What Is the Price of Cassia Seed? A Detailed Guide to Growing It
Cassia seed is the dried, mature seed of Cassia obtusifolia or Cassia tora, annual subshrub-like herbaceous plants in the genus Cassia of the legume family. Also known as cao jueming, huangtongzi, and false mung bean, it has the effects of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation when used as medicine, and its cultivation value is fairly high. It is commonly cultivated in the provinces and regions south of the Yangtze River in China. Let us take a look together at the price of cassia seed and how to grow it.
How Much Does Cassia Seed Cost per Jin?
The price of cassia seed is about 15 to 30 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on variety, quality, place of origin and other factors. Cassia seed originated in the tropical regions of the Americas and is widely distributed in the provinces and regions south of the Yangtze River in China, often growing on hillsides, open fields and sandy riverbanks. In plant communities, cassia seed has extremely strong vitality and often competes with other plants for nutrients, so in regions such as North America it is regarded as a weed that is difficult to eradicate.
The Growing Environment of Cassia Seed
Cassia seed prefers a warm, humid climate, is not cold-tolerant, and fears frost; after frost, the leaves of mature plants drop or the plants even die. During the growing period it likes plenty of sunlight, and during flowering and fruiting it requires ventilation and light, which favors pod setting and plump seeds. It is not strict about soil and can be grown on general land as long as drainage is good. Continuous cropping is not suitable, and scattered plots in front of and behind houses, along roadsides outside courtyards, or beside ditches can also be used for planting. It likes a warm, humid climate, and plenty of sunlight favors its growth.
Sowing Methods for Cassia Seed
1. Seed selection: Choose disease-free, large, plump cassia seeds, soak them in 50°C water for 24 hours, and remove the floating shriveled seeds and insect-damaged seeds. Take out the plump seeds, drain the surface moisture, and they are ready for sowing.
2. Sowing time: The sowing period for cassia seed is during "Qingming" and "Guyu". Sow in rows: in the prepared bed, open furrows about 3 cm deep at a row spacing of 45 cm, scatter the seeds into the furrows, cover with soil, and press lightly.
3. Sowing method: Before sowing cassia seed, if the soil is dry, water the bed first, and sow after the water has seeped in. The seeding rate is 1 to 1.5 kg per mu. For planting in front of and behind houses or on scattered land, hole sowing is generally used, with 2 to 3 seeds per hole.
Growing Methods for Cassia Seed
1. Land selection and preparation: For cassia seed, it is best to choose flat land or a sunny slope with good irrigation and drainage conditions. Continuous cropping is to be avoided. Apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, plus 60 kg of superphosphate as a base fertilizer. Plow deeply, break up the soil and rake it level, and make flat beds 1.3 m wide.
2. Thinning and final spacing: Begin thinning when the cassia seedlings are about 5 cm tall. When the seedlings are 15 cm tall, combine cultivation and weeding to set the final spacing at 30 to 40 cm between plants.
3. Cultivation and weeding: After cassia seed emerges and before the rows close, weeds should be removed frequently. If the soil becomes compacted after watering or rain, cultivate in time, and note that shallow hoeing should be done between plants and deep hoeing between rows. When the seedlings are about 40 cm tall, do the last cultivation and hill up soil to prevent lodging.
4. Timely topdressing: Before the rows close, topdress cassia seed 1 to 2 times along with hilling, applying 1000 kg of farmyard manure per mu plus 15 kg of urea, and water immediately after application.
5. Drainage and irrigation: Throughout the entire growing period, cassia seed should be kept with constantly moist soil. Especially during the flowering period, water promptly in dry weather, and pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.
6. Harvest and processing: Harvest cassia seed around "Hanlu" when the pods turn yellowish brown. Cut down the whole plant, dry it in the sun, then thresh out the seeds, and remove all pod skins and impurities before it is ready for medicinal use. Seeds that are plump, dry, yellowish brown, and free of sand and impurities are considered the best.