2000 Annual Report for FNC00-316
Best Cultivation Practices for At-Risk Medicinal Herbs
Summary
Charlie Hambel of Glouster, Ohio and five other producers wanted to set up experimental plots to determine the best practices for forest-based medicinal herb cultivation and production. The use of medicinal herbs has grown significantly over the last several years and without proper cultivation practices, these herbs could be facing extinction.
This 2000 SARE project evaluated the effects of soil amendments, Ph levels, aspect, irrigation levels, root size classes and tilled vs. non-tilled soils on Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) and Black Cohosh (Actea racemosa) in a wooded setting. The growers of this project set up nine beds to test the effect of different inputs on the growth rate of goldenseal. In six of the nine beds different soil amendments were added, including: composted cow manure and hay as well as composted sawdust. The remaining three beds were used to determine optimal inputs and Ph levels for the production; as well as performing a soil analysis on each of the three beds.
The results showed that higher yields were obtained from the tilled beds that utilized composted leaves. The plants the received 2”of water had 5% more gain that the plots that received an inch or less. The results for the pH level found that there was more success with the higher level. The higher pH bed had almost twice the number of ounces harvested as the composted bed and more than three times as much as the bed with no amendments.
Throughout these experiments, they found that Appalachian Ohio has a large amount of biodiversity which allows for the production wood and non-timber forest products. The demonstrations and field days involved with this project allowed prospective growers to learn more about the methods for raising herbs and the economical and ecological benefits that can be obtained as a result of organic cultivation. They also gained a variety of resources from guest speakers and those involved in the project.
To learn more about more about the Appalachian Ohio project and the Roots of Appalachia Growers Association visit their website at
http://www.rootsofappalachia.org