Traditional Chinese Medicine Coptis chinensis and its cultivation and processing techniques

Coptis chinensis is a perennial evergreen herb of Ranunculaceae, which is used in medicine with rhizome, cold and bitter taste, and has the effect of purging fire, dryness and dampness, and detoxification. Mainly produced in Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Hunan, Zhejiang and other provinces, the main treatment of dyspepsia, anti-diarrhea pain, anti-inflammatory effect. Because of its different producing areas and types, Coptis chinensis commodities can be divided into Weilian, Yalian and Yunlian, of which the planting area is the largest, which is mainly distributed in eastern Sichuan, western Hubei and southern Shaanxi. Yalian is mainly produced in Hongya County and Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, and Yunlian is mainly distributed in the northwest of Yunnan.

Coptis chinensis generally grows in high and cold mountain areas with an altitude of 1200 to 1800 meters above sea level, and likes a damp and cool climate. It can survive the winter normally at minus 8 ℃ in winter. It requires high moisture and is not resistant to drought. because of its shallow rhizome and large leaf area, it needs more water, but it can not accumulate water, so it should be drained in time in the rainy season. Coptis chinensis is a shade-loving plant, avoid strong direct light, like weak light, the seedling stage is most afraid of strong light, therefore, the cultivation of Coptis chinensis must build a shed, transparent about 50%.

Cultivation techniques of Coptis chinensis

1. Land selection and preparation. Select the sandy loam with fertile soil, deep humus and good drainage, and the slope is less than 20 °. Dig up the weeds on the ground, plough and rake flat, and make a high border 1.3 meters wide.

2. The method of reproduction. Coptis chinensis uses seeds and cuttings to propagate, and multipurpose seeds are used in production. The seeds were harvested immediately after ripening in the first ten days of May. The adopted seed embryo has not yet differentiated and must be treated with seeds before sowing. The seeds are treated with the sand storage method, and the seeds after the sand storage begin to crack in November, and then they can be sown.

3. Build a shade shed. Coptis chinensis seedlings are afraid of the sun, so they must build a shed for shade. The shade is 70 to 80 centimeters high, and the shed is covered with pine branches.

4. Sowing and raising seedlings. From October to November, the seeds can be sown after a crack in the sand reservoir, sowing with about 1.5-2.5 kg per mu, covering a layer of dry fine soil 1 cm thick and a layer of rotten cow and horse dung.

5. Seedling field management. The growth of Coptis chinensis seedlings is slow, so it is necessary to get rid of weeds in time and apply available nitrogen fertilizer. Coptis chinensis seedlings can produce three true leaves by late May. It can be transplanted out of the nursery in the third year after sowing, and 100000 ~ 200000 Coptis chinensis seedlings can be bred with a kilogram of seeds.

6. Transplant. Strong seedlings with more than 4 true leaves and more than 6 cm of plants should be selected. The transplanting time is mostly in spring and autumn, the survival rate of spring planting is high and the growth is robust. Autumn planting is not as good as spring planting. The time distance of transplanting is 10 cm × 10 cm, about 60,000 seedlings are planted per mu, the planting depth is 3-5 cm, and there are 3-4 large leaves on the ground. After transplanting, according to conventional field management and work management, we must remove weeds in the field in time, fertilize in time, and cultivate soil at the same time, which is conducive to yield increase.

7. Pest control. The disease of Coptis chinensis is less, and powdery mildew often occurs in the rainy season, which can be controlled by conventional methods. Coptis chinensis is cultivated in mountainous areas, wild animals and rats do great harm to Coptis chinensis, so someone should be sent to guard it.

Harvesting and processing of Coptis chinensis

Coptis chinensis can not be harvested until the fifth year after transplanting, and it is a medicinal plant with long growth years. The most suitable harvest time for Coptis chinensis is before freezing in early October and late November. Use four-toothed rake to dig out Coptis chinensis according to the row spacing, cut off whisker roots and leaves, and produce about 500 kg of fresh roots per mu. Fresh roots unearthed, it is best to use Kang drying, drying should not be too large firepower, baking while turning, until dry, the general per mu dry Coptis root finished product about 100 kg.