Detailed Explanation of the Key Points of Aucklandia lappa Cultivation Techniques
Aucklandia lappa, also known as costus root or Guangzhou costus, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family and also a common Chinese herbal medicine. It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the stomach, soothing the liver and relieving depression, and regulating qi and relieving pain. So how should Aucklandia lappa be cultivated? Let's find out together.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Choose sandy loam soil with good drainage, good water retention, deep soil layers, and a loose, fertile texture. It has no strict requirements for the previous crop, but continuous cropping is avoided. Before planting, plow it 3-5 times, and apply base fertilizer at the last plowing, generally applying 2500-5000 kg of decomposed barnyard manure per mu. After fertilizing, shape and rake level, and make high beds 1-1.2 m wide to facilitate drainage and irrigation. If the terrain is flat, shallow plowing is preferable, and deep plowing should be avoided so as not to affect the growth of Aucklandia lappa.
2. Sowing
Seed propagation is generally used when planting. Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. In areas with moist soil, spring sowing is suitable, and the sowing time is before the rainy season. First soak the seeds in warm water at about 30 degrees for 24 hours, then dry them and sow. If the soil is dry, no treatment is needed. Autumn sowing is in August, no seed soaking is required, and direct sowing can be done on the bed surface in furrows opened at 50 cm, covering with 3-5 cm of soil after sowing and lightly pressing. The seeding rate per mu is between 0.7-1 kg.
3. Field management
After emergence, field management should be strengthened. Thinning should be done in time to increase the permeability between seedlings and promote rapid growth. Cultivation and weeding should also be done in time to prevent weeds from affecting seedling growth. In the early stage of growth, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, while in the later stage, more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied to promote root expansion and increase yield. Every year during the Spring Festival, in combination with cultivation and weeding, apply 50-100 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer and 1000-1500 kg of farmyard manure per mu. Fertilization is best done before rain, or after fertilizing, irrigate with water. After 2 years of growth, in order to increase root yield and promote root growth, all flower stalks not retained for seed should be removed.
4. Pests and diseases
Aucklandia lappa has relatively few diseases. The main disease is root rot, so when planting, choose plots with good drainage. In addition, drainage measures should be well done during the rainy season to avoid water accumulation inducing disease. In the early stage of disease onset, thiophanate or carbendazim can be sprayed on the roots for control. Pests are mainly aphids, silver-marked noctuid moths, and grasshoppers. Pest control should combine agricultural control, physical control, and chemical control methods to eliminate the pests completely.
The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques of Aucklandia lappa. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.