Special culture medium suitable for camellia nitidissima and application method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a special culture medium suitable for camellia nitidissima and a preparation and application method thereof, and relates to the technical field of camellia nitidissima culture. The culture medium is mainly composed of stack retting tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal, river sand and a specific trace element slow-release bag according to specific weight parts. The culture medium is applied to golden camellia culture. Through organic combination of substrate components and cultivation management, on the basis of ensuring robust growth of camellia nitidissima plants, the problem that active ingredients of camellia nitidissima flowers are difficult to enrich directionally in the prior art is effectively solved, and finally, the content of key active ingredients such as polysaccharides and flavones in the camellia nitidissima flowers is remarkably increased; the synergistic effects of promoting growth, resisting diseases and improving quality are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of Camellia chrysantha cultivation technology, specifically to a special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha and its application method. Background Technology

[0002] Golden camellia tea Belonging to the Camellia genus of the Theaceae family, it is the only rare group in its plant family with golden-yellow petals, and is known as the "Giant Panda of the Plant Kingdom" and the "Queen of the Tea Family." It is not only famous for its unique ornamental value, but also for the rich content of tea polysaccharides, flavonoids, and other precious bioactive substances in its flowers and leaves, making it a highly promising functional food ingredient and medicinal plant with a broad market prospect. However, the natural distribution range of golden camellia is extremely narrow, and its growth requirements are very demanding. It prefers warm, humid, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, and these special biological characteristics make its artificial cultivation quite difficult.

[0003] Currently, the cultivation practices of Camellia chrysantha suffer from several systemic deficiencies: First, the substrate structure is flawed; conventional soils or simple mixed substrates are prone to compaction or poor porosity, leading to significant root waterlogging and oxygen deficiency in potted plants. Second, the substrate function is limited; most formulations only provide basic support and nutrients, lacking both a long-term mechanism for maintaining a stable slightly acidic environment and an integrated design for antibacterial and disease-preventing effects as well as precise nutrient regulation. Third, cultivation management is extensive; water and fertilizer management fails to precisely align with the physiological cycle of Camellia chrysantha (such as the critical periods for bud formation and active ingredient accumulation), and there is a lack of effective means to target and enhance the quality of active ingredients through controlled cultivation strategies. This results in inconsistent quality of the produced Camellia chrysantha, and its core medicinal value cannot be fully stimulated and guaranteed through cultivation techniques.

[0004] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a novel cultivation substrate and application method specifically for Camellia chrysantha, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a special cultivation substrate for Camellia chrysantha and its application method, which significantly increases the content of key active ingredients such as polysaccharides and flavonoids in Camellia chrysantha flowers while ensuring the robust growth of Camellia chrysantha plants.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A special cultivation substrate for Camellia chrysantha, mainly composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight:

[0008] 35-45 parts composted tea seed meal, 20-30 parts leaf mold, 10-20 parts perlite, 2-5 parts rice husk charcoal, and 8-12 parts river sand;

[0009] The matrix also contains trace element slow-release packets accounting for 0.5-1‰ of the total matrix mass, and the trace element slow-release packets are composed of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate in a mass ratio of 2-3:1.

[0010] In this invention, the main components are: 40 parts of composted tea seed meal, 25 parts of leaf mold, 15 parts of perlite, 3 parts of rice husk charcoal, and 10 parts of river sand. The matrix also contains a trace element slow-release packet accounting for 0.7‰ of the total matrix mass, and the trace element slow-release packet is composed of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate in a mass ratio of 2.5:1.

[0011] Furthermore, in this invention, the method for preparing the composted tea seed meal is as follows: the tea seed meal is crushed, the moisture content is adjusted to 55-65%, and it is composted for 40-60 days. During this period, the compost is turned over 3-5 times regularly to ensure full decomposition.

[0012] This invention also proposes a method for preparing a special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha as described above, comprising the following steps:

[0013] S1: Preparation of composted tea seed meal: Crush the tea seed meal to 1-3cm, adjust the moisture content to 55-65%, compost and ferment for 40-60 days, turning the pile 3-5 times during the period, to obtain composted tea seed meal for later use;

[0014] S2: Mixing: Weigh out the composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal and river sand according to the weight proportions mentioned above to obtain the mixture;

[0015] S3: Add the trace element slow-release packet, which accounts for 0.5-1‰ of the total mass of the substrate, to the mixture obtained in S2, and then stir and mix thoroughly; adjust the moisture content of the resulting mixed substrate to 40-50%, and the cultivation substrate is obtained.

