A Detailed Guide to the Cultivation Techniques and Management Methods of Oldenlandia diffusa
Oldenlandia diffusa, also known as snake-tongue grass and crane-tongue grass, is an annual herbaceous plant of the Rubiaceae family. The whole plant can be used as medicine, and it has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and activating blood circulation and relieving pain. In addition, medical evidence has shown that it has anti-cancer and liver-protecting effects, its market demand has surged, and its price has also been rising continuously, so the prospects for artificial cultivation are excellent. So how should Oldenlandia diffusa be cultivated? Let's take a look together.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Oldenlandia diffusa is suitable for cultivation on low-lying land with ample sunlight, convenient irrigation and drainage, and fertile, loose soil. After selecting the cultivation site, in combination with land preparation, apply 4000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. Spread the fertilizer evenly on the soil, rake it fine and mix it evenly, then open furrows and make beds, with each bed 1 m wide and the furrow 25 cm deep.
2. Sowing
The sowing time can be divided into spring sowing or autumn sowing. Spring sowing is generally for commercial use, while autumn sowing can be for commercial use or for seed retention. Spring sowing is suitable from March to May, and autumn sowing is suitable in mid-to-late August. Because the seeds of Oldenlandia diffusa are relatively small, in order to increase the germination rate, they must be treated before sowing by removing the waxy layer of the fruit peel and seed coat, and then mixing the seeds with several times their volume of fine soil before sowing. Sowing can be divided into drilling and broadcasting. For drilling, the row spacing is about 30 cm; for broadcasting, simply scatter the seeds evenly on the soil. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of soil. During the day, use rice straw to cover and shade, and uncover it at night, until the seedlings emerge and grow 4 leaves.
3. Field management
After the seedlings emerge, thinning should be carried out in combination with cultivating and weeding. When thinning, remove the weak seedlings and keep the strong, uniformly growing seedlings. When the seedlings grow to 8-10 cm, final thinning should be carried out at a plant spacing of 10 cm. From sowing to emergence, the soil should be kept moist to facilitate emergence, but waterlogging should be avoided, and drainage should be carried out promptly after rain. In high-temperature seasons, water can be irrigated in the furrows to lower the temperature and prevent sunscald. The growth period of Oldenlandia diffusa is relatively short, so timely topdressing is needed to maintain nutrients. Generally, fertilization is mainly based on farmyard manure, according to the growth condition of the plants.
4. Pest and disease control
Oldenlandia diffusa has strong disease resistance, and few diseases occur throughout the entire growth period, and control can be carried out through topdressing and weeding. The main insect pests are cutworms and cotton leafworms. Among them, cotton leafworms can be trapped and killed with insect-attracting lamps, while cutworms can be controlled by spraying fipronil.
The above are the cultivation techniques for Oldenlandia diffusa. I hope they can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.