Propagation Methods and Technical Key Points for Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (Chinese yew)

Select a suitable nursery site: choose a fertile, loose, neutral or slightly acidic soil plot with good drainage, preferably a fertile plot within woodland or in semi-shade. Apply ample base fertilizer, rake level, and prepare the seedbed ready for planting.

Seed propagation: seeds mature in October; after timely harvesting, place them in a mixture of water and fine sand (water-to-sand ratio 2:1). Rub the seeds on a washboard to remove the outer seed coat and wear down the hard fleshy seed coat. Choose a shady, dry plot with no water accumulation, dig a pit, and store the seeds mixed with wet river sand at a ratio of 1:2 in the pit. In March of the following year, take out the cleaned seeds and soak them in 50-degree baijiu and 40°C warm water (1:1) for 20 minutes; after removing them, soak the seeds in 920 (gibberellin) at a concentration of 0.05% for 20-24 hours to break dormancy and improve the germination rate. At the end of March, move them into a greenhouse to force germination, with a temperature requirement of 20-25°C; when the seeds "show white" (begin to sprout), they can be sown in spots.

Sowing and transplanting: make the seedbed 1 m wide and of suitable length. Sow the seeds in the seedbed, cover with 2.5 cm of soil, water thoroughly, and cover with film. germinated seeds can also be spot-sown in a seedbed covered with plastic film, with a row spacing of 20 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm. Generally, seedlings emerge in 20-30 days; when the seedlings have grown 3-4 leaves, thin and transplant them on a cloudy day, with a row spacing of 20 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm. After planting, water, cultivate, and weed to promote growth. Because Taxus grows slowly and is most afraid of strong light, appropriate shading is beneficial to growth. Generally, first-year seedlings can reach 10-15 cm, with a maximum of 20 cm; 2-year-old seedlings 50-90 cm; and 4-year-old seedlings 1.5-2 m in height.

Cutting propagation: from May to June each year, cut semi-lignified branches of the current year as cuttings, choosing mother trees under 10 years old. The length is 15-20 cm; cut off the lower small branches, cut the needles into a horseshoe shape, and soak them in ABT No. 7 rooting powder at a concentration of 30×10-6 to 50×10-6 for 3-12 hours. Then insert the cuttings into a seedbed with river sand as the substrate. The seedbed should be 1 m wide and of suitable length, with a cutting depth of 3-5 cm. Row and plant spacing 10 cm × 8 cm, then spray water immediately. Build a frame over the seedbed and cover it with plastic sheeting; spray water 2-3 times daily, and after half a month spray water once daily. Generally, keep the ground temperature at 20-30°C, avoid strong light, and roots will form in 30-40 days. During this period, foliar fertilizers such as brassinolide can be sprayed to promote growth.

After the seedlings have rooted, manage them carefully to promote vigorous growth, and provide appropriate ventilation and light for hardening to increase stress resistance. After hardening is completed, they can be transplanted into a large seedling bed.

Seedlings generally grow in the seedbed for 2-3 years, with regular spraying of auxin and foliar fertilizer and careful management each year. When the seedlings reach 50-100 cm in height, they can be planted on hillsides for afforestation in continuous stands. Planting can be done in late autumn or spring, with a plant and row spacing of 3 m × 4 m; they can also be planted along streets and in parks as ornamental trees.