Effects of Cultivation on Biomass Allocation and Quality of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua

This study aimed to optimize the cultivation for Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. The soil nutrients and the plant biomass distribution under different cultivation methods were compared and analyzed in the field. Quality of the cultivated plants was evaluated using the methods stipulated in the Chinese pharmacopoeia. The results indicated that the root-restricting tillage in a confined container allowed a remarkable soil amelioration as well as a high plant polysaccharide content at 10.0% in comparison to the ridge cultivation at 9.4%. The number and length of roots per plant significantly correlated with the diameter and fresh weight of the rhizomes on a plant. Within a certain range, the pH, total phosphorus and total potassium of the soil linearly correlated with the plant polysaccharides. It appeared that the root-restricting container cultivation could increase the yield by 10% and the polysaccharide by 6% on P. cyrtonema over the ridge-cultivation.