Detailed Explanation of Standardized Cultivation Techniques for Dry Pinellia (Pinellia ternata)

Dry Pinellia, also known as three-leaf pinellia, three-step jump, and hemp jade fruit, is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb with the functions of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, and descending adverse qi to stop vomiting. It grows wild in both northern and southern China, but in recent years its resources have been declining year by year and its price has been rising continuously. Therefore, the prospects for artificial cultivation of dry Pinellia are very promising. Its cultivation techniques are introduced as follows:

1. Selection of planting site. Dry Pinellia prefers a mild and humid climate; its tubers can naturally overwinter in the soil. It is shade-tolerant and highly adaptable, and can be cultivated on hillsides, hills, and flat land. It can also be intercropped in orchards and woodlands or interplanted with tall crops such as corn, rapeseed, @#@245@#@. Sandy soil or red loam soil is best for planting, while heavy clay and low-lying waterlogged plots are not suitable for cultivation.

2. Planting time and method. The sowing period for dry Pinellia is from November in winter to May in spring. Before sowing, in combination with land preparation, apply 2000 kg of barnyard manure or compost and 50 kg of superphosphate per mu, and plow them into the soil as base fertilizer. Before sowing, plow once more, then level and harrow finely, and make beds 1.3 m wide. The bed furrows should be 30 cm wide and 20 cm deep. Dry Pinellia is mainly propagated by tubers, preferably planted immediately after digging. Generally, the drill sowing method is used: open horizontal furrows on the bed surface with a row spacing of 12-15 cm and a furrow width of 2-3 cm, then place tubers in each furrow at a plant spacing of 5-10 cm with the stem tip facing upward. After planting, cover with soil, preferably just enough so that the tubers are not visible. After planting, keep the soil moist to promote germination.

3. Field management. 1. Weeding: Before the seedlings close the rows, weed promptly. The depth of intertillage should not exceed 5 cm to avoid damaging the roots. 2. Fertilization: After the seedlings emerge uniformly, apply 1000 kg of human and livestock manure water at 1:3 per mu; at the stage of bud formation, apply 2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu; when the daughter pinellia sprouts new buds and the mother pinellia sheds its shell and regrows new roots, splash with manure water at 1:10. Afterward, depending on growth conditions, apply 25 kg of decomposed cake fertilizer per mu, mix it evenly with ditch mud, and scatter it on the soil surface to serve the functions of earthing up and promoting grain filling. In addition, frequently splash an appropriate amount of dilute human and livestock manure water, which helps maintain soil moisture and promotes tuber growth of dry Pinellia, thereby increasing yield. 3. Removal of flower buds: During the growth period, dry Pinellia plants will bolt and flower. Except for those retained for seed, remove the flower buds promptly in batches so that nutrients are concentrated in the underground tubers, accelerating tuber growth and increasing yield.

4. Pest and disease control. In initial cultivation, dry Pinellia has relatively few pests and diseases, but in old production areas leaf spot disease and viral disease may occur. 1. Leaf spot disease. It occurs in early summer and damages the leaves. Control method: At the early stage of disease, spray Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:120 or 65% zineb at 500 times dilution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times. 2. Viral disease. It occurs in summer and damages stems and leaves. Control methods: (1) Immediately remove diseased plants and destroy them by burning in a centralized manner or burying them deeply; (2) Irrigate the diseased holes with 5% lime milk to prevent spread.

5. Harvesting and processing. 1. Harvesting: The growth period of dry Pinellia is 180-210 days. For tuber propagation, depending on the sowing season, it can be harvested in the same year or the following year. Generally, it is dug in summer and autumn after the stems and leaves wither and the plants fall over. Choose a sunny day and carefully dig up the tubers, avoiding damage, shake off the mud and sand, put them into baskets and cover them well. Do not expose them to the sun, otherwise the skin will be difficult to remove. 2. Processing: First wash the fresh pinellia clean of mud and sand, grade them into large, medium, and small sizes, then put them separately into hemp bags, lightly strike them a few times on the ground, then pour them into a vat of clean water and rub them repeatedly until the outer skin is completely removed. After peeling, remove them promptly and air-dry the surface moisture, then place them in a ventilated and clean place in the sun to dry, turning them constantly. At night, bring them back indoors and spread them out, then take them out again the next day to turn and dry until fully dried. The general yield of dry Pinellia is 150-200 kg per mu (dry product), and at current market prices the output value per mu is more than 5000 yuan.