How much does a star anise sapling cost? Detailed planting method

Star anise, also known as bajiao, dahuaixiang, maijiao and so on, is the fruit of the star anise (Illicium verum), a tree of the genus Illicium in the family Schisandraceae (Magnoliaceae). The fruit can be used directly in everyday seasoning, and can also be processed directly into five-spice seasoning powder. Its pericarp, seeds and leaves are important raw materials for making cosmetics, sweet aromatic wine, beer and in the food industry. Let us now take a look at star anise sapling prices and planting methods!

How much does a star anise sapling cost?

The price of star anise saplings is generally around 2 to 10 yuan each, with the price mainly determined by factors such as the variety, height and trunk diameter of the sapling; usually the larger the sapling, the more expensive it is. The star anise tree is a southern subtropical tree species that prefers a mountain climate with warm winters and cool summers. It grows well when planted on deep, well-drained, fertile, moist, slightly acidic sandy loam or loam, and grows poorly on dry, barren or low-lying waterlogged ground. In China it is cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, China and other places.

Cultivation conditions for the star anise tree

1. Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for the star anise tree is 20 to 30°C, with the coldest daily average temperature above 10°C, the hottest average temperature at 25 to 28°C, an annual accumulated temperature above 6000°C, and a frost-free period of more than 315 days. A short period of light frost has no great effect on plant growth.

2. Humidity: The star anise tree likes to grow in humid mountain climate conditions, requiring annual rainfall of 1200 to 2000 mm, evenly distributed, with relative air humidity above 80%.

3. Light: Star anise seedlings like to grow in shaded environmental conditions. As the plant grows, its demand for sunlight gradually increases. Trees that have entered flowering and fruiting need sufficient sunlight, but direct strong sunlight should be avoided.

4. Wind: Because the star anise tree has soft wood, brittle branches, a main root that does not grow deep, and many lateral roots distributed within 50 cm of the topsoil, its wind resistance is not strong and it is easily blown over by strong winds. Moreover, strong winds are very unfavorable for the flowering and fruiting of star anise.

5. Soil: The star anise tree is not strict about soil, but the content of nutrients in the soil directly affects the yield and quality of star anise. It is suitable for growing in loose-textured, relatively deep, humus-rich, fertile and moist lateritic soil.

Planting methods for the star anise tree

1. Forest land preparation: For star anise afforestation, choose plots on the north slope of hilly and mountainous land with undulating terrain and good wind shelter, where the soil is deep, relatively fertile and loose, and irrigation and drainage are convenient. Because it is a shallow-rooted tree species with rather brittle branches, it is not suitable to plant it in places exposed to strong winds.

2. Timely planting: The best time for star anise afforestation is around Great Cold (the last solar term of winter), and it is best to lift the seedlings and plant them the same day. If they cannot be planted immediately, dip the roots in yellow mud slurry and transport them to the afforestation site for planting. To improve the survival rate, it is best to choose cloudy and rainy days for afforestation.

3. Scientific fertilization: The best time to fertilize star anise trees is February and June each year. Spring fertilizer can promote shoot growth, and summer fertilizer can promote vigorous growth of star anise. Fertilization is mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and for young plantations more than three years old, compound fertilizer can also be applied.

4. Timely weeding: Star anise trees should be cultivated and weeded at least 1 to 2 times each year, which can be done in January to February and May to June respectively. Where weed damage is light, manual methods can be used; for forest land with large affected areas, glyphosate can be used directly for chemical weeding.

5. Management of young plantations

① Pruning and shaping: Pruning and shaping of star anise trees is generally carried out when the young plantation is 1.5 to 2.0 m tall to promote branching. It is enough to keep 2 to 3 branches per plant, and remove water sprouts, crossing branches, dead branches, overly dense branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and weak slender branches.

② Shading and moisture retention: Most of the bare open ground in young star anise plantations should be covered. Natural plants such as weeds, shrubs and miscellaneous woods can be used as shade trees to achieve balanced temperature, maintain moisture, prevent sunscald, and reduce soil erosion.

6. Management of mature plantations

① Pruning and shaping: Cut few or no sparse branches; appropriately heavy-prune branches with few fruits, overly dense branches, or inner canopy branches at the lower part of the crown; lightly prune outer branches or branches in the middle and upper part of the crown; heavily prune branches with many dry parts or abnormal growth due to disease and pests.

② Reclamation of mature plantations: Reclamation can change the soil structure of star anise plantings to replenish soil moisture, promote normal flower bud differentiation and the growth and development of young fruit. Reclamation is generally carried out once every 3 to 4 years.

7. Disease and pest control

① Anthracnose: For star anise anthracnose, affected branches and leaves can be completely removed and burned in a centralized manner. In the early stage of the disease, spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture for control. To improve the tree's own disease resistance, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or farmyard manure.

② Leaf beetle: For star anise leaf beetles, spray with 80% trichlorfon or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate diluted with water.

③ Dropworm: For star anise dropworms, spray with yuchansan emulsifiable concentrate or 203 emulsifiable concentrate diluted with water. After spraying, once the insects are startled and drop down along their threads, spray the insects on the ground once more.