Full Analysis of the Key Cultivation Techniques for Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra chinensis, also known as northern schisandra. It is a perennial deciduous woody vine of the family Magnoliaceae. It is mainly produced in the three provinces of Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang. The quality of the product from Jilin and Liaoning is the best, and it has long been known as "Liao Wu Wei". The ripe fruit is used as medicine.

1. Propagation methods. Wild Schisandra chinensis, apart from seed propagation, mainly reproduces by underground creeping stems. In artificial cultivation, cuttings, layering and seed propagation are mostly used, but rooting is difficult, and the conditions required for treatment are not easy to control, so none are as good as seed propagation. The seed propagation method is simple and easy to carry out, and can obtain a large number of seedlings in a short period.

1. Selection of seeds: The seeds of Schisandra chinensis are best selected from the fruiting spikes during the autumn harvest period, keeping the fruiting spikes with large, uniform berries for seed use, dried and stored separately. When drying, never roast over fire, bake on a heated brick bed, or stir-fry in a pan. They can be sun-dried or shade-dried and stored in a ventilated, dry place.

2. Seed treatment: (1) Outdoor treatment. Before freezing, soak the fruit selected for seed use in clean water until the flesh swells, then rub off the flesh. Schisandra chinensis has many shriveled seeds. The seed yield rate is about 60%. While rubbing off the flesh, the shriveled seeds floating on the water surface can be removed. After the flesh is rubbed off, soak the seeds in clean water for another 5-7 days so that the seeds fully absorb water, changing the water every two days, and some shriveled seeds can also be removed when changing the water. After soaking, scoop out and drain, mix evenly with wet sand 2-3 times the amount of the seeds, place into a pit about 0.5 m deep prepared outdoors, cover with 10-15 cm of fine soil, then cover with brushwood or a straw curtain, and carry out low-temperature treatment. In May-June of the following year, they can be sown once they split open. The treatment site should be chosen as a high, dry location to avoid waterlogging and seed rot. (2) Indoor treatment. In late February, move the seeds indoors, remove the flesh, mix with wet sand and put into a wooden box for sand storage treatment; the temperature can be kept between 5-15°C, and in the following spring they can be sown once they split open.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

1. Selection of the seedling-raising field: For the seedling-raising field, fertile humus soil or sandy loam can be chosen. For raising seedlings, beds are better; beds can be made according to different soil conditions. For low-lying, easily waterlogged plots with abundant rain, raised beds can be made, with a bed height of about 15 cm. For high, dry plots with less rain, flat beds can be made. The bed soil should be raked fine and impurities removed, and 5-10 kg of decomposed barnyard manure applied per sq m, thoroughly and evenly mixed with the bed soil, then the bed surface raked level and sowing can begin.

2. Sowing period and method: Generally, sow the treated seeds from early May to mid-June, in drills or broadcast. For drilling, the row spacing is 10 cm, with 1.5-3 cm of soil covering. The sowing rate is about 30 g per sq m. It is also possible to sow fresh seeds of the same year from early August to early September, that is, select berries of uniform ripeness, large and plump, rub off the flesh, rinse once with clean water, and sow after draining.

3. Seedling field management: After sowing, set up a 1-1.5 m high frame, cover it with straw curtains or reed curtains for shade, and water when the soil is dry so as to keep the soil moisture at 30-40%. When the young seedlings grow 2-3 true leaves, the shade curtains can be removed, and in the following spring they can be transplanted and planted out.

3. Transplanting

1. Land selection: Choose forest-edge land or cultivated land with fertile soil, deep soil layer and good drainage, with humus soil and sandy loam being preferable. After selecting the land, apply 20-30 tonnes of base fertilizer per hectare, level and rake fine, and set aside for use.

2. Transplanting: Generally transplant from late April to early May, with row spacing and plant spacing of 120 cm x 50 cm. To make the row and plant spacing uniform, a rope can be stretched to mark the holes, making a mark at the position of each hole, then dig holes 30-35 cm deep and 30 cm in diameter, planting one plant per hole. When planting, make the root system spread out, prevent the roots from bunching or bending back, firm the soil after planting, water thoroughly, and after the water has seeped away, seal the hole with soil. After 15 days, check the seedlings, and replant those that have not survived.

4. Field management

1. Irrigation and fertilization: Schisandra chinensis likes fertilizer, and the growing period requires sufficient water and nutrients. Apply topdressing 1-2 times each year, the first during the leaf-expansion period, and the second after flowering. Generally, 5-10 kg of decomposed farmyard manure can be applied per plant.

2. Pruning: The branches of Schisandra chinensis can be pruned in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn. (1) Spring pruning. Generally carried out before the branches sprout, cutting off excessively dense fruiting branches and dead branches, so that after pruning the branches are moderately sparse and do not interfere with each other. (2) Summer pruning. Generally carried out from early to mid-May to early to mid-August. Mainly cut off basal branches, inner branches, overlapping branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, etc. (3) Autumn pruning. Carried out after leaf fall. Mainly cut off the basal branches that grew after summer pruning.

3. Trellising: Trellising should be done in the second year after transplanting. Cement posts or angle steel can be used as uprights, and a horizontal line can be pulled at the upper part of the uprights with wooden poles or No. 8 iron wire. At each main vine, set up a bamboo pole or wooden pole, with the bamboo pole 2.5-3 m high and 1.5-5 cm in diameter, fixed to the horizontal line with tying wire, then guide the vines onto the trellis; at first, strong tying can be used, and afterward they naturally twine onto the trellis.

4. Loosening the soil and weeding: During the growth period of Schisandra chinensis, loosen the soil and weed in good time, keeping the soil loose and free of weeds. When loosening the soil, avoid injuring the root system. Make a tree basin at the base of Schisandra chinensis to facilitate irrigation.

5. Mounding soil: Before the onset of winter, mound soil at the base of Schisandra chinensis to protect it through the winter safely.

6. Diseases and their control: (1) Root rot. It occurs from early May to early August; during the outbreak period, 50% carbendazim 500-1000 times solution can be used to drench the roots. (2) Leaf blight. It occurs from late May to early July; in the early stage of the disease, 50% thiophanate 1000 times solution or 3% validamycin 50 ppm solution can be sprayed alternately. The number of sprayings can be determined according to the condition of the disease.

5. Harvesting and processing. Harvest from late August to early October, picking as they ripen.