[0016] This invention proposes a method for cultivating Camellia chrysantha using the above-described cultivation substrate, comprising the following steps:

[0017] (1) Plant the golden camellia in the substrate and use periodic water control management. When the substrate moisture content drops to 30-40% of the maximum water holding capacity, irrigate with clean water.

[0018] (2) During the bud formation period of Camellia chrysantha until harvest, spray the leaves or irrigate the roots with nutrient solution every 10-15 days. The nutrient solution contains, in terms of effective ingredients, 80-150 mg / L of phosphorus (P2O5), 100-200 mg / L of potassium (K2O), and 30-80 mg / L of silicon (as SiO2).

[0019] In this invention, the periodic water control management described in step (1) is further refined to the point where the Camellia chrysantha plants show slight wilting symptoms in the afternoon, at which point the substrate moisture content is approximately 35% of the maximum water holding capacity. Unlike the existing technology that maintains consistently high soil moisture, this invention finds that by periodically controlling water management and actively reducing the substrate moisture content to 30-40% of the maximum water holding capacity, and even irrigating only when the plants show slight wilting symptoms, this mild water stress can effectively stimulate the secondary metabolic pathways of Camellia chrysantha, significantly promoting the accumulation of active ingredients such as polysaccharides and flavonoids in the subsequent flowers. This "slight wilting" symptom is a direct and reliable field indicator for judging whether water stress has reached an effective and safe level.

[0020] In this invention, the nutrient solution in step (2) is further prepared from potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium silicate.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following advantages:

[0022] 1. This invention proposes a specialized cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha and its application in Camellia chrysantha cultivation. Through the systematic design of the substrate formula and cultivation method, the growth and quality of Camellia chrysantha are synergistically improved. As shown in Table 1, the experimental group using the complete scheme of this invention, while maintaining robust plant growth (sprout height and diameter at birth significantly better than the control group) and excellent disease resistance (anthracnose incidence rate only 5%), achieved a highly significant increase of over 30% in the total polysaccharide and total flavonoid content in its flowers. This comprehensive effect, especially the substantial increase in active ingredients, solves the long-standing bottleneck of "quality control" in the Camellia chrysantha industry and enhances the market competitiveness of Camellia chrysantha.

[0023] 2. The cultivation substrate of this invention achieves systematic optimization of physical structure, chemical environment, and biological function through the organic combination of composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal, and river sand, creating an ideal rhizosphere environment for Camellia chrysantha with coordinated water and air, balanced nutrition, and antibacterial properties. The introduction of rice husk charcoal plays a crucial role; it not only optimizes the substrate's pore structure and improves aeration and water retention, but it is also a high-quality slow-release source of silicon and potassium, stably providing key elements that promote cell wall thickening (silicon) and participate in substance transport and synthesis (potassium) throughout the entire growth period of Camellia chrysantha. Comparative data from experimental control group A (where rice husk charcoal was replaced with an equal amount of decomposed coconut coir) show that, under identical cultivation management, the content of active ingredients in control group A was significantly lower than that in experimental group A. This may be attributed to the significant synergistic effect of the unique mineral nutrients (especially silicon) provided by rice husk charcoal, the broad-spectrum antibacterial function of tea seed meal, and the continuous acid-stabilizing function of leaf mold. The three work together to create a superior and irreplaceable rhizosphere microenvironment for the synthesis and accumulation of active ingredients in Camellia chrysantha.

[0024] 3. Furthermore, this invention specifically adds a trace element slow-release package composed of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate. Iron is a key cofactor in chlorophyll synthesis and various redox enzymes, while zinc directly participates in auxin metabolism and the activation of various enzymes. As shown in Table 1, the control group B (lacking this slow-release package) lagged significantly in the accumulation of active ingredients, directly demonstrating its crucial catalytic effect on the secondary metabolism of Camellia chrysantha. This is likely due to the precise supplementation of iron and zinc, which ensures the activity of enzymes related to flavonoid and polysaccharide synthesis, thus acting as a catalyst to catalyze the biosynthesis of these high-value compounds.

