(Zhou Yushu, Li Longyun, Luo Dengyong)

Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq.) is also known as Fragrant thistle. It is an annual herb of Labiatae. Produced in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hebei, Sichuan, Hubei and other provinces. The whole herb is used as medicine. It contains dextromenthol ketone, eliminative menthol ketone, levomenthol ketone and a small amount of dextromenthol and limonene. Pharmacological tests can make sweat gland secretion, skin blood circulation enhancement, has a weak antipyretic effect, and antispasmodic effect. In the test tube can inhibit the growth of tubercle bacilli. Pungent flavor, warm nature. It has the functions of publishing, dispersing wind and penetrating rash; fried charcoal has the effect of stopping bleeding. Mainly treats colds, headache, sore throat, measles, urticaria, skin itching; fried charcoal treats blood in the stool, leakage and so on.

I. Morphological Characteristics

The plant is 0.7-1m in height, with a strong aroma. The stem is erect, 4-angled, covered with downward white pilose, purplish red at the base, and much branched at the upper part. Leaves opposite, basal leaves stalked or subsessile, pinnately parted into 5 segments; middle and upper leaves sessile, pinnately parted into 3-5 segments; segments linear to linear-lanceolate, entire, pilose on both surfaces, with depressed glandular dots below, veins inconspicuous. Verticillasters, in many whorls, crowded at branch ends, forming spikes, each inflorescence with sessile linear bracts, with several small flowers, light reddish purple, corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4, didynamous. Nutlets 4, ovate or elliptic, surface smooth, brown (Figs. 16-25).

Figure 16-25 Morphological diagram of Thornywort

1. Lateral view of flower 2. Inside view of calyx in longitudinal section 3. Corolla in longitudinal section showing stamens 4. Pistil 5. Upper inflorescence bracts 6. Lower inflorescence bracts

Companion Split-leafed Thornywort [Schizonepeta multifida (L.) Briq] aka. Schizonepeta multifida (L. Briq) is also known as large-leaved thistle. Morphology is very similar to the former species, the difference is: the upper part of the stem is not much branched; the leaves are broadly ovate, 3-5-parted, the lobes are broader and obtuse; the flowers are bluish-purple, and the corolla is twice as large as the calyx.

Two, biological characteristics

Thornbeam seeds are tiny, the most afraid of soil drought and heavy rain after sowing, often resulting in serious lack of plants. Seed life span of only one year, aged seeds can not germinate. Thorny mustard growing period in Sichuan Province due to different sowing period and the length of the autumn sowing of the growing period of about 200 days, spring sowing of about 150 days, summer sowing of only 120 days. Autumn sowing, the year the seedlings grow slowly, the general plant height is not more than 33cm, after the spring growth and development accelerated, generally in May began to draw inflorescences, June bloom period, July for the fruiting period.

Thorn mustard is not strict on the requirements of climatic and environmental conditions, China's north and south can be cultivated all over the country, generally preferring a mild climate. Seeds at 19-25 ℃, 6-7 days will germinate; when the soil temperature drops to 16-18 ℃, it takes 10-15 days to emerge. Seedling growth is slow in winter when the temperature is low. Seedlings can tolerate low temperatures of about 0 ℃, -2 ℃ or less will be frost damage.

Thorn mustard on the water requirements, to wet climate environment is appropriate, but in different growth and development period requirements vary. Seedling period requires moist soil, avoid drought and waterlogging. Seedlings like a slightly moist environment, and afraid of excessive rain and waterlogging. Seedlings like a drier environment, rain is poor growth.

Soil to more fertile and moist, well-drained, texture for the light loam to loamy soil is good, such as sandy loam, oil sand soil, damp sand mud, sand mud, etc.. Clay heavy soil and easy to dry coarse sandy soil, cold sandy soil, etc., are poor growth.

The terrain is good for sunny, flat, well-drained or easily drained places with plenty of sunshine. Low-lying waterlogged, shaded places should not be planted. Sichuan Province, generally cultivated in the elevation of 700m below the level of the dam or hilly areas, cultivated in the alpine mountainous areas, poor growth. Avoid continuous cropping, pre-crop to corn, peanuts, cotton, sweet potatoes and other good, wheat crops can also be.

Three, cultivation techniques

(a) seed harvesting

to seed reproduction. Before the harvest, should be in the field to choose a strong plant, branches, spikes and dense, and no pests and diseases of a single plant or field to stay for seed collection. Seeds shall be harvested 15-20 days later than the field, when the seeds are fully ripe, full of seeds, dark brown or brown when harvested, dried and threshed, remove impurities from the stem and leaves, put the seeds into a cloth bag, hanging ventilated and dry place for storage.

(ii) ground preparation

The seeds of thorn mustard are fine, and the ground preparation must be meticulous, which is conducive to the emergence of seedlings. Because of the dense sowing, later fertilization is inconvenient, so before the whole land should be more basal fertilizer, per acre of available compost, stable manure, smoked soil, such as 1500-2000kg, spreading the ground. Cultivate the soil about 25cm deep, repeated fine harrowing, make sure that the soil is fine, the soil surface is flat, and then made into a wide 1.3m, about 10cm high border.

(C) seeding

Can be direct seeding, can also be transplanted seedlings. Both have advantages and disadvantages, in the adoption of the local conditions.

1. live

Northern spring sowing, southern spring and fall can be sown. Spring sowing more in late March to early April; fall sowing in September-October, fall sowing higher yield, but occupy a longer time. There are still in May-June, to be small spring crops after the harvest, the implementation of summer sowing. Sowing methods, spot sowing, strip sowing, sowing can be. Strip sowing is better managed. Because the seed is small, before sowing each mu must use fine smoked soil or fine compost powder 200-300kg, about 50kg of human and animal manure and water, and the seed is fully mixed, mixed into the seed ash, in order to sow well.

