What is the relationship between the size of Pinellia ternata seed tubers and planting depth?

The relationship between the size of Pinellia ternata seed tubers and planting depth
  (Li Hongjun, Heze Run Kang Chinese Medicinal Materials Research Institute, Heze, Shandong)

Objective: In the artificial cultivation of Pinellia ternata, seed tubers are generally used for propagation. If the seed tubers are planted too deep, first, it affects emergence; second, in the later growth stage, excessive moisture can easily cause the seed tubers to rot. If the seed tubers are planted too shallow, they are affected by changes in air humidity and temperature, and at the same time, the resulting Pinellia ternata will produce misshapen commercial products with multiple buds, seriously affecting yield and quality.

Keywords: Pinellia ternata   seed tubers   soil   cultivation   depth    

    In the artificial planting process of Pinellia ternata, in order to enable the first-generation bulbils to form in the soil, reduce the labor required for earthing up, and at the same time make the commercial Pinellia ternata products uniform in individual form with fewer multi-bud connected bodies, so that they can emerge smoothly, absorb deep soil water and organic matter to the greatest extent, and avoid large-scale rotting of tubers in the later growth stage, therefore, when cultivating Pinellia ternata, reasonably choosing the planting depth according to the size of the tubers is one of the key techniques for high yield, stable yield and high quality in artificial cultivation of Pinellia ternata.
    According to the biological characteristics of Pinellia ternata, combined with recent research results, and following the rule that the height at which bulbils form on the leaf stems is 2.6 times that of the seed tuber, the optimal sowing depth for seed tubers of different sizes can be determined, and it must not be too shallow or too deep. If sown too shallow, it is easy to form commercial tubers with multiple buds joined together, and the plants are not tolerant to drought and are greatly affected by external temperature and humidity. If sown too deep, emergence is difficult, and in the later growth stage, excessive moisture in the deep soil will cause large-scale rotting of tubers.
    Before sowing Pinellia ternata, the seed tubers are generally first divided into three grades: large, medium and small, referred to as grading. Seed tubers with a diameter of 2.5 cm or more are grade one seed, accounting for about 10% of the total seed quantity; seed tubers with a diameter of 1.5—2.5 cm are grade two seed, accounting for about 50% of the total seed quantity; seed tubers with a diameter below 1.5 cm are grade three seed, accounting for about 40% of the total seed quantity. The optimal sowing depth for grade one seed tubers is 7—8 cm, with a maximum of no more than 9 cm; the optimal sowing depth for grade two seed tubers is 5—6 cm, with a maximum of no more than 7 cm; the optimal sowing depth for grade three seed tubers is 3—4 cm, with a maximum of no more than 5 cm.

Li Hongjun, Heze Run Kang Chinese Medicinal Materials Research Institute, Heze, Shandong
Address: No. 129 Mudan North Road, Heze City, Shandong Province  Postal code: 274000  
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