Detailed Explanation of Key Production Techniques for Schisandra chinensis in Liaoning

Schisandra chinensis is an authentic medicinal herb of Liaoning, commonly known as "Liao Wuweizi" (Liaoning Schisandra). It is mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of eastern Liaoning Province. Schisandra has a long history of medicinal use, with records dating back two thousand years.

Schisandra mostly grows in mixed forests, among small trees and shrubs on both banks of mountain streams. It twines among small trees and shrubs on both banks of streams. It twines around other trees. Schisandra has unisexual flowers, but there are also bisexual ones; it is monoecious (male and female on the same plant), but there are also cases of dioecy. The formation of male and female flowers is related to nutritional conditions. Plants growing on old plants or in poor, thin soil mostly produce male flowers. Young, vigorous plants with strong vitality, or cultivated plants with sufficient fertilizer and water, good management, and proper pruning, mostly produce female flowers. Flowers grow on the previous year's branches, and female flowers mostly grow on the upper part of the climbing stem. Schisandra has strong adaptability and is a plant that likes fertilizer, moisture, and light.

Artificial cultivation of Schisandra: In artificial cultivation of Schisandra, sexual reproduction methods are mostly used.

1. Seedling raising

The key to Schisandra seedling raising techniques is emergence and seedling survival.

(1) Seed treatment: The embryo of Schisandra seeds is very small, and the seed coat is hard with an oily layer, making it difficult for water to penetrate. Seed treatment is therefore necessary to ensure emergence. Seed treatment method: select mature, plump seeds, soak them in warm water for 3-5 days, rub off the fruit flesh, float off the shriveled grains, and wash out the plump, full seeds. Dig a pit 60 cm deep and 60 cm wide, thoroughly mix the above seeds with 3 times the amount of wet sand, with the degree that the seeds do not touch each other, and bury them in the pit. After burying, cover with a layer of grass, then cover with half a chi (about 16.7 cm) of soil over the pit, and dig drainage ditches around to prevent rainwater from flowing in. Check the seeds frequently to prevent mold. After sand burial for 70-90 days, sow when the embryo bud just emerges. Be sure to avoid the buds growing too long, otherwise they are easily broken during sowing, or the buds dry out and die when encountering drought and insufficient water.

(2) Seedling raising methods: Selecting a good seedling field is the key technique for Schisandra seedling raising. Our province has three forms: flatland seedling raising, old ginseng field seedling raising, and understory seedling raising. Flatland seedling raising is relatively common and grows fast. Old ginseng field seedling raising is also acceptable. Understory seedling raising saves labor but grows more slowly.

(1) Flatland seedling raising

Site selection: Choose flat terrain, sunny, with irrigation conditions, good drainage, and fertile sandy loam soil for seedling raising.

Land preparation and fertilization: The seedling field should be plowed in autumn or spring. After plowing, harrow level promptly to preserve soil moisture, and apply sufficient base fertilizer. Apply 2500-4000 kg of barnyard manure per mu. The bed height depends on local meteorological and soil conditions and the height of the water table. Generally, the bed height is 10 cm, the bed width is 1 m, and the bed length can be determined flexibly, with the principle of facilitating ventilation and light penetration for the seedlings; the bed orientation is best north-south.

Sowing: Sow at the appropriate time; the sowing period is preferably late April to early May. Generally, drilling (row sowing) is used, opening furrows across the width of the bed to facilitate seedling field management. With a row spacing of 15 cm and a sowing depth of 2.5-3 cm, be careful to press the bottom of the furrow well. The sowing rate is about 5 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with soil promptly, with a soil covering thickness of 2.5-3 cm being appropriate. After sowing, press lightly to prevent wind from drying out the soil. Water with a watering can to prevent bud drying. To keep the bed surface moist, cover the bed surface with rice straw or tree branches, with the covering thickness just enough to shade the ground. After covering with grass, use two grass ropes tied to wooden stakes at both ends of the bed surface to prevent strong winds from blowing it away.

Seedling field management: Remove the covering grass and set up a shade shed. Seeds treated by sand burial can emerge successively 20-30 days after sowing. Check frequently to prevent the covering from pressing the seedlings. When emergence reaches 50%-70%, remove all the covering, and at the same time set up a simple shade shed, using thatch or tree branches, which can both provide shade and allow scattered light to penetrate.

Watering, loosening soil, weeding, thinning: Schisandra seedlings have an urgent requirement for water; when the dry soil layer on the bed surface reaches 1.5-1.8 cm, water immediately. After watering, loosen the soil promptly and weed at the same time. When the seedlings produce 3-4 true leaves, thin them promptly, with a plant spacing of 6-9 cm being appropriate; at this time the shade shed can be removed.

Topdressing: To ensure strong seedlings, topdress twice. The first time is when removing the shade shed, applying 10 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu. The second time is when the plant height is 9-12 cm, applying 15-20 kg of superphosphate per mu.

(2) Old ginseng field seedling raising:

Site selection: In ginseng production areas, choose fertile, sunny old ginseng fields where ginseng has been planted, repair the old ginseng beds, and then sow and raise seedlings.

Sowing: The sowing method and time are the same as flatland seedling raising, but because ginseng fields are mostly on hillsides, the row spacing should be increased to 18-20 cm. The covering material can be old ginseng curtains or tree branches, etc. Seedbed management is the same as flatland seedling raising above.

Understory seedling raising: Choose a site under a gentle-slope broadleaf forest with deep humus layer and sufficient sunlight (light transmittance 60%-70%), clear small shrubs, tree roots, stones, etc., then dig the soil and make beds along the mountain. The bed width is 1-1.5 m, the bed height is 6-9 cm. Rake the bed surface level and sow. The sowing method and seedling field management are the same as flatland seedling raising. Understory seedling raising does not require covering or shading.

(3) Pest and disease control during the seedling stage. Because the soil in the seedling field is relatively moist and manure is sufficient, there are many underground pests. Common ones include mole crickets, white grubs, wireworms, etc., which move under the covering grass and bite the young roots and tender leaves of the seedlings. In severe cases, seedlings are damaged in patches, causing missing seedlings and broken rows. Control methods include using poisoned bait and soil to kill them, and also manual capture to eliminate them.

2. Transplanting