In the early spring, it's crucial to focus on several key agricultural practices to ensure a healthy and productive harvest of medicinal plants. First, promoting green sprouting is essential. Many medicinal herbs are favored by farmers due to their quick growth and short-term profitability. These herbs are typically planted in summer, autumn, or even winter, and they begin to regrow in early spring, being harvested in summer or autumn. Although these plants are resilient, their above-ground parts often die back during the winter. As temperatures rise in early spring, the plants start to regrow. This is the perfect time to water and apply fertilizer, helping them regain their green color more quickly. Early intervention ensures better plant health and a successful harvest.
Second, removing cold covers is important for perennial evergreen medicinal plants like Gardenia, Amomum villosum, Bergamot, and Orange Peel. When soil temperatures reach 1-2°C, root activity begins. Once the air temperature stabilizes around 5°C, it's time to remove any winter protection. Clearing the ground of debris and lifting the plastic films used for seedlings helps prevent frost damage in early spring.
Third, timely pruning of woody herbs is necessary. Woody medicinal plants, such as trees and shrubs, require careful pruning in early spring to remove dead branches, promote airflow, and encourage new growth. Applying farmyard and organic manure supports overall plant development. Depending on the plant part, trace elements should also be supplemented to maximize growth, flowering, and fruit setting, ultimately boosting yield and income.
Fourth, weeding and soil mounding are critical after early spring planting. Weeds must be removed regularly to maintain clean fields and loosen the soil to raise its temperature. However, care must be taken not to dig too deeply, as this could cause soil compaction. For plants like Panax notoginseng, which have shallow roots, manual weeding is preferred to avoid damaging the root system. The frequency of weeding depends on weed density, and when weeds appear, the soil should be cultivated and compacted to support healthy plant growth.
In recent years, chemical herbicides have become popular for saving labor and cost. Before planting, applying 50% paraquat at 150 g per acre or 25% diuron at 200–300 g per acre, along with 10% difenophenone at 1250 g per acre, effectively controls young weeds. However, these chemicals only prevent non-rooted weeds, so manual weeding is still necessary for complete control.
Fifth, removing flower buds is important for root-based medicinal plants like Coptis, Salvia, Panax notoginseng, and Ginseng. Removing flowers reduces nutrient consumption and promotes the growth of fibrous roots and leaves, enhancing rhizome accumulation and increasing yield. Flower buds should be removed promptly, especially after the second year, and in batches according to flowering periods. This helps redirect nutrients to underground parts, improving both quality and quantity.
Lastly, preventing fruit drop is vital for fruits like Amomum villosum and Jujube. After pollination, many fruits fall, especially during the early and final flowering stages. To reduce this, proper cultivation and strong seedling management are needed. After flowering, applying topdressing with 3% superphosphate and 0.1% ammonium sulfate improves fruit set by 15–30%. Spraying 5–20 mg/kg 2,4-D can further increase fruit setting by about 40%. Spraying should be done in the late afternoon or on cloudy days, ensuring even coverage without over-saturating the fruit. Reapplication every 7–10 days may be necessary depending on conditions.
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