What are the high-yield planting methods for Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)?
As the medicinal value of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) continues to be further developed, its economic value has become increasingly considerable. Wild Danshen of somewhat older age has basically all been dug up, so the number of people growing Danshen is gradually increasing. With more growers, it means that if you do not improve the quality of Danshen and increase its yield, the market will be taken over by others. So today Qinnongwang brings you the high-yield planting methods for Danshen. Let's take a look below.
1. Scientific site selection
The growth of Danshen requires sufficient sunlight, and the temperature throughout the year is best kept at around 20 to 25 degrees. If we were back in the past when planting techniques were not yet perfected, Danshen was only suitable for planting in places like Guangzhou, but now it can be planted in many places. However, there are still requirements for choosing the planting site. If you want high yield, the planting site is best on mountain land and gentle slopes that have not been polluted for one or two years, with relatively sufficient soil fertility, a fairly complete drainage system, and sufficient sunlight. The most suitable plot is one where the soil is relatively loose, has strong permeability, and has moderate soil pH.
2. Planting methods
There are three sowing methods for Danshen: seed propagation, root division propagation, and cuttings propagation. Each has its own advantages. If seed propagation is used, the seeds need to be treated, which can not only promote seed germination but also enhance the resistance of the plants. For root division propagation, we need to select high-quality roots for planting. For example, those with thick tubers and no wounds or diseases are considered high quality. For cuttings propagation, select relatively good Danshen stems and cut them into small sections, then carry out cuttings. Each small section must retain a few leaves, which will make the survival rate much higher.
3. Reasonable density
Planting density also affects the yield of Danshen. If the plants are too dense, the humidity in the field will be relatively heavy, and ventilation, airflow, and light penetration will not be good. They simply cannot all receive reasonable sunlight, so the growth rate of Danshen will be relatively slow, and it may even breed some bacteria and viruses, causing unnecessary problems for the plants. Therefore, the best planting density for Danshen is about slightly more than 600 plants per mu of land, with an average spacing of 20 cm between rows and about 10 cm between plants.
4. Fertilizer and water management
For Danshen, we need to carry out topdressing at least three times a year. The first time is after planting, with the purpose of promoting the growth rate of the plants. The second time is when Danshen grows to 20 cm, that is, around April and May each year. The last time is generally during the flowering period of Danshen, around July in summer each year. For fertilizing Danshen, it is best to use organic fertilizer or farmyard manure. While promoting the growth of Danshen, this can also improve its medicinal properties. We generally do not use chemical fertilizers. Although chemical fertilizers have relatively good effects, they have a great impact on the quality of Danshen. That is, a problem that a small piece of Danshen could usually solve might require about ten pieces to solve. Finally, water management is also a relatively important part. Although Danshen needs water, there should not be too much water. We need to dig good ditches in the field so that it is convenient to water and drain when necessary.
5. Weeding and flower management
The growth of Danshen is relatively slow, so we can also weed and loosen the soil for Danshen from time to time. This can enhance the permeability of the soil, speed up the growth rate of Danshen, and at the same time enhance the disease resistance of the plants. The last and also relatively key point is that during the flowering period of Danshen, we need to remove some of the flowers. This can reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption, thereby increasing the yield of Danshen.