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The cultivation and management technology of Chinese herbal medicine Astragalus
Astragalus membranaceus, commonly known as Huangqi, is a perennial herb widely used in traditional medicine. It typically yields 400-500 kilograms per mu and is considered a high-value crop due to its medicinal properties. The plant grows up to 40 cm tall, with pinnately compound leaves that are alternate and oval or oblong in shape. Its flowers form racemes at the top of stems and branches, featuring butterfly-shaped, pale yellow corollas. The fruit is a semicircular capsule containing several brown seeds. The main root is cylindrical, yellow-brown, slightly woody, and not easily broken.
Huangqi is highly adaptable and can thrive in various soils, including sandy or loamy types. It is drought-tolerant and cold-resistant, capable of overwintering in the field. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging or heavy rain, so proper drainage is essential.
**Cultivation Techniques**
1. **Site Preparation**: Choose neutral to slightly alkaline sandy soil or surface sand land. Plow deeply to 30–40 cm and apply 4,000 kg of organic manure per acre, along with 25 kg of diammonium Phosphate or 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer and 50 kg of cake fertilizer. Mix thoroughly into the soil, then create furrows and level the ground. Ensure the soil is firm and slightly dry before sowing.
2. **Seed Treatment**: Before sowing, use the boiling water germination method. Soak the seeds in boiling water for 1 minute while stirring, then add cold water to bring the temperature down to 40°C. Soak for 2 hours, drain, cover with a damp cloth, and let them sit for 12 hours. Sow the seeds when they begin to swell or when the seed coat cracks.
3. **Sowing**:
- **Timing**: Spring sowing between the Spring Festival and Qingming (around late February to mid-April), summer sowing just before or after the Summer Solstice, and autumn sowing before the White Dew. Autumn sowing may not germinate until the next year.
- **Rate**: 1.5–2 kg per mu.
- **Depth**: Plant seeds in shallow furrows spaced 22 cm apart, with a depth of 3 cm. Cover lightly with soil.
4. **Field Management**: After sowing, avoid watering unless the soil is very dry. When seedlings have 4–5 leaves and reach 10 cm in height, thin them to 8–10 cm apart, keeping a density of 25,000–35,000 plants per acre. Avoid excessive watering and keep the soil loose to promote root development. Water once in May, June, and September. Fertilize based on soil fertility: apply 15 kg of urea and 50 kg of fermented cake fertilizer at the seedling and early flowering stages if needed.
**Pest and Weed Control**
1. **Powdery Mildew**: Apply fungicides such as 20% Triadimefon, 20% Difenoconazole, 70% Thiophanate-methyl, or 70% Mancozeb diluted 500–800 times. Spray every 7–10 days for 2–3 applications.
2. **Red Root Disease**: Use 55% Fenpropidin, 32% Trichoderma viride, or 25.9% Euphorbia 007 fungicide at 500–800 times dilution. Apply 1–2 times every 7–10 days for prevention.
3. **Insect Pests**: Control pests like soybean caterpillars and cotton bollworms using 0.2% Azithromycin or 20% insecticides diluted 1000–1500 times.
4. **Weed Control**: At the seedling stage, spray 48% Trifluralin EC at 0.1 kg per mu mixed with 30 kg of water to control grass weeds.
**Harvest and Processing**
1. **Seed Collection**: Harvest seeds when fruits mature and turn brown, usually in summer or autumn. Dry the seeds in the sun, thresh them, and remove impurities, insects, and damaged seeds. Store in jars or cloth bags, avoiding plastic to maintain viability.
2. **Root Harvesting**: After 2–3 years, harvest roots when the stems and leaves wither following the Cold Dew or Frost periods. Carefully dig out the roots, clean off soil, and dry them. Tie into small bundles for medicinal use.