Mulch cultivation of Gastrodia elata

In the past ten years, the author has studied, investigated, tested, summarized and popularized the mulching cultivation techniques of Gastrodia elata in more than ten provinces and cities in China, which can increase the yield of Gastrodia elata by 20%. The principle and technical method of increasing production by mulching are introduced in this paper.

The principle of increasing production by mulching. Gastrodia elata (Gastrodia elata) is a kind of warm, cool and humid plant, which is mainly distributed under forests or shrubs in nature, and grows in the gentle slope of 10-30 ℃. During the growth period, it not only likes moisture, but also afraid of stagnant water; it likes temperature, the most suitable temperature is 20: 25 ℃, and it is afraid of high temperature, and the growth stops when the temperature exceeds 28 ℃. However, artificial cultivation of Gastrodia elata is often not in the forest for convenience and management. in order to avoid exposure to the sun or drench in the cultivation site of Gastrodia elata, it is covered with fallen leaves or grass in the cultivated land of Gastrodia elata, on the one hand, moisturizing and preventing drought, on the other hand, blocking the sun to prevent high temperature. In addition, the mulch can also inhibit or block the growth of weeds and achieve the effect of water conservation.

(1) mulch. First, leaves, the deciduous leaves of broad-leaved trees are the best, and leaves such as pine, cypress and camphor can also be used. Second, grass, hairy grass is the best, rice straw, corn stalk and so on can also be used.

(2) cover thickness. Thickness 2~5cm, above sea level more than 1000 meters can be thinner, below 1000 meters can be thicker.

(3) coverage method. Coverage is divided into full coverage and semi-coverage. Full coverage refers to the cultivation of Gastrodia elata boxes and ditches are covered, semi-mulch is only covered with Gastrodia elata cultivation boxes but not ditches. The mulch is also divided into direct mulch, that is, the mulch is directly covered on the Gastrodia elata cultivation box. Indirect mulching means to build a shade shed in the cultivation site of Gastrodia elata, or a combination of both, that is, the combination of direct mulching and indirect mulching. The application effect of this method is very obvious at an altitude of about 500 meters. Where there are conditions, you can plant and cover at the same time, and pay attention to covering when Gastrodia elata enters the vigorous growth season, especially in July, August and September. In particular, it is important to point out that drains must be opened before covering.

(4) Management after coverage. For example, after ditching and covering when Gastrodia elata is cultivated in November, there is basically no management before the middle of May of the following year, but between the middle of May and the end of September, it should be checked regularly and managed according to the actual situation. The main purpose of the fully covered cultivation site is to check the dry humidity, the half-covered cultivation site is to check the dry humidity, and the other is to remove the weeds between the ditches regularly.

(5) covered with plastic film. When sexual reproduction is carried out in some places, the effect is better when covered with plastic film to keep heat and moisture during the germination of Gastrodia elata seeds. However, in the process of asexual cultivation, if it is also covered with plastic film, we must pay close attention to the period and methods of plastic film covering. if the covering method is improper, it will cause four kinds of unfavorable environment for the growth of Gastrodia elata: first, the temperature rises; second, there is too much stagnant water; third, the film is not exposed for a long time, and Rain Water is not transparent, which leads to insufficient moisture; fourth, poor air permeability and high temperature and humidity lead to Gastrodia elata. Therefore, when the temperature reaches more than 20 ℃, the film is not used to cover it. If covered with a film, the film should be covered with an appropriate thickness of soil or fallen leaves according to the situation.