Detailed Explanation of Licorice Planting Methods and Technical Key Points
Licorice, also known as sweet grass root, sweet licorice, sweet root, powder grass, etc. It is a perennial herb of the genus Glycyrrhiza in the Fabaceae family, with its roots and rhizomes used as medicine. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, it has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, moistening the lungs and transforming phlegm, tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi, relieving cough and resolving phlegm, and harmonizing various medicines. It is used for sores and ulcers, cough and sore throat, weak spleen and stomach, qi deficiency and lack of blood, common cold, stomach pain, limb pain, jaundice, periodontal disease and other conditions.
I. Cultivation Techniques
(I) Site Selection and Land Preparation Deep sandy soil or sand-covered land should be selected. Wind gaps should be avoided when selecting the site. After selecting the land, deep plow the soil 40 cm, level and harrow it fine, then make beds for later use.
(II) Sowing There are two methods: direct sowing and seedling transplanting. ① Direct sowing: sowing can be done from April to June each year. In areas without irrigation conditions, it is best to sow during the rainy season. On well-prepared land with sufficient base fertilizer, sow with a seeder or a seed drill. Row spacing 50 cm, sowing depth 3 cm. For land with irrigation conditions, the sowing rate is 6-8 kg per mu; for dry land or land with poor soil moisture, the sowing rate can be appropriately increased. Seedlings emerge about 1-2 weeks after sowing. ② Seedling transplanting: first raise seedlings in a nursery for 1 year, then transplant the seedlings to the field the following year. The sowing method is the same as direct sowing, with row spacing 50 cm. Transplanting is generally carried out in late autumn. On well-prepared land with sufficient base fertilizer, plant the well-grown one-year-old seedlings at a row spacing of 50 x 15 cm. About 20,000 plants can be planted per mu.
(III) Field Management and Pest and Disease Control In the first year of licorice, attention should be paid to frequent weeding. After emergence, spray herbicide (quizalofop-p-ethyl) in time to control weeds, loosen the soil appropriately, pay attention to pulling out large weeds, and topdress twice during the growing period. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.
If rust disease, brown spot disease, powdery mildew, leafhoppers and other pests and diseases occur, pesticides should be sprayed in time.
II. Harvesting and Processing Seed-propagated plants can be dug after 3-4 years, and transplanted plants after 1-2 years. When digging, dig deep along the direction of root growth. After digging out, shake off the soil and dry in the sun. When half-dry, bundle into small bundles according to different grades, and sun-dry until completely dry to obtain the finished licorice product. Generally, 3-year-old cultivated finished licorice can yield 600-900 kg per mu; 2-year-old finished licorice can yield 500-600 kg per mu.
III. Market and Benefit Analysis Licorice has extremely wide uses. It is mainly used in medicine, chemical industry, tobacco, daily chemicals and other fields. Glycyrrhizic acid, as a sweetener, is about 300 times sweeter than sucrose, has low-calorie health benefits, and has been used as a food additive in Western developed countries. Based on the antioxidants contained in licorice, some countries use it as a health care and cosmetic raw material. Licorice is also exported in large quantities to Southeast Asia and European and American countries.
Due to large market demand and the yearly decrease of wild resources, the price of licorice has risen from 2.5 yuan/kg in 1992 to the current 9-11 yuan/kg. Calculated at the market price of 9 yuan/kg, the output value per mu of 2-year-old licorice can reach 4,500 yuan, and the net income can reach 3,500 yuan. It can be seen that growing licorice has great potential.