A Detailed Guide to Atractylodes macrocephala Planting Techniques and Cultivation Management

Atractylodes macrocephala is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, soAtractylodes macrocephala planting techniqueswhat key points do they include? What should be noted during the cultivation process? Below, the editor will play the role of a small herb farmer and introduce them to everyone.

(1) Growth Habits of Atractylodes macrocephala

Atractylodes macrocephala is the dried rhizome of the Asteraceae plant Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. It prefers a cool climate, fears high temperatures and excessive moisture, and is prone to root rot when waterlogged. It is relatively drought-tolerant and also cold-tolerant. It requires loose soil with relatively high fertility. The growth cycle of Atractylodes macrocephala is one year, but in practice it takes 3 years. One year for seed saving, one year for raising seedlings, and another year for transplanting to grow into a marketable product.

(2) Regional Distribution of Atractylodes macrocephala Cultivation

Atractylodes macrocephala is now widely cultivated, and can be found in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places. It is mainly produced in Zhejiang and Anhui. The product from Yuqian in Zhejiang has the best quality and large output, and is specially called "Yuzhu"; its appearance is yellow and bright, with large size, thick flesh, firm and heavy texture, and a fresh fragrance, making it top quality, and it belongs to the "Zhejiang Eight Flavors." Bozhou in Anhui ranks first in the country in production volume, and its quality is deeply favored by customers for its yellow-white appearance, large size, and white cut surface, and it is mostly processed into traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces. Anguo in Hebei is the largest production area of Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings in the country.

(3) Key Points of Atractylodes macrocephala Planting Techniques

1. Land Selection and Preparation

Choose sunny, ventilated and cool, well-drained, loose soil with medium fertility on high-mountain virgin land or land that has been left fallow for more than 5 years. Apply fertilizer, allow freezing and weathering, and level the land into beds before sowing.

2. Planting Methods

(1) Seed selection and seedling raising: Select large-leaf-type seed plants with dark green leaves, thick texture, and flat, plump flower buds. Keep 5-8 plump flower buds that open in the middle period, and remove the other flower buds. After the Beginning of Winter, when the seeds are fully mature, choose a sunny day, cut off the aboveground part, tie it into bundles together with the stems, hang it in a rain-sheltered and ventilated place, dry it in the shade for 20-30 days, then sun-dry it for 2-3 days, collect the plump seeds, place them in cloth bags, and hang them in a cool and ventilated place. Sow in rows from late March to early April. From Frost's Descent to the Beginning of Winter, when the seedling leaves turn yellow and withered, choose a sunny day, dig up the rhizomes (that is, the planting stock), cut off the stems and the fine roots at the tail, remove diseased and damaged plants, spread them in a cool and ventilated room for 1-2 days, and store them after the surface of the planting stock turns white.

(2) Storage of planting stock: Choose a cool and dry indoor mud floor, spread a 5 cm thick layer of fine sand with 20% moisture, place the planting stock on top to a thickness of 8-12 cm, then add another layer of fine sand, and pile in this way until it reaches a height of 30-40 cm, then cover with 4 cm of sand or fine soil. During storage, check every half a month or one month, and promptly remove diseased planting stock. By the period from December to February of the following year before sprouting, dig, wash, and plant at the same time.

(3) Field planting: Select planting stock with fine tender skin, no pests or diseases, plump and robust terminal buds, a slender upper part, a round and large tail, densely growing soft fine roots, short fine main roots or no main root, and no damage during storage. Divide them into two grades, large and small, and plant them separately. Each mu requires 40-60 kg of planting stock. When planting, place 1-2 planting stock per hole, with the buds facing upward, apply superphosphate or cake fertilizer, cover with burnt mud ash, and finally cover with soil level with the bed.

3. Field Management of Atractylodes macrocephala Planting

After the seedlings emerge, weed and thin them promptly, and when the soil is compacted, carry out intertillage and loosening. Topdressing should be light, applied once each at "Grain Full," "Minor Heat," and "Beginning of Autumn." In dry weather, spread grass between the rows to prevent drought; in stormy weather, because Atractylodes macrocephala fears waterlogging, dredge the drainage ditches so that the ground dries after the rain stops. Do not carry out field operations such as intertillage and weeding after rain or when the dew has not dried, otherwise it is prone to iron leaf disease. Atractylodes macrocephala has a long growth period and requires relatively more fertilizer. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, also apply seedling fertilizer early, apply heavy fertilizer after bud removal, and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and organic fertilizers. In addition, attention should be paid to removing tillering branches and keeping only one main stem, which helps the rhizome form neatly and prevents forking. Generally, from mid-July to early August, support the stems and remove the buds.

According to what the editor has learned, in recent years there has been relatedAtractylodes macrocephala planting techniquesresearch stating that using test-tube seedling propagation and cultivation methods can stabilize the stability of regenerated plants, which provides a new way for the rapid propagation of excellent varieties of Atractylodes macrocephala. The times are progressing and technology is updating. It is hoped that herb farmers growing medicinal materials can keep up with the pace of the times and achieve high yields and a bumper harvest.

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