Key Points of Three-Dimensional Cultivation Technology for Gastrodia elata and Soybean

Gastrodia elata is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with effects such as benefiting qi, calming convulsions, nourishing the liver and stopping dizziness, dispelling wind-dampness, and strengthening bones and muscles. In recent years, on the basis of artificial box cultivation, we have made full use of the growth characteristics of Gastrodia elata and successfully adopted underground planting of Gastrodia elata with above-ground planting of the short-stalked crop soybean. According to investigation and measurement by the Agricultural Station of Shuidian Town, in three-dimensional cultivation of soybean and Gastrodia elata, the yield of commercial dried Gastrodia elata is 200-300 kg per mu, creating an output value of 8000-10000 yuan (calculated at 36-40 yuan/kg); the yield of soybean is 150-175 kg per mu, creating an output value of 360-420 yuan (calculated at 2.4 yuan/kg). The combined output value per mu is 8360-10420 yuan. After deducting 3000-4000 yuan for inputs such as seed Gastrodia and 20 yuan for soybean planting inputs, the net profit per mu per year can reach 4300-6300 yuan. The three-dimensional cultivation technology for soybean and Gastrodia elata is introduced below.

I. Preparation of Fungus Wood

1. Sources of Armillaria mellea spawn

First, collecting wild Armillaria mellea; second, using wild Armillaria mellea rhizomorphs or fruiting bodies (wild stick mushrooms) as the original spawn, and obtaining pure spawn through tissue isolation and culture; third, introducing spawn, that is, directly purchasing pure spawn from fungus-cultivation or Gastrodia-cultivation units, and then carrying out expanded fungus culture oneself.

2. Cultivation of fungus sticks

Oak wood is best for fungus sticks. Generally, oak branches and twigs cut after "Start of Winter" and before "Spring Equinox" are selected, with a diameter of 3-5 cm and a length of 45-60 cm, and they need to be dehydrated by 30%. Separately, 5 parts of broadleaf tree leaves collected in late autumn are mixed evenly with 1 part of fine sand as the culture material. Fungus cultivation on sticks is generally carried out 1-2 months before planting Gastrodia. The wooden box fungus-cultivation method is usually adopted, that is, using a wooden box 60 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 30 cm high, first drilling 2 small holes with a diameter of 1-2 cm in the bottom of the box, then spreading a layer of culture material 3-5 cm thick, placing 4-5 fungus stick materials flat at equal intervals, filling culture material between the sticks until half the stick diameter is covered, then placing already cultivated fungus branches between the sticks; continuing to add culture material until level, and then spreading another 2-3 cm thick layer of culture material on top. Place 3-4 layers in this way, seal the topmost layer with culture material or 2 cm thick pure sawdust, and water thoroughly with clean water. It can be used after more than 1 month of fungus growth.

II. Cultivation Technology

1. Site selection

According to the living habits of Armillaria mellea, generally select plots of sandy loam soil that is loose, well-drained, with a soil moisture content of 40%-60%, and strong aeration. Debris on the ground should be cleared.

2. Cultivation method

Gastrodia elata is planted in flat beds, and soybean is then planted on the bed surface. Gastrodia elata grows underground, while soybean grows above ground. Propagation of Gastrodia elata is divided into two methods: sexual propagation and asexual propagation. In production, asexual propagation is generally used more often. Cultivation time is divided into spring planting and autumn planting, with spring planting generally more common, around "Pure Brightness."

Gastrodia elata planting: first make beds, with a bed depth of 15-20 cm, a width of 100 cm, and unlimited length. The working path is 50 cm wide. Spread a 2-3 cm thick layer of sandy soil or culture material evenly on the bed bottom, place previously cultivated fungus sticks flat at the bottom of the trench at a spacing of 10 cm, add humus soil or moist fine soil while arranging them, and when filled to half the fungus sticks, place Gastrodia seed tubers between the fungus sticks, then fill with humus soil or fine moist soil until level, and then cover with soil 7-15 cm. Generally, 0.5 kg of seed tubers is needed per square meter. When planting, it is best to grade the seed Gastrodia: large and medium white tubers planted together, and small white tubers and rice tubers planted together, so as to facilitate harvest by stages and management. Finally, level the bed surface to facilitate soybean sowing.

Soybean planting: select local lodging-resistant, high-yield soybean varieties and sow in early May. Hole sowing is generally used, with two rows per bed, a small row spacing of 60 cm, a large row spacing of 90 cm, and a plant spacing of 26 cm. Thin seedlings during the seedling stage, maintaining 8000 plants per mu.

3. Field management

Gastrodia elata does not need fertilization throughout the growing period, but it is averse to waterlogging, and accumulated water should be drained promptly after rain. If large and medium white tubers are cultivated, they are harvested in about 180 days; if small white tubers and rice tubers are cultivated, they are harvested in the autumn of the following year. Therefore, when overwintering, it is necessary to cover with straw and other cold-protection materials, and prevent livestock from trampling. For pest and disease control, when insect pests occur in the cultivation plot, 100-fold trichlorfon solution can be sprayed, or poison bait can be made to trap and kill them. During fungus cultivation and Gastrodia planting, if mold infection is found on the fungus wood, it cannot be used.

4. Harvest and processing

First harvest the above-ground soybean, then harvest the underground Gastrodia elata. For cultivation of large and medium white tubers, spring planting and autumn harvest from late October to early November, as the temperature drops, Gastrodia elata is in a dormant period; at this time, the harvested Gastrodia elata has full sap, good quality, and a high drying ratio. When harvesting, gently scrape away the surface soil, remove the soil layer and fungus sticks, and collect the tubers of Gastrodia elata. Arrow tubers are processed into commercial products, while small white tubers and rice tubers are retained as seed tubers for planting.

Processing method: first wash off the soil from the tubers, brush off the rhizomorphs and scales (coarse skin), steam in an earthen pot for 20-30 minutes until there is no hard core, then take them out and dry or sun-dry them. When the large tubers are 70% dry, gently press them flat, then continue drying or sun-drying until completely dry.