Detailed Guide to the Cultivation Techniques of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Corydalis decumbens

Corydalis decumbens is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It gets its name because in summer it draws nutrients from its roots to sprout and grow, causing the medicinal part to become hollow or rot, making it impossible to harvest. Its root tubers are used as medicine and have the effects of promoting blood circulation, invigorating blood, relieving pain, stopping bleeding, and relieving spasms. It can treat rheumatoid arthritis, hemiplegia, hypertension, sciatica, and other conditions, and its medicinal value is extremely high. So how should it be cultivated? Let's take a look together.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Corydalis decumbens has low requirements for soil. Apart from poorly drained clay, it can be grown in general soil, with well-drained, fertile, loose sandy loam being the best. Since it cannot be grown in summer, idle fields can be used for cultivation. Before planting, plow the soil deeply and apply base fertilizer. If conditions permit, the soil can be disinfected and sterilized. Then make beds 1-1.2 m wide, with ditches about 30 cm wide and 20-30 cm deep.

2. Seed Selection and Planting

Before planting, first select good seed tubers. The seed tubers should have a horizontal diameter of about 1 cm, with bright color, no wounds, and no pests or diseases, and should be current-year tubers. Store the seeds in a pit with sand. Choose a dry, well-drained location with a low groundwater level, ventilated and shaded. The best sowing time is late October when the weather is clear. Open holes on the bed surface at a plant-to-row spacing of 8×10 cm, with holes 3-4 cm deep. Place one seed tuber in each hole with the bud eye facing upward, cover with a layer of plant ash or fine soil, cover with a layer of rice straw, and water to keep the soil moist. The seeding rate is about 40 kg per mu.

3. Field Management

After emergence, water frequently to keep the soil moist and promote seedling growth. After watering, weed promptly, preferably by hand. The soil tends to harden after watering, and loosening the soil can make it loose, increase permeability, and promote root growth of the seedlings, but be careful with the depth to avoid damaging the roots. After weeding and loosening the soil, apply fertilizer once, mainly organic fertilizer or urea, topdressing once every 20 days. In the later stage, mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to increase yield.

4. Pest and Disease Control

The main diseases of Corydalis decumbens are sclerotinia rot and downy mildew. When sclerotinia rot occurs, pull out the diseased plants promptly and spread lime powder in the diseased holes to disinfect them, so as to prevent the disease from spreading, or spray zineb in the early stage of the disease for control. When downy mildew occurs, zineb can also be sprayed for control, once every 5-7 days, with good results.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques of Corydalis decumbens. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.