High-yield cultivation techniques of andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata, alias happy at first sight, nuclear lotus, cone-bearded herbs and so on. The whole herb is used for medicine, which has the effects of heat-clearing and detoxification, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, detumescence and pain. It mainly treats bacillary dysentery, urinary tract infection, acute tonsillitis, enteritis, pharyngitis, pneumonia and influenza. External treatment of suppurative otitis media, traumatic infection and sore furuncle swelling toxin and other diseases. Mainly produces Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Anhui and other provinces and regions.

Morphological characteristics andrographis paniculata is an annual or perennial herb of the family Acanthaceae. The plant height is 30cm to 90cm. Stem erect, square, green or slightly purplish red, branches alternately opposite, nodes slightly dilated, stem extremely brittle. Leaves simple opposite; leaf blade lanceolate, entire. Racemes of pseudocymes terminal or axillary forming panicles; pedicels square, bracts green; Corolla white or reddish; 2-lipped, with purplish red spots; stamens 2; pistil 1, ovary fusiform, superior, most ovules. Capsule, fusiform, green, light-colored at maturity, loculicidal, pericarp curved, seeds popping. Seeds numerous, reniform, ca. 1 mm in diam., reddish brown or light colored. The flowering period is from September to October and the fruiting period is from October to November.

I. growth habits

Andrographis likes a warm, humid, sunny environment. Afraid of drought, cold and flood. It is not easy to grow in low temperature, drought and low-lying land. The requirement of soil is not strict, but it is better to use loam or sandy loam which is deep, loose and fertile and rich in organic matter.

II. Soil preparation and fertilization

Select high-lying, well-drained fields and cultivate them carefully. Combined with soil preparation, apply sufficient basic fertilizer: 3000 kg of soil miscellaneous fertilizer, 25 kg of urea and 50 kg of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer per mu. Then make beds and wait for sowing.

Third, sowing seeds

Andrographis paniculata is propagated by seeds. The method of raising seedlings and transplanting was adopted in production. The sowing time is spring sowing. Because the seed coat of andrographis paniculata is thicker and harder, the seeds must be treated before sowing. First rub off the wax layer of the seed coat with fine sand. Soak the seeds in warm water for about 45 ℃ for 24 hours. Take out the mixed fine sand and sprinkle it evenly on the finished border surface, cover the soil and cover without seeds. Water to preserve soil moisture to facilitate the emergence of seedlings. The sowing rate is 60.7 kilograms per mu. One mu of seedlings can be transplanted to 25 mu in the field. After the seedlings are collected, the field management should be strengthened and the seedlings can be transplanted after about 2 months of cultivation. If the plastic film is used to raise seedlings, it plays an important role in increasing the yield. Transplant to choose overcast and rainy weather, plant andrographis paniculata seedlings on the whole border surface according to the row spacing of 25 × 20 cm. Watering to preserve soil moisture, in order to survive.

IV. Field management

Andrographis paniculata seedlings or transplanting after survival, should pay attention to ploughing and weeding, dry weather often watering, rainy weather immediate drainage. Andrographis paniculata plants should be fertilized once before and after planting, with 10 kg urea and 10 kg potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu.

Prevention and control of diseases and insect pests

The main diseases of andrographis paniculata are blight, Fusarium wilt and blight. Comprehensive prevention and control measures can be adopted: 1, soil disinfection, in soil preparation with 65% mancozeb powder 5 kg applied to the soil for disinfection. 2. Prophylaxis with 1 ∶ 1 ∶ 120 Bordeaux solution before onset. 3. Spray with 50% carbendazim 500 times solution at the initial stage of the disease. The main pests are cotton bollworm, nocturnal moth and so on, which can be controlled by pyrethrum pesticide. Underground pests are trapped and killed with octane scales and poison bait.

VI. Harvest and processing

Andrographis paniculata is generally harvested from the bud stage to the full flowering stage. When harvesting, the whole plant of andrographis paniculata is planted and cut off, dried in the sun and then sold in medicine. The yield per mu is 300 ~ 400 kg.