Cassia Seed Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques Explained in Detail
Cassia seed (Senna obtusifolia / Cassia tora) is a semi-shrub plant. The main reason it was named "cassia seed" is likely due to its efficacy in clearing the liver and improving eyesight. It tastes slightly bitter, but it can be used to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation, as well as lower blood pressure and blood lipids. At the same time, it can also achieve a weight-loss effect. Nowadays, many people use cassia seeds to make tea, which is both health-promoting and slimming. So today let us take a look at how to plant cassia seeds.
1. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Cassia seeds are relatively suited to growing in a warm and humid climate, with certain requirements for sunlight. They like high temperatures and humidity, but are very intolerant of drought and cold. When choosing a planting site, do not choose low-lying land or places that do not face the sun. Although it has no strict requirements for soil, for the yield and quality of cassia seeds, a place with convenient drainage and irrigation and sufficient sunlight is generally chosen for planting. Then, according to the need of more than two thousand jin of farmyard manure per mu, spread it evenly over the planting site, and according to the conditions of the planting site and the growth habits of cassia seeds, add an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer and calcium fertilizer, then carry out land preparation. Finally, level the land and make flat beds about 1.5 m wide, and then you can wait for sowing.
2. Scientific Sowing
Cassia seeds are generally sown using seeds. Before sowing, the seeds need to be soaked in warm water at a temperature of about 50°C. After one day, remove them and drain the water. Then in the field, open furrows at a distance of 60 cm per row. The furrows are generally about 5 to 6 cm deep. Then spread the seeds evenly in the furrows, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, and finally water each furrow once. After about ten days to half a month, seedlings can grow.
3. Field Management
After the seedlings emerge, we first need to check the seedling emergence situation in the field. Then, when the seedlings grow to about 5 to 6 cm, thinning needs to begin. Pull out the seedlings in places where they are relatively dense and fill them in where they are relatively sparse. Next, when the seedlings grow to about 15 to 20 cm, we need to carry out final planting at a spacing of about 35 cm per plant, and at the same time combine this with cultivating and weeding. Because the soil will become compacted, we need to frequently carry out cultivating and weeding, and also water frequently, but when there is a lot of rain, we must also drain water in time. From planting to harvest, cassia seeds generally only need two topdressings, basically mainly farmyard manure. Of course, a small amount of urea can also be used together to promote growth.
4. Pest and Disease Control
Cassia seeds have relatively strong resistance, and disease outbreaks are relatively rare, but special situations cannot be ruled out. The most common pests and diseases include gray leaf spot, ring rot, aphids, and some snail-type pests. Gray leaf spot mainly harms the leaves of cassia seeds. We can prevent it by clearing and disinfecting the garden, and we can also use folpet for treatment. Ring rot not only harms the leaves of cassia seeds but also damages the stems and fruits. The control method is the same as for gray leaf spot. For pests such as aphids, we can directly use dimethoate emulsion for spraying and killing.
5. Precautions
There are many precautions for planting cassia seeds. The editor will only mention a few of the most common ones here. First, the planting site must not be used for continuous cropping. Second, during land preparation, the soil should be deeply plowed and leveled. Third, the seeds should be selected as plump grains without pest damage. Also, in order to enhance the resistance of the plants, seeds can be mixed with chemicals before sowing. In order to increase the yield of cassia seeds, an appropriate amount of caiguo zhuangdiling can be sprayed.