Ephedra Planting Methods and Cultivation Technique Points
Ephedra is a traditional medicinal herb used to treat asthma, colds, wind-cold, low blood pressure, and to induce sweating and dispel cold. However, the state now controls and supervises ephedra cultivation very strictly, because it is also a raw material for making drugs, just like datura. So to prevent adverse consequences, supervision must be strengthened. But if you follow normal legal procedures, it can still be cultivated. So how should ephedra be planted? Let's learn about it together.
1. Variety Selection
There are many varieties of ephedra, about a dozen or so, but the most widely planted is Ephedra intermedia. Its yield and quality are both very good, and many pharmaceutical factories and producers prefer to buy Ephedra intermedia, so planting Ephedra intermedia is guaranteed in terms of both price and sales channels. Next, Ephedra equisetina and Ephedra sinica are also decent choices. Of course, you can choose according to your region, deciding whether to pick one with good drought resistance, good disease resistance, or good cold resistance.
2. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Ephedra is generally planted in deep plots with relatively intact soil structure, very strong permeability, and a complete drainage system. It is best to choose an area close to a water source, which makes irrigation and drainage convenient. Also, try not to choose clay soil for the land, as its poor permeability makes it unsuitable for ephedra growth. When preparing the land, the soil needs to be broken up fairly fine, and if possible, plow the land as deep as possible. Finally, apply sufficient base fertilizer during land preparation. On average, one mu of land needs about 4,000 to 5,000 jin of farmyard manure, mixed with about 40 jin of nitrogen fertilizer and about 40 jin of potassium fertilizer, spread evenly over the field.
3. Sowing and Seedling Raising
Ephedra seeds are very expensive, so you must be careful when sowing, otherwise if germination fails, the loss will be severe. Therefore, before sowing we carry out corresponding seed treatment. First, we soak the ephedra in warm water at about 30 degrees for three to four hours, then take it out and soak it in a seedling-strengthening solution for about two hours. To enhance the resistance of the ephedra, we can at this time mix the seeds with some chemicals, then coat them with a layer of sand, and place them at a suitable temperature for germination. After three days, most of the seeds will have sprouted white shoots, and then they can be sown. When sowing, we can use the hole-sowing or drill-sowing method, with a spacing of about 25 cm between each plant and about 30 cm between each row. Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the prepared ground, then cover them with a thin layer of soil.
4. Field Management
The first step in field management is to check whether thinning and replanting of seedlings are needed. In places where more seeds have sprouted, we can keep only three to four plants and pull out the rest, then transplant the seedlings to the sparser areas. When the ephedra seedlings grow to five or six cm, the first cultivation and weeding can be carried out. Because more weeds appear during the growth of ephedra, we must weed in time so as not to affect the yield. Then apply 1,000 jin of farmyard manure, 500 jin of urea, and 50 jin of phosphate fertilizer as a top dressing, then earth up the soil and irrigate. In seasons with relatively heavy rainfall, we need to go to the field in time to clear the ditches and drain the rainwater away. The second fertilization is when the ephedra blooms; this is to promote the flowering period and also to make it set more fruit, so that when the time comes to collect seeds there will be a few more. Finally, to promote fruit growth, generally 500 jin of phosphate fertilizer, 50 jin of potassium fertilizer, and 40 jin of boron fertilizer are used.
5. Disease Control
The common diseases and pests of ephedra are damping-off and seedling blight. For damping-off, chlorothalonil is generally used for spraying, once every six to ten days; after two or three times it will basically be cured. As for seedling blight, if we have treated the seeds when sowing, it will basically not occur, but just in case, we should also carefully observe the growth changes of the plants, and then spray with Bavistin for prevention and control. Ephedra sometimes also suffers from some pests, such as aphids and inchworms; generally dimethoate emulsion can be used for spraying, and if it is relatively severe, multiple sprayings are needed to relieve the condition.
6. Timely Harvesting
The best growing period for ephedra can be said to be around June, so our harvesting time is generally in September. Since ephedra can grow for many years, the harvesting method is simply to cut off the above-ground stems with a sickle, then clean the soil and sand off the stems, cut them into small sections, dry them in the sun, and finally package them.