How to grow the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis well? Detailed explanation of the key points of Scutellaria baicalensis cultivation techniques
How to grow the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis well? Please give an introduction. Scutellaria baicalensis prefers warmth and tolerates severe cold; its underground part can withstand a low temperature of -30°C. It is drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging. When planted in areas with poor drainage or abundant rain, the growing environment is poor, growth is poor, and root rot is easily caused. For the cultivation methods of Scutellaria baicalensis, you can refer to the following techniques: 1. Cultivation methods...
How to grow the medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis well? Please give an introduction
Scutellaria baicalensis prefers warmth and tolerates severe cold; its underground part can withstand a low temperature of -30°C. It is drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging. When planted in areas with poor drainage or abundant rain, the growing environment is poor, growth is poor, and root rot is easily caused. For the cultivation methods of Scutellaria baicalensis, you can refer to the following techniques:
1. Cultivation methods
Scutellaria baicalensis is mainly propagated by seed, and can also be propagated by cuttings and root division.
1. Seed propagation. Direct sowing is generally used. Because the seeds are small and emergence is relatively difficult, the soil must be well prepared. Before land preparation, apply 2000-3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu, plow deeply and harrow finely. The seedbed surface should be fine and level. Sloped land without irrigation conditions does not need to be made into beds. Spring sowing is in March and April; summer sowing can be done during the rainy season, and winter sowing is also possible. Spring sowing gives the highest yield. In places without irrigation conditions, sowing should be done during the rainy season. Drilling is generally used, with row spacing of 25-30 cm. Open shallow furrows 2-3 cm deep, sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with about 1 cm of soil, and press lightly after sowing. The sowing rate is 0.50-1 kg per mu. Because the seeds are small, to avoid uneven sowing, mix them with 5-10 times fine sand and stir evenly before sowing. Water promptly after sowing and keep the topsoil moist frequently. Seedlings emerge in about 15 days. After emergence, thin out the overly dense weak seedlings. When the seedlings are 6-7 cm tall, thin to a spacing of 12-15 cm between plants, and fill in gaps where seedlings are missing. When filling gaps, be sure to transplant with soil. Seedlings from overly dense areas can be moved to fill the gaps. Water after planting to help them survive.
Scutellaria baicalensis seeds are small, and the soil covering them at sowing is shallow. Emergence is often difficult because of soil drought or an uneven topsoil surface with large soil particles, resulting in many missing seedlings. Solutions: first, the land must be prepared finely and leveled; second, water promptly after sowing and keep the soil moist frequently until emergence; in addition, for dryland planting, choose sowing during the rainy season, and plastic (11385,-75.00,-0.65%) film mulch or straw mulch can also be used to preserve soil moisture. Once seedlings emerge, the mulch can be removed. In this way, uniform and tidy...
2. Cutting propagation. The most suitable period for cuttings is May and June, when the plants are in a vigorous vegetative growth stage. Cut the semi-lignified young tender portion at the upper end of the stems and branches (using the middle and lower parts of the stems as cuttings gives a very low survival rate), cut into 6-10 cm lengths, then remove the leaves from the lower 2 nodes and keep the upper leaves. The cutting bed is best made of sand, or relatively loose sandy loam is also acceptable. Generally, cut and insert immediately, placing them in the bed at a row spacing of 10 x 5 cm. Water promptly after insertion and set up a shade frame. Spray water frequently to keep the soil moist, but it should not be too wet, otherwise the cuttings will turn black and rot. With proper management, the survival rate can reach more than 90%, and they can be transplanted 40 days after insertion.
3. Root division propagation. At harvest, pay attention to selecting high-yield and high-quality plants. Cut off the roots for medicinal use, and keep the rhizome portion as propagation material. If harvesting by digging in winter, bury the rhizomes indoors in a cool place, and divide and plant the roots in the second spring; if harvesting in spring, dig and plant immediately. Divide the rhizomes into several pieces, each with several buds, and then plant them in the field at a row spacing of 30 x 20 cm. Using this method on sloped land gives a relatively high survival rate, and after planting, management is the same as usual.
2. Field management
During the emergence stage, keep the soil moist frequently and water promptly when the soil is dry. After the plants mature, their drought resistance increases, so watering can be reduced. During the rainy season, also pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging. At ordinary times, also pay attention to loosening the soil and weeding at any time. In addition to strengthening general management, also pay attention to fertilization. In the first year, after thinning, carry out the first fertilization: apply 500 kg of dilute human and animal manure or 3-5 kg of urea per mu, and in June-July apply 30 kg of ammonium phosphate as a top dressing. In the second and third years, after green-up, apply 40-50 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer, and before row closure in late June apply 30-40 kg of granular ammonium phosphate fertilizer. When fertilizing, open furrows and apply, then cover with soil and water.
3. Harvesting and processing
Harvest 2-3 years after planting. Generally, dig after the stems and leaves wither in late autumn, or after the soil thaws in spring and before sprouting. Because the roots grow deep, dig deeply to prevent breaking the roots. After the roots are dug out, shake off the soil, cut off the stems and leaves, sun-dry until half dry, rub off the outer skin, then quickly sun-dry or oven-dry. They can also be sliced and then sun-dried, but they must not be washed with water, nor sliced while fresh, otherwise the cut surfaces will turn green.
When drying in the air, avoid exposure to strong sunlight, because excessive exposure will make Scutellaria baicalensis turn red. At the same time, also prevent it from being soaked by rain, because after rain the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis first turn green and then black, both of which affect quality. The finished product is considered top grade when solid, free of holes, and bright yellow inside. Generally, 3-4 kg of fresh roots can be processed into 1 kg of dried goods. The yield is 200-300 kg of dried goods per mu, and can reach more than 380 kg at the high end.
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