Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points for Atractylodes macrocephala

         Atractylodes macrocephala is a perennial herb, 30 to 60 cm tall, flowering from September to October, fruiting from October to November. It prefers a cool climate, fears high temperatures, and is relatively cold-tolerant. High temperatures are unfavorable for the growth of Atractylodes macrocephala and easily trigger diseases such as damping-off and southern blight, causing the rhizome to rot and the plant to die. Atractylodes macrocephala fears both drought and waterlogging, and sandy loam with good drainage is ideal. Continuous cropping is prohibited, and it cannot be rotated with peanuts, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes, radishes, potatoes, tea, or with Xuanshen (Scrophularia ningpoensis), Shengdi (Rehmannia glutinosa), Baixi (Selinum striatum), Chuanxinlian (Andrographis paniculata), Fuzi (Aconitum carmichaelii), and other crops. The previous crop is best a grass-family crop. However, newly reclaimed wasteland can also be used to grow Atractylodes macrocephala.           1. Seed Selection and Seedling Raising        (1) Seed selection: To distinguish genuine from fake seeds, fresh Atractylodes macrocephala seeds are reddish with fine fuzz, have a glossy surface, a clear cross-section, and a pinkish line at the bud embryo in the center.        (2) Seedling raising and seed soaking: Soak the seeds first in warm water at 25 to 30 °C for one day and one night. Seedlings can be raised in either spring or autumn; raise seedlings in the first year and transplant in the next. Spring sowing is from late March to early-to-mid April, and sowing is best when the ground temperature is above 12 °C. On a leveled and finely raked seedbed surface, open furrows crosswise for drilling, with a row spacing of 15 to 20 cm, a sowing width of 7 to 10 cm, and a furrow depth of 3 to 5 cm; the furrow bottom should be level. Soak the selected and treated seeds in a 1000-fold solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl for 3 to 5 minutes to prevent iron leaf disease. Mix the air-dried seeds with sand and scatter them into the furrows, press slightly firm with the foot, cover with plant ash just until the seeds are no longer visible, then scatter a layer of superphosphate or cake fertilizer, cover with a thin layer of soil, and cover with a layer of straw to keep warm and moist so as to help the seeds emerge; remove it gradually after the seedlings emerge. The seeding rate is 5-8 kg per mu, and seedlings from 1 mu can be transplanted to 7 mu of field. If sowing in holes, use a row spacing of 20 cm, a plant spacing of 10 cm, and a hole depth of 3-5 cm, with 3 seeds per hole; seedlings emerge in about 7 days.        (3) Seedling stage management: After the seedlings emerge completely, carry out intertillage and weeding so that there are no weeds in the field and the soil does not become compacted. When the seedlings are 7 cm tall, thin them to a plant spacing of 3-5 cm. Young seedlings fear both waterlogging and drought, so drainage and irrigation must be timely. Apply the first topdressing at the 2-3 true leaf stage; apply the second topdressing in early July during the underground rhizome expansion stage, using   500-800 kg of manure water per mu; in the later growth stage, remove flower buds as early as possible to promote rhizome growth.         2. Seedling Storage Methods: To overwinter safely, the seedlings must be dug up and stored. From early-to-mid October to early November of the sowing year, dig up the seedlings on a sunny day when the soil is dry, shake off the soil, remove diseased, weak, and damaged seedlings, spread them in a ventilated place to dry in the shade, and store them after the outer skin turns white to avoid mildew and rot.        (1) Jar and crock storage: A small number of seedlings can be stored in jars or crocks over winter. Insert a bundle of rice straw in the middle of the container for ventilation and heat dissipation, first lay a layer of green pine leaves on the bottom and around the sides, then load the Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings, and cover the top with green pine leaves or dry moss; after the green pine leaves turn yellow and dry, replace them promptly to maintain sufficient moisture.         (2) Sand storage method: This method can be used when the quantity is large. Indoors in a cool, ventilated place, first build a square enclosure with bricks or stones, then spread fine sand 3-4 cm thick on the earthen floor, and stack the seedlings in layers, that is, one layer of seedlings, one layer of sand, inserting 1 straw bundle every 0.6-1 m; when the pile reaches 35 cm high, cover with 7 cm of sand or soil to seal the top, and place Chinese fir thorns on top to prevent rat damage. When the winter temperature is relatively low, add another layer of rice straw. The sand must be moderately moist; turn and inspect the pile every 15-30 days, and remove diseased seedlings promptly.        (3) Overwintering in place: Atractylodes macrocephala seedlings from autumn sowing can be covered with dry grass or film and overwinter in place. In the following spring, dig and plant them as needed.         3. Field Cultivation Techniques        (1) Selecting good seedlings: Select rhizomes with plump terminal buds, well-developed root systems, tender epidermis, a slender top, and a large round tail as seed stock; classify them by size and plant them separately, which can make the seedlings uniform, facilitate management, and increase yield.        (2) Planting time: The transplanting period should be determined according to the local climate, soil, and cropping system. It runs from late December to early April of the following year. Early planting is better; those planted early first develop roots and then grow buds, have well-developed root systems, grow vigorously, are more cold-tolerant and drought-resistant, and give higher yields. Those planted too late, because the temperature rises, first grow buds and then roots, have poor root development, and give lower yields.        (3) Planting methods: There are hole planting and furrow planting. Planting density depends on soil fertility and fertilizer conditions. Properly close planting can increase yield. The basic stand per mu is 8000 to 15000 plants, using 40 to 60 kg of seedlings, planted in holes at a row spacing of 23 to 26 cm and a plant spacing of 13 to 16 cm, with a hole depth of 7 cm. First apply human manure, and after it dries place the seedling in the hole with the bud pointing upward and the fibrous roots spread out, then cover with soil to bury it, with the terminal bud 3.5 cm from the soil surface. If buried too shallow, it is prone to cold damage, then there are many buds and the rhizome shape is poor; conversely, if buried too deep, sprouting is slow, emergence is difficult, and the rhizome is slender and of poor quality.