Bupleurum Market Price and Planting Methods Explained in Detail
Bupleurum, also known as Di Xun, Shan Cai, Gu Cao and other names, is a medicinal herb listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The medicinal part is the dried root of Bupleurum chinense or Bupleurum scorzonerifolium of the Apiaceae family, genus Bupleurum. As a medicine it has the effects of harmonizing the exterior and interior and soothing the liver and raising yang. It is commonly cultivated in Northeast China, North China, Northwest China, East China, Hubei, Sichuan and other places. Let us take a look at bupleurum price and planting methods together below!
How much is bupleurum per jin?
The price of bupleurum is about 50 to 70 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on quality, place of origin, market and other factors. Bupleurum is a commonly used exterior-relieving medicine. It is dug up in spring and autumn, and after the stems, leaves, mud and sand are removed, it is dried. According to different characteristics, it is customarily called North Bupleurum and South Bupleurum. Bupleurum from its original producing area is generally of better quality and costs about 90 to 100 yuan per jin, while cultivated bupleurum ranges from 40 to 60 yuan, and bupleurum with stems costs around 50 yuan.
Propagation Methods of Bupleurum
1. Seed propagation
① Seed treatment: For bupleurum planted for 2 years, collect mature seeds in September, dry them in the sun, thresh and store them. Half a month before sowing, soak the seeds in 50 micrograms/gram of 6-BA solution for 24 hours, then mix 1 part seeds with 3 parts wet sand and store in a container. After about 12 days, take them out and they are ready for sowing.
② Sowing method: Spring sowing of bupleurum is carried out in late March. For drilling, the row spacing is 30 cm; for hole sowing, the row spacing is 23 to 27 cm. Mix the seeds evenly with plant ash and broadcast them, then cover with soil, cover with wheat straw and water. Use 1 to 1.5 jin of seed per mu. Autumn sowing is done before the ground freezes, and the rest is the same as spring sowing.
2. Seedling raising and transplanting
① Seed sowing: For bupleurum seeds, sow the treated seeds by broadcasting or drilling in late March. When broadcasting, make shallow furrows on the prepared seedbed, evenly scatter the seeds on the bed surface and cover with soil; when drilling, open furrows at a row spacing of 10 cm and sow in rows, then cover with soil, cover with grass and water after sowing.
② Seedling transplanting: Bupleurum emerges about 10 days after sowing. When the root crown diameter is 2 to 3 mm and the root length is 5 to 6 cm, transplant. On cloudy days, select robust, disease-free seedlings and transplant them at a row spacing of 25 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm. Dig and transplant as you go, and water immediately after transplanting to ensure survival.
Planting Methods of Bupleurum
1. Land selection and preparation: Bupleurum prefers a warm and humid climate. It is cold-resistant and drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging. It is best to choose loam and sandy loam or gentle sloping land with deep soil layers, loose and fertile soil and good drainage. Before planting, plow and harrow several times and apply 30,000 kg/hectare of decomposed barnyard manure as base fertilizer.
2. Thinning and final singling: Bupleurum emerges 12 to 15 days after sowing. When the seedlings reach 4 to 5 cm, carry out the first thinning, removing overly dense seedlings and weak, diseased seedlings. When the seedlings reach 8 to 10 cm in height, carry out final singling. The suitable number of plants after final singling is 675,000 to 825,000 plants/hectare.
3. Replanting and weeding: If there are missing plants in the bupleurum field, they should be replanted, and the replanted seedlings should be watered promptly. After the plants close their canopy, no more intertillage is carried out, and weeds are only pulled by hand to avoid damaging the roots and reducing yield. Generally, chemical herbicides are not used for weeding.
4. Reasonable fertilization: The first seedling fertilizer for bupleurum is applied together with intertillage during the first thinning. The second seedling fertilizer is applied together with intertillage during final singling. The third topdressing is carried out when the seedlings are 30 to 40 cm tall. If potassium fertilizer needs to be supplemented separately, organic potassium fertilizer can be sprayed on the leaves.
5. Clearing ditches and draining moisture: Bupleurum likes to grow in a humid environment, but it is most afraid of water accumulating in the field. Before the rainy season arrives, clear the field ditches in time to ensure smooth drainage in the ditches and reduce the occurrence of field diseases.
6. Removing tillers and picking flower stems: The aboveground part of bupleurum grows vigorously. Half of one-year-old plants can bolt and flower, and all two-year-old plants can bolt and flower. Removing tillers and newly grown flower stems and buds in batches in time can promote the accumulation and expansion of nutrients in the plant roots.
7. Pest and disease control: In pest and disease control for bupleurum, it is necessary to follow the principle of not applying heavy-metal pesticides or highly toxic and highly residual pesticides, insist on giving priority to prevention through agricultural measures, and adopt biological pesticide preparations or efficient low-toxicity pesticides for control.