[0025] 4. In the cultivation method of this invention, a "periodic water control" management strategy is adopted. By precisely controlling the timing and degree of water supply, the physiological metabolism of Camellia chrysantha is successfully regulated. Specifically, this method does not simply restrict water, but irrigates only when the substrate moisture content drops to 30%-40% of the maximum water holding capacity and the plant shows reversible slight wilting. The purpose of this operation is to apply a mild, non-harmful biological stress. The results of control group C (conventional water management) in the experimental example show that, with the same high-quality substrate, the elimination of periodic water stress directly led to a significant decrease in the content of active ingredients. This strongly suggests that moderate water stress is not simply growth restriction, but rather serves as an effective physiological induction signal, potentially activating the stress response mechanism of Camellia chrysantha. This may alter the allocation strategy of photosynthetic products, directing more towards pathways for synthesizing defensive secondary metabolites such as polysaccharides and flavonoids, thereby enhancing its resistance to stress. Synergistically, the precise supplementation of phosphorus, potassium, and silicon nutrients during the bud formation period and before harvest provides a sufficient material basis and energy source for the large-scale synthesis of secondary metabolism triggered by stress signals. This close combination of "stress induction" and "nutritional support" in terms of timing and function effectively enhances the activity of Camellia chrysantha.

[0026] In summary, this invention, through the complementary and synergistic functions of its components and steps, constructs a complete technical solution that can simultaneously optimize the rhizosphere environment, precisely supplement nutrients, and directionally regulate plant physiology. Ultimately, while ensuring growth vigor, it achieves a significant increase in the content of core medicinal components in Camellia chrysantha, effectively improving the quality of Camellia chrysantha and demonstrating promising market prospects. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments and comparative examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0028] Example 1:

[0029] This embodiment proposes a special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha:

[0030] Matrix composition (parts by weight):

[0031] 40 portions of composted tea seed meal;

[0032] 25 parts leaf mold;

[0033] 15 portions of perlite;

[0034] 3 parts rice husk charcoal;

[0035] 10 portions of river sand.

[0036] Trace element slow-release package: accounting for 0.7‰ of the total matrix mass (of which the mass ratio of ferrous sulfate to zinc sulfate is 2.5:1).

[0037] Preparation method:

[0038] (1) Preparation of composted tea seed meal: Crush the tea seed meal, adjust the moisture content to 60%, compost for 50 days, turning the pile once a week during the period, and then set it aside for use.

[0039] (2) Weighing and mixing: Weigh the composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal and river sand according to the above weight parts, put them into the mixer and stir for 5 minutes to obtain the mixture.

[0040] (3) Adding trace elements and adjusting moisture: Add the above-mentioned proportion of trace element slow-release packets to the mixture and continue stirring for 10 minutes until evenly mixed. Then, spray water onto the evenly mixed substrate while stirring, adjusting the overall moisture content to 45%, thus obtaining the special cultivation substrate. This substrate feels moist, loose, and elastic.

[0041] Example 2:

[0042] This embodiment proposes a special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha:

[0043] Matrix composition (parts by weight):

[0044] 35 portions of composted tea seed meal;

[0045] 20 parts leaf mold;

[0046] 10 parts perlite;

[0047] 2 parts rice husk charcoal;

[0048] Eight portions of river sand.

[0049] Trace element slow-release package: accounting for 0.5‰ of the total matrix mass (of which the mass ratio of ferrous sulfate to zinc sulfate is 2:1).

[0050] Preparation method:

[0051] (1) Preparation of composted tea seed meal: Crush the tea seed meal, adjust the moisture content to 60%, compost for 40 days, turning the pile once a week during the period, and then set it aside for use.

[0052] (2) Weighing and mixing: Weigh the composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal and river sand according to the above weight parts, put them into the mixer and stir for 5 minutes to obtain the mixture.

[0053] (3) Adding trace elements and adjusting moisture: Add the above-mentioned proportion of trace element slow-release packets to the mixture and continue stirring for 10 minutes until evenly mixed. Then, spray water onto the evenly mixed substrate while stirring, adjusting the overall moisture content to 40%, thus obtaining the special cultivation substrate. This substrate feels moist, loose, and elastic.

[0054] Example 3:

[0055] This embodiment proposes a special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha:

[0056] Matrix composition (parts by weight):

[0057] 45 portions of composted tea seed meal;

[0058] 30 parts leaf mold;

[0059] 20 portions of perlite;

[0060] 5 parts rice husk charcoal;

[0061] 12 portions of river sand.

[0062] Trace element slow-release package: accounting for 1‰ of the total matrix mass (of which the mass ratio of ferrous sulfate to zinc sulfate is 3:1).

