Detailed Explanation of Rehmannia Cultivation Methods and Technical Key Points
How is Rehmannia cultivated? Is there a technical introduction to Rehmannia planting? Rehmannia planting can be carried out by referring to the following methods: 1. Site selection and land preparation. It is advisable to choose sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, fertility, and good drainage. In the winter of the previous year or early spring, plow the soil more than 25 cm deep, and at the same time apply 2000-3000...
How is Rehmannia cultivated? Is there a technical introduction to Rehmannia planting?
Rehmannia planting can be carried out by referring to the following methods:
1. Site selection and land preparation. It is advisable to choose sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, fertility, and good drainage. In the winter of the previous year or early spring, plow the soil more than 25 cm deep, and at the same time apply 2000-3000 kg of decomposed compost and 25 kg of superphosphate per mu as base fertilizer. Then, level and rake it finely to make beds, generally with a bed width of 1.3 m. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that Rehmannia should not be continuously cropped, and this is also a key measure to note in site selection.
2. Seed selection and planting. Generally, Rehmannia cultivation uses rhizomes as propagation material, called "planting stock" in production. For Rehmannia "planting stock," generally the "inverted planting" "planting stock" cultivated from July to August of the previous year is selected, because when "inverted planting" "planting stock" is used as seed, Rehmannia has high yield and good quality and can also prevent variety degeneration. Before planting, remove the head and tail of the "planting stock" and take the middle section. Then cut it into small sections 3-6 cm long, each section retaining two to three bud eyes, dip the cut ends in plant ash, let them dry slightly, and then plant. The general planting density is 30-40 cm between rows and 25-30 cm between plants. Dig small holes 3-5 cm deep on the prepared bed surface, place 1-2 sections of "planting stock" horizontally in each hole, cover with 1 handful of burnt soil ash mixed with manure water, and then cover with fine soil level with the bed. Each mu requires 40-60 kg of "planting stock." When selecting seed, try to use "inverted planting" "planting stock" as much as possible, avoid using small market stock, and at the same time remove the "old mother root" from the "planting stock." That is, the planting stock planted in the first ten days of the month.
3. Field management. (1) Thin seedlings and fill gaps in time. When the seedlings are 10-12 cm high, begin thinning, leaving 1 strong seedling per hole. If there are missing plants, replant promptly on cloudy days, and when replanting, lift the seedlings with soil, as this gives a higher survival rate; (2) Intertillage and weeding. Rehmannia rhizomes enter the soil relatively shallowly, so intertillage should be shallow to avoid damaging the roots. Weeds around the seedlings should be pulled out by hand, and after the plants close the rows, stop intertillage; (3) Topdressing. Rehmannia likes fertilizer. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, after thinning, apply 100 kg of superphosphate and 30 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu to promote rhizome development and expansion. When the rows close, broadcast 1 application of burnt soil ash between the rows to promote robust plant growth; (4) Irrigation. Rehmannia needs a large amount of water in the early stage, so it should be watered frequently. In the later stage, which is the underground rhizome expansion period, water should be used sparingly. During the rainy season, drainage should be done promptly to prevent root rot; (5) Remove creeping surface roots. In addition to the main root, Rehmannia can also grow slender underground stems along the soil surface, called creeping surface roots. These creeping surface roots consume more nutrients and should be removed promptly.
4. Pay attention to preventing pests and diseases. The main diseases of Rehmannia are leaf spot disease, ring rot disease, and Fusarium wilt. These diseases generally begin to occur in early May and become severe in June-July, so timely prevention and control should be noted; pests include red spiders, cutworms, and white grubs, which are controlled by conventional methods. When choosing pesticides, avoid using highly toxic pesticides.
5. Harvesting and processing. Spring-planted Rehmannia should be dug promptly when the aboveground stems and leaves wither and turn yellow around November of the same year. When digging, open a 35 cm deep trench at one end of the bed and carefully remove the rhizomes in sequence; for processing Rehmannia, use a special roasting oven to process it into prepared Rehmannia, which then becomes a commodity.
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