Pinellia Seed Prices and a Detailed Guide to Its Cultivation Methods
Pinellia, also known as Diwen, Shoutian, Mayuguo and other names, is a medicinal plant of the genus Pinellia in the Araceae family. It is widely distributed across China's Yangtze River basin as well as the Northeast, North China and other regions. Medicinally it has effects such as drying dampness and transforming phlegm, directing qi downward and stopping vomiting, and dispersing distension and masses, and its cultivation value is relatively high. Let us take a look together below at pinellia seed prices and cultivation methods!
How much is a jin of pinellia seeds?
The price of pinellia seeds is about 35-50 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on the seed variety, quality, place of origin and purchase quantity. Pinellia is a major commonly used medicinal herb. At present, because wild resources are on the verge of extinction due to reckless digging and over-harvesting, while artificial cultivation is very limited, its price has risen year after year and demand exceeds supply, so cultivation returns are relatively high. When planted using seed tubers, it can be harvested in the same year, with a yield of about 150 kg of dried product per mu, and returns per mu can reach more than 20,000 yuan.
Propagation Methods of Pinellia
1. Tuber propagation: After 2-3 years of pinellia cultivation, the underground tubers can be dug up each year after the plants die back. Select medium and small tubers that are vigorous in growth and free of pests and diseases as seed. Mix them with fine sandy soil of moderate moisture and store them in a ventilated, cool place, then take them out for planting in that winter or the following spring.
2. Bulbil propagation: In summer and autumn, use the mature bulbils under the leaf stalks for row planting, placing 3-5 bulbils per hole and covering with soil 1.6 cm thick. At the same time, apply an appropriate amount of mixed fertilizer, which can both promote the sprouting and growth of the bulbils and add fertilizer for the mother tuber.
3. Seed propagation: Pinellia that is more than two years old can bloom and bear fruit successively from early summer to autumn and winter. About 10 days after flowering in autumn, when the spathe withers, harvest the mature seeds and store them in wet sand for use as seed. However, this method is adopted when seedlings are insufficient or for breeding purposes.
Cultivation Methods of Pinellia
1. Land preparation and fertilization: For pinellia cultivation, choose a sunny site with deep soil, a previous crop of legumes or grasses, and organic-rich sandy loam soil. Plough deeply and make beds, applying 1500-2000 kg of decomposed fine farmyard manure or soil-ash manure and 20-25 kg of superphosphate per mu.
2. Timely sowing: Pinellia can be sown in spring, summer and autumn, but sowing in spring from late February to early March is best. On the bed, open furrows 5-7 cm deep at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, sow the tubers in the furrows at a plant spacing of 2-5 cm, using about 60 kg of seed per mu.
3. Seedling stage management: After sowing pinellia, scatter decomposed fine farmyard manure or soil-ash manure to cover the seeds, then pour 1500-2000 kg of clear manure water, and afterward cover with soil level with the bed surface. Generally after 20 days, observe once every 2 days; when the emergence rate reaches about 60%, remove the covering after 6 p.m.
4. Intertillage and fertilization: For pinellia planted in early April, about 20 days after the seedlings emerge completely, apply 1000 kg of human and livestock manure water at 1:3 per mu. Inspect and manage the field at any time; when weeds are found, pull them out promptly. Use a hoe to shallow-cultivate between rows to a depth of about 2.5 cm, avoiding damage to the roots.
5. Timely earthing up: For pinellia sown before early March, earth up once around June 10, using about 200 kg of fine mud from the plough pan per mu, scattered over the bed surface to a thickness of about 1.5 cm, covering the bulbils and seeds and pressing down lightly. Earth up once more around July 15 and once around September 10.
6. Irrigation and bud removal: Pinellia likes moisture and fears drought. If there is a long spell of clear, dry weather, irrigate for half an hour after 6 p.m.; if there is too much rain, drain promptly. Except where seed propagation is needed, all flower buds produced during the growing period should be removed so that nutrients are concentrated on the growth of the underground tubers.
Pest and Disease Control of Pinellia
1. Leaf spot disease
[Damage] In the early stage of the disease, purple-brown spots appear on the leaves; later there are many small black dots on the lesions, and in severe cases the leaves curl, wither and die.
[Control] Before and in the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:120 Bordeaux mixture or 60% zineb 500-fold solution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 times in a row.
2. Rot disease
[Damage] It occurs in hot, humid seasons and in low-lying, waterlogged places. After onset, the tubers rot and the aboveground parts turn yellow, die back and the plants die.
[Control] Drain promptly during the rainy season; in the early stage of the disease, drench the holes with 5% lime milk. Timely control of underground pests can reduce the damage.
3. Viral disease
[Damage] It occurs in summer; the plant leaves curl and twist, forming a short, deformed plant.
[Control] Select disease-free plants for seed retention. When diseased plants are found, pull them out immediately and burn them in a centralized manner. Irrigate the holes with 5% lime milk to prevent spread.
4. Red hawk moth
[Damage] It mainly bites and eats the leaves, and in severe cases can eat the leaves completely.
[Control] Handpick and kill, or spray with 40% dimethoate emulsion 1500-2000-fold solution or 90% trichlorfon 800-1000-fold solution, once every 5-7 days, for 2-3 times in a row.