[0063] Preparation method:

[0064] (1) Preparation of composted tea seed meal: Crush the tea seed meal into powder, adjust the moisture content to 65%, compost for 60 days, turning the pile once a week during the period, and then set it aside for use.

[0065] (2) Weighing and mixing: Weigh the composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal and river sand according to the above weight parts, put them into the mixer and stir for 5 minutes to obtain the mixture.

[0066] (3) Adding trace elements and adjusting moisture: Add the above-mentioned proportion of trace element slow-release packets to the mixture and continue stirring for 10 minutes until evenly mixed. Then, spray water onto the evenly mixed substrate while stirring, adjusting the overall moisture content to 50%, thus obtaining the special cultivation substrate. This substrate feels moist, loose, and elastic.

[0067] Example 4:

[0068] This embodiment provides a method for cultivating honeysuckle, using the substrate described in Example 1, and the method includes the following steps:

[0069] (1) Potting and periodic water control management:

[0070] Plant the Camellia chrysantha plants in pots containing the substrate of Example 1, and immediately water them thoroughly with clean water (until water flows out from the bottom of the pot).

[0071] Afterward, perform periodic water control: When the substrate moisture content drops to 35% of its maximum water holding capacity (which can be estimated by weighing – that is, thoroughly water the substrate, drain excess water (e.g., let it stand for 2 hours), weigh it, and record it as the saturated weight; then thoroughly dry the substrate and weigh it, and record it as the dry weight. Maximum water holding capacity can be understood as (saturated weight - dry weight). In actual cultivation, when the pot weight drops to approximately "dry weight + (saturated weight - dry weight) × 35%", it indicates that irrigation is needed, or it can be visually indicated by slight wilting of the leaves on a sunny afternoon), then irrigate. Each irrigation should use clean water and must be thorough, ensuring that the water reaches the entire root zone, to the point that a small amount of water seeps out from the bottom of the pot.

[0072] (2) Nutritional management during the bud stage:

[0073] After the golden camellia buds form, nutrient solution is added. The nutrient solution is prepared as follows: potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium silicate are dissolved in water to prepare a solution with effective component concentrations of 120 mg / L P2O5, 150 mg / L K2O, and 50 mg / L SiO2.

[0074] Application method: Spray the leaves once every 12 days until both sides of the leaves are evenly moistened.

[0075] After 12 months of cultivation using this method, the flowers of the golden camellia are harvested.

[0076] Experimental example:

[0077] To illustrate the effectiveness of this application, the applicant conducted the following experiment:

[0078] Test plants: one-year-old cuttings of Camellia chrysantha with robust growth and uniform size.

[0079] Experimental group: The substrate of Example 1 of this invention was used and managed strictly according to the method of Example 4 (periodic water control + precise nutrition during the bud stage).

[0080] Control group A: The substrate in which the "rice husk charcoal" in the substrate of Example 1 of this invention was replaced with the common substrate component "decomposed coconut coir" was used. The cultivation and management methods were exactly the same as those of the experimental group.

[0081] Control group B: The substrate of Example 1 of the present invention without the addition of the trace element slow-release package was used, and the cultivation and management methods were exactly the same as those of the experimental group.

[0082] Control group C: The substrate of Example 1 of this invention was used, but no periodic water control was performed. Instead, the substrate moisture content was maintained at 65% of the maximum water holding capacity. Other nutrient management was the same as that of the experimental group.

[0083] Control group D: A conventional mixture of garden soil and peat moss substrate (volume ratio 4:1) was used, and conventional water and fertilizer management was carried out (keeping the substrate moist and regularly applying compound fertilizer solution).

[0084] Each group consisted of 30 replicates, and the potted plant experiment was conducted under the same temperature and light conditions for a cultivation period of 12 months. After the cultivation period, various indicators were measured, and the results are shown in the table below.

[0085] Table 1. Effects of different treatments on the growth and active ingredient content of Camellia chrysantha.

[0086]

[0087] Note: Data in the table is marked with... This indicates a significant difference compared to the experimental group at the p < 0.05 level.

[0088] According to the data in Table 1, the experimental group using the complete technical solution of this application achieved the best results in the accumulation of active ingredients in Camellia chrysantha, with significantly higher total polysaccharide and total flavonoid contents than all control groups. This result confirms the crucial synergistic relationship between the specific functions of each component in the technical solution of this invention and the cultivation management strategy. Specifically, rice husk charcoal provides structural and silicon-potassium nutrition, the trace element package ensures the precise supply of iron and zinc, and periodic water control effectively stimulates secondary metabolic pathways. These elements work together to lay the foundation for the efficient synthesis of active ingredients.

