What Is the Price of Corydalis Rhizome Seeds? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods
Corydalis rhizome is one of the commonly used bulk traditional Chinese medicines, also known as Yanhusuo, Xuanhusuo, Yuanhusuo, and so on. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Corydalis in the poppy family, and together with Atractylodes macrocephala, peony, fritillary, and others it is known as one of the "Eight Flavors of Zhejiang." It is produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, and other places, and has extremely high cultivation value. Let us take a look below at corydalis rhizome seed prices and planting methods!
How much does a jin of corydalis rhizome seeds cost?
The price of corydalis rhizome seeds is about 25 to 35 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on the seed variety, quality, place of origin, and purchase quantity. Corydalis rhizome is mainly produced in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Henan, and other places. In production, there are large-leaf corydalis rhizome and small-leaf corydalis rhizome. Large-leaf corydalis rhizome is suitable for close planting and has high yield, while small-leaf corydalis rhizome has large tubers and a high grade, but its yield is slightly lower. Therefore, when buying corydalis rhizome seeds, a distinction should be made.
Sowing Methods for Corydalis Rhizome
1. Land preparation and fertilizing: Corydalis rhizome prefers a warm and humid climate, and is suitable for sandy loam soil that drains well, is fertile and loose, and rich in humus. Before the Autumn Equinox, plow and harrow the land 3 to 4 times, apply decomposed compost or barnyard manure as base fertilizer, level and harrow finely, and dig drainage ditches 30 cm wide around the perimeter.
2. Timely sowing: Corydalis rhizome should be sown from late September to early October. Sowing should be early rather than late. At sowing time, use wide-bed drilling. Place the seed buds upward, and in sequence open furrows, drop in seeds, apply fertilizer, and cover with soil, carrying out drilling. The sowing rate is 800 to 1000 kg per hectare.
Cultivation Methods for Corydalis Rhizome
1. Rational fertilizing: Corydalis rhizome takes more than 100 days from sowing to emergence. Winter fertilizer is generally applied around the Start of Winter, pouring 1000 to 1500 kg of human urine per mu, or additionally applying 50 kg of calcium phosphate and 40 kg of ammonia water, combined with loosening the soil, weeding, clearing ditches, and covering with soil.
2. Loosening soil and weeding: Around the Start of Winter, combine fertilizing with one shallow loosening of the soil to remove weeds. After emergence, pull out weeds promptly. In early spring, pull them as soon as they appear. From April to harvest, even if weeds appear, they must not be pulled, so as to avoid loosening the underground stem nodes and affecting yield.
3. Irrigation and drainage: If a winter drought occurs during corydalis rhizome cultivation, irrigate appropriately. In the evening, let water into the bed furrows, but the water must not exceed the bed surface, and release the water the next morning. The peak growth period coincides with continuous spring rain, and the field humidity is high, which easily leads to downy mildew. Ditches should be cleared and drainage carried out in time.
4. Removing flower buds: In corydalis rhizome cultivation, to reduce nutrient consumption and promote tuber growth, the flower buds must be removed before flowering. In the early full-bloom stage, spray 40% ethephon at 1000 ppm. After bud removal, spraying 0.5 to 1 ppm triacontanol 1 to 2 times can increase tuber yield by more than 25%.
5. Harvesting and processing: Corydalis rhizome is generally harvested from April to mid-May, with a fresh stem yield of 300 to 400 kg per mu. After harvesting, grade into large, medium, and small sizes, wipe off the outer skin, wash clean of soil, put into water at 80 to 90°C and boil. When the cut surface of the tuber is yellow, scoop them out and dry them in the sun.
Pest and Disease Control for Corydalis Rhizome
1. Downy mildew: Sow with seed treatment, plant at a reasonable density, and strengthen management. In the early stage of disease, spray with 72% Kelu wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or 40% phosethyl-Al wettable powder at 250 to 300 times dilution, or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution.
2. Sclerotinia disease: In the early stage of disease, spray 50% procymidone or 50% iprodione or 50% vinclozolin wettable powder at 1000 to 1500 times dilution, or 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 600 times dilution and 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution.
3. Rust disease: Rust mainly harms stems and leaves, and is prone to occur when the climate is humid in the middle growth period. For control, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, drain promptly during the rainy season, and in the early stage of disease spray 97% sodium diethyldithiocarbamate at 300 times dilution, once every 7 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays.
4. Insect pests: Insect pests include cutworms, white thread worms, and others. Cutworms like to eat corydalis stems, and white thread worms like to eat corydalis tubers. If seedlings and leaves are found withering, there are insect pests. You can gently turn the soil in the morning to catch them, or apply 3 jin of 6% benzene hexachloride powder per mu during land preparation.