per mu (it can be omitted if base fertilizer was applied), 5-8 kg of ammonium sulfate, or 5 kg of urea. Be careful not to apply it onto the seedlings or injure the stems. Before emergence or after transplanting, water frequently to retain moisture; if water accumulates in the rainy season, drain it promptly to prevent root rot from waterlogging. In the first year, Bupleurum only grows stems and leaves and rarely flowers; in the second year it bolts and flowers, so attention should be paid to saving seeds, and if seeds are not needed, the bolts should be removed promptly to concentrate nutrients and promote root growth.