Cultivation Techniques of Astragalus membranaceus

Cultivation Techniques of Astragalus membranaceus

Astragalus, also known as Koi or Jinhuang, is a leguminous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. In the "Northern Drug Development" project of Heilongjiang Province, the selected variety is the Northeast Yellow Scutellaria (Astragalus membranaceus), a perennial herb that grows 50–80 cm tall. It is a genuine medicinal root used in traditional Chinese medicine for its ability to strengthen qi, promote diuresis, expel pus, and aid in muscle recovery. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as spontaneous sweating, night sweats, qi deficiency, blood stasis, spleen weakness, diarrhea, fistula failure, collapse, and limb numbness. For cultivating Astragalus roots, it's essential to choose deep-rooted crops that thrive in deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. Sandy loam with a neutral or slightly acidic pH, such as Xiangyang Gaozao, is ideal for planting on plains or sunny slopes. Prior to planting, it's recommended to use previous grass crops to improve soil quality. In early spring, deep plowing using a rotary tiller or a small four-wheel chisel-type tool can be applied to create ridges deeper than 35 cm. This not only helps conserve soil but also increases seedling emergence by 20% to 30%. Deepening the tilled layer improves soil structure, allowing better root development, increased thickness, and fewer root branches, which enhances both yield and quality. Applying base fertilizer at a depth of about 15 cm is crucial. For each 667 square meters, 3,000–4,000 kg of organic manure, 20 kg of three-element compound fertilizer (15% N, P, K), and 1 kg of compound biological bacterial fertilizer should be used. For propagation, the seed method is typically used. Due to the hard seed coat and dormancy of Astragalus membranaceus, mechanical, physical, or chemical treatments are necessary to improve germination. One method is boiling water treatment: seeds are placed in boiling water and stirred for one minute, then cooled down to 40°C and soaked for 2–4 hours. Swollen seeds are selected, and after soaking in 40–50°C water, they are left to rest for 12 hours before sowing. Another method involves mechanical damage, where seeds are ground with a stone mill or mixed with fine sand to scratch the outer coat. Sulfuric acid treatment is also effective for old, hard seeds, involving a 3–5 minute soak in 70–80% sulfuric acid, followed by thorough rinsing. Sowing is done during the "Qingming" period in spring or "Bai Lu" in autumn. Seeds are sown in furrows 8–10 cm deep, with 3 kg of compound fertilizer and 10 kg of seed fertilizer applied per 667 square meters. The treated seeds are evenly spread, covered with 3–5 cm of soil, and sown at a rate of 2–3 kg per 667 square meters. Field management includes thinning seedlings when they reach 5–7 cm, leaving one strong plant every 8–10 cm. Weeding is essential, especially when seedlings are around 5 cm high, and repeated weeding is needed as the plants grow. Top dressing with 1,000 kg of manure or 8 kg of three-element compound fertilizer per 667 square meters is recommended annually. In winter, additional fertilization with 10 kg of three-element compound fertilizer and 150 kg of cake fertilizer is applied between rows. Topping is performed before late July to control plant height and increase production. Pest control measures include using 25% Triadimefon or Bordeaux mixture for powdery mildew, and applying fungicides like carbendazim for red root disease. Aphids can be controlled with dimethoate, while pod borers are managed with dichlorvos sprays. Seeds are harvested in the second year, when fruits turn yellow and ripe. They are dried, threshed, and cleaned to remove impurities. High-quality seeds are stored for future planting. Harvesting occurs in mid-to-late September, and roots are carefully dug up, cleaned, and dried. After proper processing, the roots are bundled and used for medicinal purposes. A typical yield is about 300 kg of dried product per 667 square meters.

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