Key Points of Cultivation Techniques and Field Management for Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Cultivation of Chinese medicinal herbs refers to the production activity of artificially growing medicinal plants such as blackberry lily (Belamcanda chinensis), astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) and Asian plantain (Plantago asiatica) in fields or under protected conditions. Compared with ordinary crops, Chinese medicinal herbs place greater emphasis on regional authenticity, and the same variety grown in different production areas may differ in the accumulation of its medicinal components, so choosing a suitable growing area is the first step.

The habits of different Chinese medicinal herbs vary considerably. Varieties whose roots are used as medicine, such as astragalus and balloon flower, should be planted on deep, well-drained sandy loam that has been deeply plowed and prepared before sowing; blackberry lily prefers warmth, tolerates cold and fears waterlogging, so it is suitable for sunny plots; Asian plantain is highly adaptable and can grow along field edges and roadsides. Before planting, you should first understand the variety's requirements for light, water and temperature, and then determine the sowing time and method.

Field management mainly includes thinning and final singling of seedlings, intertillage and weeding, topdressing and watering, and pest and disease control. Chinese medicinal herb cultivation advocates agricultural and biological control as the main methods, minimizing the use of chemical pesticides so as not to affect the quality of the medicinal material. Most root-type medicinal materials have a long growth cycle and require patient nurturing; at harvest, they should be harvested at the right time according to the medicinal part, and after harvest dried or processed promptly to prevent mildew from affecting quality.

Chinese medicinal herbs have a very wide range of uses. Besides being used as medicine, they can also be applied as feed additive formulas in pig farming, chicken farming and other livestock production to provide a conditioning effect. It should be noted that before planting, suitable varieties should be chosen according to local climate, soil conditions and technical level, avoiding blindly following trends; only by mastering the supporting cultivation techniques and paying attention to market conditions can relatively stable returns be obtained.