Spot sowing, nest row spacing 17-20cm, nest depth of about 5cm, nest watering livestock manure water, about 1000kg per mu. seed ash evenly spread nest, the amount of seed per mu 250-300g. sowing not cover the soil and do not suppress.

Strip sowing, in the bed open horizontal ditch, ditch center distance of about 20cm, about 5cm deep, first cast animal manure water in the ditch, then evenly sprinkled into the seed ash, after sowing, do not cover the soil, only with the foot a little suppression, so that the seed and the soil close connection. The amount of seed used is about 500g per mu.

Spreading, first splash manure water in the bed, then evenly sown on the seed ash, and slightly suppressed with a wooden board. Mu seed amount of 500-750g.

Whichever method is used should pay attention to shallow sowing and often keep the soil surface moist after sowing, you can quickly come out of the seedling.

2. Seedling transplantation

Spring sowing only. Sowing should be earlier than live, should not be late. The use of sowing, mu with the amount of seed 750-1000g. also with the seed ash sprinkled on the bed, a little pressure, and cover the bed with straw. After germination, remove the cover grass. Seedlings should be weeding and watering frequently, seedlings 6-7cm high time seedlings, pull out the weak seedlings and overcrowded seedlings, to maintain plant spacing of about 5cm. And chase the application of dilute human and animal feces and water once. 1500-2000kg per mu. 5. 1500-2000kg per mu. May-June when the seedlings are about 15cm high, you can take the seedlings transplanted.

(D) field management

1. seedling replenishment

directly broadcast, should be timely seedling, so as to avoid seedling growth is too dense, the development of slender and weak. In the seedling height of 6-7cm and 10-13cm, each between the seedlings once. The second seedling, point sowing, each nest of 4-5 seedlings; strip sowing every 7-10cm staggered seedlings; sowing, keep the plant spacing 10-13cm. if there is a lack of seedlings, to make up for between the seedlings. Transplanted seedlings do not have to inter-seedling, only the lack of seedlings to make up.

2. Plowing and weeding

Spot sowing and strip sowing, in the two inter-seedling combined with plowing and weeding. The first time only shallow hoeing topsoil, to avoid overpowering seedlings; the second can be slightly deeper. Later on, depending on whether the soil and the number of weeds, and then plowing weed 1-2 times, and slightly cultivated soil at the base of the fertilizer solid seedling. Sowing only need to weed, can not be plowed. Seedlings transplanted, can be plowed weed 1-2 times.

3. Fertilizer

Thorn mustard needs more nitrogen fertilizer, in order to make the culm strong spike, should be appropriate application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. General fertilizer 3 times. The first time in the seedling height of 7-10cm, per mu of animal manure 1000-1500kg. the second in the seedling height of about 20cm, mu of animal manure 1500-2000kg. the third time in the seedling height of 33cm or so, per mu with rotting vegetable cake 50kg and smoked soil 300-400kg mixed and spread between the plants.

4. Irrigation and drainage

Seedling period need more water, soil drying must be timely watering. Drought-resistant after the plant is enhanced, the most avoid waterlogging, such as too much rain, must be removed in a timely manner, so as not to cause disease.

(E) Pests and diseases and their control

1. Rhizoctonia solani Ktthn and Pythium sp.)

Brown spots occur at the base of the stem, which shrinks, rots, and eventually collapses and dies. It can be planted in well-drained sandy loam soil or as raised beds; at the onset of the disease, water the diseased area with antimicrobial agent 401 800 times liquid or 50% carbendazim 1000 times liquid.

2. Black spot disease

[Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler]

The leaves produce small irregular brown spots, and finally dark brown, die. The diseased plants can be pulled out and burned, or controlled with 65% diclofenac zinc wettable powder 500 times solution.

3. Thorny mustard stem blight

By three kinds of Fusarium [Fusarium equiseti (Corda) Sacc., F. solani (Mart.) App. et Wollenw, F. graminearum Schw.] compound infestation, for the damage of stems, leaves, petioles and flower spikes, in order to damage the stalk loss The damage is most severe on the stalks. The stalks are first affected by water-soaked spots, which expand around the stalks and appear as a section of brown stalks, and the branches and leaves above the stalks wilt and die. Diseased leaves are scalded, and diseased spikes are yellowish, and may flower and dry up. Seedlings are victimized and die in large swaths. The pathogen overwinters on the residual plants as the source of the first infestation in the following year. Prevention and control methods: (1) clear the garden, deal with disease residues, reduce the source of overwintering bacteria; (2) avoid continuous cropping, crop rotation with grass crops; (3) choose high and dry terrain planting, pay attention to drainage in the rainy season; (4) timely early sowing, applying sufficient basal fertilizer, early application of seedling fertilizer, to promote the seedling strong in order to resist the disease; (5) 150-200kg per mu of composted 5406 bacterial fertilizer raked into the 3-4cm layer of soil. -The soil layer is 4cm.

Others include the silver-striped night moth (Plusia agnata Standinger).

Four, harvesting and processing

Harvesting Autumn sowing of thuja, harvested in late May to early June of the following year. Spring sowing thuja, harvested in August-September of that year. Summer sowing wattle and daub, harvested only in October of that year. When part of the seeds on the spike become brown, the top of the flower has not fallen out, in the sunny day after the dew dries up, use a sickle to cut the whole plant from the base. Transportation. Spread in the sun field, sun to 7-8% dry, collected in a ventilated place, the stem base on the ground, each other shelves, continue to dry in the shade can be. In case of rainy weather, we can use smokeless fire to bake, and the temperature should be controlled below 40℃.