What are the cultivation techniques, prospects, and per-mu returns of Sophora flavescens in 2020?

Sophora flavescens is a common traditional Chinese medicinal herb in China. As market demand grows larger and larger, natural Sophora flavescens resources are becoming fewer and fewer, and large-scale cultivation of Sophora flavescens has become a trend. So what are the cultivation techniques for Sophora flavescens in 2020? What are the prospects? How are the per-mu returns?

1. Cultivation techniques and per-mu returns of Sophora flavescens

1. Cultivation techniques

Site selection: Sophora flavescens does not have strict soil requirements, but it is best to choose sandy loam with a soil layer more than 50CM deep, loose and fertile soil, and good drainage for cultivation. The previous crop is preferably a grass family or tuber crop, and plots with heavy clay soil, saline-alkali land, and poor drainage should not be chosen.

Sowing: Both spring sowing and autumn sowing are acceptable. Spring sowing should be done around Qingming, when the soil moisture is relatively good, which is beneficial for seedling emergence. After autumn sowing, soil needs to be covered; otherwise, the soil surface tends to crust, which is not conducive to seedling emergence in spring. Autumn sowing should be early rather than late, and sowing can be done as soon as the seeds mature, so that the seedlings can safely overwinter.

Thinning and replanting: After the seeds emerge and sprout, thin the seedlings when the seedlings are 15-20CM tall, leaving 3-4 strong seedlings per hole. If missing plants are found, promptly use the thinned seedlings to replant, so as to achieve uniform and complete stands.

Intertillage and weeding: Sophora flavescens seedlings emerge 7-10 days after sowing. Because weeds grow relatively quickly, they should be removed promptly, and the soil should be loosened appropriately. After that, weed once every 2 months.

Topdressing: In early May, apply root topdressing, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, to promote early vegetative growth of the seedlings, and apply another 2000 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure water per mu, which is beneficial for cultivating strong seedlings; in early July, apply topdressing again, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, with 30 kg of diammonium phosphate and 20 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, to promote the accumulation of nutrients in the roots and the differentiation of overwintering buds.

Watering: June and July are the peak periods of water demand. In drought, watering must be carried out, which is beneficial for the growth of rhizomes. Before the soil freezes in November, water with winter irrigation water, which is beneficial for Sophora flavescens to overwinter safely. When the soil moisture content is 50%-70%, it is beneficial for the growth of Sophora flavescens and the accumulation of medicinal components.

2. Per-mu returns

To plant one mu of Sophora flavescens, purchase 4000 biennial seedlings at 0.2 yuan each, for a total of 800 yuan. Each mu of Sophora flavescens requires 40 labor-days of input (over two years: 10 work-days for planting, 20 work-days for weeding, and 10 work-days for digging), costing 4000 yuan, plus 200 yuan for fertilizer, for a total of 5000 yuan, planting 3000 mu. Harvest can be achieved after two years. Each mu of Sophora flavescens can harvest 3000 jin. At the current market price of 3 yuan per jin, the output value per mu reaches 9000 yuan.

2. Cultivation prospects of Sophora flavescens in 2020

Sophora flavescens can be planted in spring, summer, and autumn, and is very suitable for the cultivation habits and soil and climate conditions of mountainous areas such as Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, and Hubei. In recent years, because Sophora flavescens is widely used in the production of biological pesticides, and biological pesticides have no pesticide residues and no side effects on the human body such as teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, or poisoning, ensuring the green, pollution-free, and no-pesticide-residue standards of crops, biological pesticides have been used more and more widely in plant protection in recent years. As the main raw material of biological pesticides, the demand for Sophora flavescens is also growing. Furthermore, medical research in recent years has found that matrine, the main component of Sophora flavescens, has obvious anti-cancer effects, and in-depth development has been carried out. Pharmaceutical companies have now produced matrine injections, and as new anti-cancer drugs are developed with the market, their production is tending to expand, and the demand for Sophora flavescens raw materials has also increased greatly accordingly, with broad market prospects.

Although Sophora flavescens has relatively good cultivation prospects, in order to ensure economic benefits, it is recommended that growers promptly keep abreast of the market conditions of Sophora flavescens to adjust the cultivation scale and ensure maximum benefits.