Licorice sowing takes only five steps, and even beginners can easily master it

Licorice sowing is a relatively simple method for this category of herb, but its key points should still be noted during cultivation, and these key points are as follows:

I. Sowing method

Site selection and land preparation. Licorice has wide adaptability and does not have strict requirements for the cultivation environment. It can be cultivated in semi-arid and arid areas with an average temperature of 4°C to 12°C and sunshine hours of more than 2600 hours, and licorice can also be planted on infertile retired farmland. However, note that waterlogged lowlands, areas with a high groundwater table, and areas with heavy and slightly acidic soil are not suitable for growing licorice. If conditions permit, it can be planted on sandy or water-quality soil with a soil salt content of no more than 0.5%, which can achieve the goals of a high germination rate and seedling survival rate, fast growth, brightly colored roots and rhizomes, good quality, and high economic benefits. **The Urumqi City Grassland Station selected the experimental site in a plot in Yongfeng Township that had been planted with wheat 3 years earlier and then left fallow, with deep soil layers, loose soil texture, good drainage, and low salinity and alkalinity. Early field management included: deep plowing 40 cm to 50 m, harrowing fine and leveling, and making high ridges, with a ridge width of 40 cm to 45 cm and a ditch width of 30 cm to 35 cm. The experimental area was 3 hectares.

II. Seed selection and seed treatment

For seed selection, Ural licorice with relatively high contents of glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid was selected. Seed treatment: licorice seeds have a hard seed coat, are impermeable to water and air, and are not easy to germinate. The germination rate of untreated seeds is only 30% to 40%, while after seed coat breaking treatment the germination rate can reach more than 90%, so the seeds must first be pretreated before sowing. The method used was: soak the seeds in 60°C water, then remove them, cover them with a wet cloth for 4 hours to 6 hours so they absorb water and swell, then air-dry and drain them before sowing.

III. Sowing and raising seedlings

Licorice can be sown in spring, summer, or autumn, but according to the climatic conditions of the Urumqi area, spring gives the best yield and quality. The experimental area chose sowing in mid-April in spring. A 12-row seeding machine was used for drilling, with a sowing depth of 2 cm to 3 cm and a row spacing of 30 cm. To increase yield, the seeding rate was increased to 12 kg/hectare. When sowing, ensure uniform seed placement and consistent depth, and after sowing appropriately compact the soil and irrigate once. At a temperature of 20°C, seedlings can emerge in 5 days to 7 days. When 50% of seedlings have emerged, remove the covering grass, water to preserve soil moisture, and wait for full emergence. When the seedlings are 15 cm to 20 cm tall, the emergence rate is 90%, the seedlings have grown for about 4 months, and the roots reach 35 cm to 40 cm, they meet the requirements for transplanting standards.

IV. Field management

Thinning and final thinning. Thin the seedlings when they grow 1 to 2 true leaves, keeping the seedling spacing at about 5 cm, and finalize the seedlings when they grow 3 to 4 true leaves, with a plant spacing of 10 cm to 15 cm. Irrigation. Although licorice is a deep-rooted drought-resistant plant, during the seedling stage its drought resistance is not strong because the roots are relatively shallow. Therefore, after the seedlings grow to 4 true leaves, give the first watering, using fine shallow irrigation or sprinkler irrigation, and do not flood-irrigate. Pay attention to keeping the seedlings moist; the number of waterings should be neither too many nor too few, so as to ensure the water supply during the seedling stage. After the adult plant stage, little irrigation is needed. In July to August, when there is a lot of rain, drain promptly so that there is no standing water in the field and root rot is prevented. The key to cultivating licorice is preserving seedlings; generally, after the plants have grown, they are no longer watered. Cultivation and weeding. After the seedlings emerge fully, cultivate and weed promptly so that there are no weeds in the field. This is the key to high quality and high yield. If conditions permit, before seedling emergence after sowing, carry out closed weeding by spraying the field with 2 bags of Douhuanglong (20% chlorimuron-ethyl) wettable powder per 667 sq m, combined with 2 bottles to 4 bottles of acetochlor per 667 sq m. After emergence, spray a herbicide that kills monocotyledons to eliminate weeds. Topdressing. The first topdressing is carried out after final thinning, applying 10 kg of urea per 667 sq m in furrows. The second topdressing is applied when the seedlings are 20 cm tall, using urea at 15 kg per 667 sq m.

V. Disease control

The main diseases of licorice are powdery mildew, gray leaf spot, and rust, so field management should be strengthened, with attention to drainage and ventilation. If disease occurs, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of triadimefon in the early stage of the disease; 0.3 Baume lime sulfur mixture, or 500-fold to 600-fold 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder can also be used, spraying once every 7 days to 10 days, and 2 to 3 sprays are sufficient.