[0089] In control group A, where the rice husk charcoal unique to this invention was replaced with conventional decomposed coconut coir, the content of active ingredients was significantly reduced despite similar basic physical properties. This is likely due to the loss of a stable source of silicon and potassium in the substrate, leading to a deficiency of key nutrients that promote the synthesis of active ingredients, ultimately resulting in a significant decrease in content. This demonstrates that rice husk charcoal is indispensable in the scheme of this application. The results of control group B directly prove the indispensable role of the trace element slow-release package. Without precise supplementation of iron and zinc, even under the same conditions, the related enzyme activity and metabolic processes in Camellia chrysantha are restricted, failing to reach the optimal level of active ingredient accumulation. Furthermore, control group C removed the periodic water control operation. The results showed that even with the same high-quality substrate, after removing water stress (periodic water control), the plants lacked the environmental signals for synthesizing high levels of secondary metabolites, leading to a significant decrease in the content of active ingredients. This highlights the deep synergy between cultivation methods and substrate function. Control group D used a conventional mixture of garden soil and peat moss substrate (volume ratio 4:1) and was subject to conventional water and fertilizer management (keeping the substrate moist and regularly applying compound fertilizer solution). It lagged behind in all indicators, especially in disease resistance and active ingredient content, further reflecting the advanced nature and significant progress of the overall technical solution of this invention.

[0090] In summary, this invention, through the organic combination of a specialized substrate formula (containing rice husk charcoal and trace element packets) and a specific cultivation method (periodic water control), produces a strong synergistic effect, enabling targeted and efficient improvement of the medicinal quality of Camellia chrysantha. This technical effect cannot be achieved by using individual features separately or by employing conventional techniques, fully demonstrating the industrial application value of this invention.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present invention fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A special cultivation substrate suitable for Camellia chrysantha, characterized in that, It is mainly composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 35-45 parts composted tea seed meal, 20-30 parts leaf mold, 10-20 parts perlite, 2-5 parts rice husk charcoal, and 8-12 parts river sand; The matrix also contains trace element slow-release packets accounting for 0.5-1‰ of the total matrix mass, and the trace element slow-release packets are composed of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate in a mass ratio of 2-3:

1.

2. The special cultivation substrate for Camellia chrysantha according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is mainly composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 40 parts of composted tea seed meal, 25 parts of leaf mold, 15 parts of perlite, 3 parts of rice husk charcoal, and 10 parts of river sand; the matrix also contains a trace element slow-release packet accounting for 0.7‰ of the total matrix mass, the trace element slow-release packet being composed of ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate in a mass ratio of 2.5:

1.

3. The special cultivation substrate for Camellia chrysantha according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preparation method of the composted tea seed meal is as follows: crush the tea seed meal, adjust the moisture content to 55-65%, and compost for 40-60 days.

4. A method for preparing a special cultivation substrate for Camellia chrysantha as described in any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Preparation of composted tea seed meal: Crush the tea seed meal to 1-3cm, adjust the moisture content to 55-65%, compost and ferment for 40-60 days, turning the pile 3-5 times during the period, to obtain composted tea seed meal for later use; S2: Mixing: Weigh out the composted tea seed meal, leaf mold, perlite, rice husk charcoal and river sand according to the weight proportions mentioned above to obtain the mixture; S3: Add the trace element slow-release packet, which accounts for 0.5-1‰ of the total mass of the substrate, to the mixture obtained in S2, and then stir and mix thoroughly; adjust the moisture content of the resulting mixed substrate to 40-50%, and the cultivation substrate is obtained.

5. A method for cultivating Camellia chrysantha using the cultivation substrate according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Plant the golden camellia in the substrate and use periodic water control management. When the substrate moisture content drops to 30-40% of the maximum water holding capacity, irrigate with clean water. (2) During the bud formation period of Camellia chrysantha until harvest, spray the leaves or irrigate the roots with nutrient solution every 10-15 days. The nutrient solution contains, in terms of effective ingredients, 80-150 mg / L of phosphorus (P2O5), 100-200 mg / L of potassium (K2O), and 30-80 mg / L of silicon (as SiO2).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The nutrient solution described in step (2) is prepared from potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium silicate.

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