Study on Balanced Fertilization for High yield and Quality of Radix Paeoniae and Chrysanthemum in Bozhou, Anhui Province

English

IPNI-2005-CHN-AH15

31 Jan 2007

2006 Annual Interpretive Summary

Balanced Fertilization Technology for High Yield and Quality of Famous Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants in Anhui, 2006

Chrysanthemum is a popular traditional medicine cultured throughout China. Bo Chrysanthemum, from Bozhou City, Anhui, is a particulary famous form of this medicine. Bozhou presently has 70,000 ha of area planted to medicinal herbs or 10% of the total area within China. The city is the source of 75% of China’s Bo Chrysanthemum production. Medicinal herbs are considered “local advantage” cash crops and play an important role for local economic development. Long term, intensive planting and poor management has led to declining yields and quality. Since 2005, Anhui Agriculture University has implemented field trials for providing balanced fertilization technology for Bo Chrysanthemum.Treatments include an optimum (OPT) of 225-150-225 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha plus 15 kg zinc (Zn)/ha + 45 kg iron (Fe)/ha, OPT+P (double rate), OPT+K (double rate), OPT-Zn, OPT-Fe, OPT-Zn-Fe, OPT-1/2K, and OPT+1/2K. Soil chemical and nutrient content measurements were: pH 7.6, 0.7% organic matter, 16.5 mg N/L, 22.5 mg P/L, 74.5 mg K/L, 10.5 mg S/L, 4.1 mg B/L, and 2.5 mg Zn/L.

Field trial results showed that applied K increased flower diameter, number of flowers per plant, primary and second branches, and yield. The flower diameter 3.0 cm under OPT+K was 8.1% higher than OPT and 10% higher than the OPT-1/2K treatment. The OPT+K treatment produced 239 flowers/plant which was 16% higher than the OPT and 33% above the OPT-1/2K. The OPT+K produced 110.6 primary and second branches or 48% more than the OPT and 76% more than the OPT-1/2K. Yield under the OPT+K treatment was 3,377 kg/ha or 30% above the OPT, 61% above the OPT-1/2K, and 21% above the OPT+1/2K treatment. Yield under the OPT+K treatment was 27% higher and the number of flowers per plant was 15% higher than that produced under the OPT+P treatment. Yield under the OPT-Zn and OPT-Fe treatments were 2,061 kg/ha and 2,396 kg/ha or 21% and 7.7% less than the OPT, respectively. Yield for the OPT-Zn-Fe treatment was 1,966 kg/ha or 24% less than the OPT. Anhui-15