How to grow the Chinese medicinal herb Ophiopogon japonicus? Key cultivation techniques for Ophiopogon japonicus
Site selection and land preparation
It is best to choose loose, fertile, moist and well-drained sandy loam soil, though sloping land can also be used for cultivation. Ophiopogon japonicus should not be grown in continuous cropping. After the current crop is harvested, prepare the land promptly. Plow 20-25 cm deep and harrow repeatedly to make the soil loose, fine and level. In Sichuan production areas, beds are generally not made; if the field is too large and the soil surface is uneven, small earth ridges can be built separately to facilitate drainage and irrigation. In Zhejiang production areas, flat beds are made, with a bed width of 1.5-1.7 m and a ditch width of 40 cm. Apply sufficient base fertilizer during land preparation; generally use 1500-2000 kg of compost per mu, or 50-70 kg of superphosphate, or 1000-1500 kg of barnyard manure. It can be scattered into the furrows at planting time, or spread into the soil during land preparation.
Planting methods
1. Seedling preparation and treatment
Ophiopogon japonicus is propagated by division. In Sichuan around Qingming, and in Zhejiang from Lixia to Mangzhong, when digging up Ophiopogon japonicus, select plants with dark green color and robust growth, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, divide into individual plants, trim off the remaining fibrous roots, and cut off part of the stem base (to the extent that a white core appears at the cut surface of the rhizome and the leaves do not spread apart), then plant immediately. If planting cannot be done in time, the seedlings must be "nurtured": soak the stem base of the seedlings in clean water for a while so they absorb enough moisture, then stand them upright together on loosened soil already dug in a shady place, and cover with soil around them for storage. If the temperature is too high, water once a day or every other day. The seedling nurturing time should not exceed 7 days.
2. Planting
In Sichuan this is done in April, and in Zhejiang in May, choosing a sunny or cloudy day. Sichuan uses furrow planting in rows, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a depth of about 5 cm. First apply dilute pig manure water into the furrow, then plant seedlings at a plant spacing of 6-9 cm, with 3 plants per clump. After planting, cover with soil, press firmly, and tamp down so the seedlings stand upright and stable, achieving level ground and upright seedlings. Zhejiang uses hole planting, with holes 3-5 cm deep, row spacing 25 cm, plant spacing 15 cm, and 9-10 seedlings per hole. Cover the base and press firmly.
Field management
1. Intercropping
Ophiopogon japonicus needs a shady and moist environment, and main production areas all practice intercropping. In Sichuan, corn is usually intercropped in summer and autumn. For spring corn, on the 2nd day after Ophiopogon japonicus is planted, intercrop 1 row of corn every 5 rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, with a plant spacing of 50 cm; after emergence, keep 1-2 plants per hill, preferably 1 plant, and harvest before Liqiu. Before Dashu, among the other rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, intercrop 1 row of autumn corn every 5 rows of Ophiopogon japonicus, and harvest at Qiufen. In winter and early spring, which is the period of tuberous root growth of Ophiopogon japonicus, crops are generally not intercropped, so as not to affect the yield of Ophiopogon japonicus.
In Zhejiang, Ophiopogon japonicus has wide row and plant spacing and a long growth period, and intercrops are mostly watermelon, kohlrabi, red onion, summer corn, broad bean, etc. Intercropping is generally done in the 1st and 2nd years. In the 3rd year, intercropping is no longer done, so as not to affect the yield and quality of Ophiopogon japonicus.
2. Cultivation and weeding About half a month after planting seedlings, weed once and loosen the soil to a depth of about 3 cm. From May to October, weeds grow vigorously, so each month choose a sunny day to weed and shallowly loosen the surface soil once.
3. Fertilization
In Sichuan, topdressing is generally done 3-4 times. The 1st time is in July, applying 1200 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake. The 2nd time is in early to mid-August, applying 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 40-50 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake and 75 kg of wood ash. The 3rd time is in early November, applying 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of rapeseed cake and 75 kg of wood ash, or 20-25 kg of superphosphate. The 4th time is in late February of the 2nd year after planting, applying 2000-2500 kg of pig manure water per mu, plus 5 kg of urea, 7 kg of superphosphate and 5 kg of potassium chloride.
Fertilization in Zhejiang is slightly different from that in Sichuan. There is a habit of "applying root-promoting fertilizer early and applying spring and autumn fertilizer heavily." When Ophiopogon japonicus turns green half a month after planting, combined with drought resistance, apply 700 kg of light human and livestock manure per mu and 10 kg of superphosphate to promote early rooting, more rooting and early tillering. After July, apply 1200 kg of human and livestock manure and urine per mu, plus 15 kg of superphosphate. Spring and autumn are the periods of tuberous root enlargement and massive tillering, so phosphate and potassium fertilizers should be applied heavily. Apply once each in March and September, with 50 kg of superphosphate or 100-120 kg of cake fertilizer, 1200 kg of human manure and urine, and 150-200 kg of plant ash per mu. Thereafter, fertilize 2-3 times each year.
4. Irrigation
After Lixia, the weather gradually becomes hotter and water evaporation is high, so irrigation should be done in time. If drought occurs in winter and spring, irrigate 1-2 times around Lichun to promote tuberous root growth. In summer, rainfall is concentrated, so accumulated water in the field should be drained in time to prevent pests and diseases caused by high temperature and high humidity, which would affect production.