Detailed Explanation of Field Management Techniques for Licorice

Licorice is a perennial herbaceous plant and also the most widely used medicinal plant. Its rhizome can be used as medicine, mainly for clearing heat and detoxifying, and for relieving phlegm and coughing. Many Chinese patent medicines for colds and coughs contain its ingredients, and market demand is extremely high. During planting and production, mastering the correct field management techniques to increase yield is extremely important for medicinal herb growers. So how should it be managed? Let's take a look together.

1. Intertillage and Weeding

Licorice seedlings grow slowly and are highly susceptible to the influence of weeds, so weeds must be removed in a timely manner so that licorice growth is not hindered. In addition, generally when licorice has grown 3-5 true leaves, intertillage should be carried out. At this time, half of the intertillage is shallow hoeing of 2 cm; going too deep may damage the root system, and weeding should be combined with it. When the seedlings have grown 10-12 true leaves, intertillage should be carried out once more together with weeding, and at this time deep hoeing of about 5 cm can be done.

2. Thinning and Final Thinning of Seedlings

During the first intertillage and weeding, thinning of seedlings can be carried out according to field conditions. Thinning requires removing crowded seedlings and double seedlings, which can expand ventilation and light penetration for the plants and speed up seedling growth. When the second intertillage and weeding are carried out, final thinning can be done. During final thinning, the plant spacing should be controlled at 10-15 cm. In addition, some diseased seedlings and weak seedlings should be removed, leaving strong seedlings for final planting.

3. Watering and Drainage

During seedling cultivation, licorice should not be watered too many times. Generally, watering is mainly concentrated in the early growth stage. If it is an arid or semi-arid region, watering should be done frequently before and after emergence to keep the soil moist, so as to avoid gaps in the rows and missing seedlings caused by lack of water in the plants. Watering licorice at the seedling stage is mainly done at the first and second intertillage and weeding, with one watering after each intertillage and weeding, which can promote seedling growth and development. In the middle growth stage, water once together with fertilization; in the middle and late growth stages, watering should be controlled and appropriate drought should be maintained to benefit root growth. Before freezing, if conditions permit, one freezing water can be applied to help the plants overwinter. In addition, if soil moisture is too high, it may cause licorice root rot, so in the rainy season or when there is standing water, drainage should be carried out in a timely manner.

4. Reasonable Topdressing

Before planting, sufficient base fertilizer can be applied together with plowing. During the first intertillage and weeding, 5-15 kg of urea can be applied per mu, and during the second intertillage and weeding, 5-10 kg of urea can be applied per mu. After green-up in the second year, one topdressing of 10-20 kg of diammonium phosphate or urea per mu should be applied to help the plants green up as soon as possible, so as to avoid delayed maturity due to excessive vegetative growth. In addition, one point should be noted when fertilizing: nitrogen fertilizer can promote rapid plant growth, but licorice roots have root nodules, and these root nodules have nitrogen-fixing effects. If a large amount of nitrogen fertilizer is applied, it will cause nutritional imbalance in the plants, leading to excessive vegetative growth and rampant growth, affecting yield.

The above is an introduction to field management techniques for licorice. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.