Detailed Explanation of Artificial Cultivation Methods and Technical Key Points for Taxus (Yew)

Plants of the genus Taxus are widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. In China, apart from **, Ningxia, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and other provinces and regions where no reports have been made, wild or introduced cultivation occurs in all other provinces and regions. Paclitaxel extracted from Taxus has very significant medicinal value, particularly demonstrating certain efficacy in cancer treatment. In addition, it also has outstanding value in landscape applications and bonsai development, and has recently attracted strong attention from nursery stock producers and operators in various regions. However, how can artificial cultivation be achieved to generate greater benefits?

Nursery site selection: Based on analysis of the distribution and climate data of wild Taxus, most regions of China can cultivate it, with Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, and the Qinba Mountain areas of Shaanxi, Gansu, Hubei and Henan as preferred zones. The nursery site should preferably be close to the cultivation site, selected for convenient transportation, drainage and irrigation conditions, gentle and open terrain, fertile and well-aerated soil, good water and fertilizer retention, and no salinity or alkalinity - good site conditions. Open air or sparse tree canopy areas are both suitable.

Cutting orchard management: Various Taxus seedlings or rooted cuttings that have survived from wild or introduced plants are concentrated in the cutting orchard, with a planting density of 1 m or 0.8 m x 1.2 m, preferably 7,500 to 9,000 plants per hectare. Before winter or in early spring, cut back to 30 cm above ground level, and depending on plant size, apply 0.05 to 0.1 kg of NPK compound fertilizer per plant in holes. During the vigorous growth period, i.e., from May to July, topdressing should be applied 2 to 3 times, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, with 75 to 150 kg of urea per hectare each time. In addition, 0.1% to 0.3% urea combined with potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used for foliar spraying. Growth regulators such as 1 to 10 mg/L 6-benzyladenine and gibberellin can also be tried to promote bud break and branching. Given that Taxus prefers shade and moisture, and that young plants are particularly susceptible to strong light and drought, tall crops such as corn and low-growing crops such as small greens can be intercropped in the early stages of orchard establishment. Water management should aim to maintain high air humidity, with soil kept moist but not waterlogged.

Orchard planning: On plains, plan in square fields compatible with main roads and irrigation systems; on hills and mountains, construct suitable terraced fields along contour lines, reverse-slope terraces or fish-scale pits. Equip with certain auxiliary buildings and establish a water supply and distribution system. Set up a shelterbelt on the windward side. Young Taxus trees prefer shade and moisture and are suitable for dense planting. Since the harvest consists of small branches and leaves, yield depends first on the amount of branching and second on density. Therefore, in addition to strengthened management to promote growth, planting density should also be increased, preferably 18,000 to 20,000 plants per hectare. For ease of management and harvest collection, a spacing of 0.4 m x 1.0 m is preferable.

Planting and orchard establishment: Before planting, seedlings should be graded for quality, requiring a complete root system, vigorous growth, branches and tips free of dryness, blackening or rot, plump buds, and no quarantined pests or diseases. Seedlings raised near the planting site and transplanted with soil balls have a survival rate close to 100%. Seedlings transported over long distances that have lost considerable water should have their roots soaked for a full day and night to fully absorb water before planting. Using container seedlings helps protect the root system and improve the survival rate.

In the north, planting is best done in early spring before sap flow begins, i.e., before deciduous trees bud; in the south, planting is best done during the dormant period after new shoots stop growing in winter. Depending on local climate conditions, earlier planting is appropriate and beneficial for root recovery and a high survival rate.

According to the plan, prepare the land 1 to 2 months before planting. Dig strip trenches of 0.4 m x 0.4 m, apply organic fertilizer in the trenches at 10 kg per plant, mix well with topsoil, and form into mounds. Place the seedlings in, spread the roots out, adjust the position, fill in surface fertilizer soil, firm layer by layer, and finally fill in subsoil. Build irrigation furrows 0.4 m wide, irrigate immediately, watering thoroughly and generously. After water infiltrates, the root collar should be level with the ground surface, then seal the soil to conserve moisture. Appropriate shading can improve the survival rate.

Cultivation management: Promptly check survival status and replant as needed. For transplanting large seedlings, it is better to use soil balls or planting bags. The management techniques for pure stand cultivation bases are basically the same as those for cutting orchards. Because Taxus has a relatively shallow root system and prefers moisture, frequent watering to keep the rhizosphere moist is key to post-planting management. After small seedlings survive, cut the main trunk at about 30 cm above ground level, preferably after planting is completed or around summer dormancy, to promote lateral branch sprouting. In the second year, manage in the same way. The branches cut can be used as cuttings. After the third year, new branches and leaves can be harvested annually as medicinal raw material.