What propagation methods does licorice have? A detailed explanation of common methods

Everyone knows that it is a Chinese medicinal herb with extremely high medicinal value. At present, market demand is growing more and more, and prices keep rising. Due to extensive harvesting and the destruction of its growing environment, wild resources are in a state of depletion. Therefore, artificial cultivation is imperative, and at present the licorice planting area in China is also increasing year by year. So how should licorice be propagated during cultivation? Let's learn about it together.

Seed propagation

1. Seed collection and treatment

In late autumn, fully mature licorice pods are collected, dried in the sun, and crushed to extract the seeds, which are then sun-dried, cleaned of impurities, stored well, and kept until sowing. However, the seed coat of licorice is keratinized and has weak absorbency, so if the seeds are not treated before sowing, the germination rate decreases. General treatment methods include chemical treatment and mechanical treatment. Chemical treatment refers to mixing the seeds with sulfuric acid. When mixing, the concentration of sulfuric acid must be appropriate. The seeds are soaked in a sulfuric acid solution, piled up to raise the temperature, and stirred once every 15 minutes. When the color of the seed coat turns dark brown, they are removed, rinsed clean, sun-dried, and then sown. Mechanical treatment is to use tools to crush and break open the seed coat. Although this method is simple, the seeds suffer a high rate of damage, and the germination rate also decreases somewhat.

2. Sowing

Licorice does not have high soil requirements and can be planted in ordinary soil, but sandy loam is preferable. If planting on newly reclaimed land, the land needs to be prepared and fertilized, then raked fine and leveled before planting. It can be planted alone or intercropped with wheat and summer-harvested crops. For sole planting, generally shallow furrows are opened on the ground for drilling, and the seeds are evenly scattered into the furrows, then covered with soil and watered. Generally, 2-3 kg of seed is used per mu. For intercropping, it can be sown together with wheat in spring, or sown after the wheat harvest in summer.

Cutting propagation

1. Cutting preparation

Licorice has strong asexual reproductive capacity, so cutting can be used to improve propagation. Before cutting, cuttings must first be prepared. Select fresh licorice root strips from 1-2-year-old robust plants free of pests and diseases, with a diameter of more than 0.5 cm, and cut them into cuttings of about 15 cm. Then prepare the land and apply fertilizer, rake it fine and level it, and make beds, ready for cutting.

2. Cutting

When cutting, use an iron tool about the same thickness as the cuttings to drill holes on the bed surface at a spacing of 5×15 cm, then insert the cuttings along the holes. After inserting, cover with soil and press lightly, and irrigate immediately. After the water dries, fill the soil firmly around the cuttings. To improve the survival rate, before cutting, soak the lower ends of the cuttings in rooting agent for about 5 minutes to help the cuttings take root.

The above is an introduction to what propagation methods licorice has. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.