How much does a Kadsura coccinea seedling cost per plant? Key cultivation techniques for 2019

The fruit of Kadsura coccinea is edible, with a sweet fragrance and flesh like that of a lychee. In addition, its roots can be used medicinally to promote the flow of qi and invigorate blood, reduce swelling and relieve pain, treat stomach ailments, rheumatism and bone pain, and traumatic bruises, and it is also a commonly used gynecological medicine. So, how much does a Kadsura coccinea seedling cost per plant in 2019? What are the key cultivation techniques?

1. How much does a Kadsura coccinea seedling cost per plant in 2019?

At present, seedling prices generally range from 5 to 20 yuan per plant, with some variation depending on variety, plant size and region. For example, recently pink Kadsura coccinea seedlings in Tongdao Dong Autonomous County, Huaihua City, Hunan were 5.4 yuan per plant; pink Kadsura coccinea seedlings in Lingshan County, Qinzhou City, Guangxi were 15 yuan per plant; pink Kadsura coccinea seedlings in Wenshan City, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan were 20 yuan per plant.

2. What are the key cultivation techniques for Kadsura coccinea seedlings?

1. Seedling management

The nursery plot should be cultivated and weeded frequently. After sprouting and shooting, supports need to be set up beside the plants, and the new shoots tied and protected on the supports. When the seedlings reach 80 cm in height, the growing tips should be appropriately pinched off. Combined with irrigation, human excrement and urine, pig manure, etc. can be applied, or 1% urea added to the water; when fertilizing in July, an appropriate amount of superphosphate can be added to promote aging of the seedling branches and plump buds. From July to September, Kadsura coccinea seedlings should be shaded, and direct exposure to strong light should be avoided.

2. Trellis construction

For building a hedge trellis, solid wood 2.6 m long and 12 cm in diameter should be selected as posts; the posts go 0.8 m into the soil, with a clear height above ground of 1.8 m. On the trellis surface, 4 lines of rust-proof wire are evenly stretched from bottom to top. The first wire is 0.6 m above the ground. A post is set every 8 m, and the branches and vines are tied to the trellis wires

3. Dense planting method

For hedge trellis cultivation, the density is 2 m × 2 m, with about 160 plants planted per mu; for T-shaped trellis cultivation, the density is 3 m × 2 m, with about 110 plants planted per mu; for flat-top trellis cultivation, the density is 3 m × 5 m, with about 45 plants planted per mu. If a relatively large amount of plant straw is buried in the planting hole, it should be allowed to settle before planting. When planting, place the Kadsura coccinea seedling in the center of the planting hole, and do not let the roots come into direct contact with fertilizer. First use your hands to spread the roots out in all directions, then cover the roots with fine soil, afterward cover with soil until level, tread it down slightly with your feet, and water thoroughly to settle the roots. The planting depth should preferably be such that the root collar is level with or slightly above the soil surface; the graft union must not be buried in the soil.

4. Fertilization management

After the fruit is picked from late October to late November, base fertilizer can be applied. The base fertilizer should be decomposed organic fertilizer with oil cake and phosphate fertilizer added, then irrigate and cover with soil; the topdressing before sprouting should be from late February to early March, applying quick-acting fertilizer mainly of nitrogen fertilizer, and combined with irrigation, apply 6-10 kg of urea per mu; fertilization during the fruit expansion period should be applied one week after flower drop, with 100-150 g of compound fertilizer and 6-10 kg of human and animal manure water per plant; fertilization in the late fruit growth period should be from late July to early August, applying fertilizer mainly of quick-acting phosphorus and potassium, and nitrogen fertilizer application should be controlled to avoid excessive growth of branches and tips, with 200-250 g of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer per plant; foliar topdressing is usually done at full bloom and fruit set, using 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 0.2% urea solution for foliar topdressing.

5. Shaping and pruning

For wild Kadsura coccinea, shaping and pruning mainly use tree forms such as horizontal hedge trellis shaping, few-main-vine free fan shape, and “T”-shaped small trellis, with pruning divided into summer and winter.

6. Harvesting and processing

Kadsura coccinea can be dug up throughout the year, with late September to early November being the best harvest time; the fruit is harvested as it ripens. Harvest by hand, dig up the roots, wash off the sand and mud, and handle gently when picking to avoid damaging the fruit. After harvesting, cut the vine stems into small sections or cut the old vine stems, scrape off the cork layer, cut into sections and dry in the sun. During processing, it can be sun-dried or oven-dried; when oven-drying, at the beginning control the room temperature at about 60°C, and when the Kadsura coccinea is half dry, lower the temperature to 40-50°C; when it reaches 80% dry, move it outdoors to sun-dry until fully dry, rub off the fruit stalks, pick out the black grains, and it can be stored in the warehouse.

Kadsura coccinea begins to bear fruit in the second year of planting and enters the full production period in the fourth year, with a yield per mu of about 3000 jin. At present, the price of Kadsura coccinea fruit on the market is still relatively high, costing several tens of yuan per jin. Therefore, its planting prospects are still quite good.