Eidus, Robert. North Carolina Ginseng & Goldenseal Co., Marshall, NC.
(Presented at The Future of Ginseng and Forest Botanicals Symposium, July 12-14, 2017, Morgantown, WV)
Abstract
I present results of work from a 2000 SERA grant from the USDA about determining alternatives to chemicals to fight aboveground and soil fungus. I also discuss Davis’s research study on goldenseal, and the role of goldenseal soil washes in soil-born funguses. The benefits of above-ground spraying with horsetail are presented, as the best over others tested. Additional fungicides such as plants (e.g. chamomile), hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and horticultural sulfur will also be discussed.
The Problem
Chemical fungicides have been sprayed on ginseng for decades. The growing and harvesting of ginseng is very labor intensive. Thus, once chemical spraying was made available and shown to be effective, ginseng growers quickly adopted the use of agricultural chemicals. Therefore, the chemical spraying reduced labor costs and as a result, increased profits. The use of chemical fungicides has altered the types of ginseng available in the world market.
Traditionally, ginseng was wild crafted (collected) from wild populations in the woods. Now almost all of the ginseng sold worldwide is cultivated, and 90% of all ginseng is sprayed. Ginseng is one of the most heavily sprayed crops worldwide; only tobacco and cotton are sprayed more (and we do not eat tobacco or cotton).
In North America, there are four main types of ginseng: wild, wild simulated, woods grown and cultivated. Both woods grown and cultivated are grown in a monoculture system under artificial shade and are usually sprayed with at least a fungicide in the summer and fall (Diathane M-45 is commonly used by many growers). Many growers spray every day from spring to fall.
Ginseng can become stressed and diseased in a mono-cultured environment, including some wild simulated settings. The goal of high-volume growers is to produce a marketable crop as quickly as possible. Therefore, the plants are spaced very close together and are pushed with fertilizers to speed the process. These agricultural practices, however, promote the development of fungal diseases that are able to destroy the plant and root. Thus, the grower under that agricultural mono-cultured system is forced to use chemicals to prevent or stop the spread of fungal disease(s).
The mono-cultured farming approach, with the heavy use of agri-chemicals, makes changes in the end product as compared with organic ginseng. In the long term, this is not a sustainable practice. In a short time, the soil can be depleted of nutrients and will be infested with diseases for years to come without intervention. Many plant species, including ginseng, may not be able to live in this polluted soil. Fungicide residues are making cultivated ginseng less desirable in the world market place. As a side effect, this heavy agricultural chemical spraying may also be affecting the drinking water in the area, along with other agricultural spraying of non-biodegradable elements.
Methods: The Site and Planting
We began with the preparation of the wooded site in the fall. On the north facing slope, a ten foot high deer fence was constructed. Thirty beds in three rows were constructed within the natural forest environment. Each plot was 2.5 ft. by 3 ft. with an over-spray area between plots. All plant material was removed from the plots and a woodland soil mixture was spread over the beds.
Dr. Jeanine Davis, the Project Coordinator, participated in the planting from the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Agricultural Extension Service Research Station in Fletcher, NC. Nine hundred plants were used. Each plot had thirty roots planted in five rows with six plants to a row.
Spraying of Natural Fungicides
In early April, the heavy leaf mulch was removed. Some plants were replanted and some were lost. A plant count was taken later in April and 674 plants had survived the winter. Dr Davis had conducted previous research that showed that goldenseal helped soil funguses in ginseng beds. This led to the possibility that goldenseal water drenches in beds used goldenseal anti-fungal properties to protect soil-borne funguses. For our study, a goldenseal wash was created by pouring boiling water into a jar with goldenseal rhizomes and placing the jar in the sun. Then that concentration was used in watering cans and washed the beds soil. The real problem was the aerial portions of the plant. These were sprayed with, (1) goldenseal, (2) horsetail, (3) Oxidate, (4) micronized compost tea or (5) water (as a control). This was a triple blind study.
Each application was scheduled to be sprayed on a weekly cycle. It should be mentioned for historical importance that the weather was considered to be in drought conditions for the entire study.
Horsetail E. was described by Rudolf Steiner (1924) as a wonderful anti-fungal. Horsetail is one of the oldest plants on our planet and has more silica than any other plant. This Bio Dynamic prep number 508, which can be used for ginseng, can be obtained from the Josephine Porter Institute in Virginia. It is prepared similar to the goldenseal spray, but applied with a hand-held spray bottle or backpack spray.
Dr. Elaine Ingram, past Oregon State teacher, main author of Soil Biology Primer, USDA and now found on www.foodweb.com, lectures that the way to protect against funguses is to put good funguses on the plant so that bad funguses are not allowed to land on the leaves and stem. It should be noted that after each rain, especially in the summer and fall, the horsetail spray or other anti-fungal plants should be applied.
Results and Discussion
The control plants appeared to be the first to die off, which was anticipated. Goldenseal spray may not be as effective as the other three sprayed plots of horsetail, micronized compost tea, and Oxidate. Eagle Feather Farm uses goldenseal washes for the soil fungus, and horsetail hand sprayed on the parts of the plant that show yellowing around the edges of the leaves.
A recent article by Lee and Yu (2011) mentions four fungus species as follows: Pythium ultimum, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. These four were investigated, noting the infection of these fungi effects the whole plant, noticing that the leaves become dry and die. They state, “The disease caused by Pythium ultimum can be prevented by using friendly environmental materials like Chamaecyparis obtuse essential oil and wormstop. Alternaria alternate and Fusarium oxysporum might be prevented by using wormstop extracted from the Neem tree, (Azadirachta indica).” (Lee and Yu, 2001, 11). Nothing that they tested could effectively prevent the growth of Rhizoctonia solani.
Therefore, we are learning more about plants and a tree that can help with the above ground parts of the ginseng plant. Note that chamomile is also anti-fungal.
Conclusion
Ginseng, both Asian and American, can be grown successfully without using chemicals. The health benefits should not have to be compromised by unwanted fungus resides, which need to be gotten out of the human body with anti-oxides, plus the consumer is not aware. There is no testing or labeling of fungicide build-up in this root crop. Our government needs to require testing coming into and out of the US; this would put a big dent in the current system. We require a “phyto” test, why not a residue level test? With Roundup being pushed worldwide it would not be unusual to find this carcinogenic in cultivated, woods grown and wild simulated ginseng.
Our universities could produce very useful information about this topic. I would hope that the Extension offices in the ginseng growing region stop recommending toxic substances as being acceptable for forest farming.
References
Lee, Chong-Kyu and Chan-Yeol Yu. 2011. Selection of Natural Materials for Eco-friendly Control for Blight of Wood-Cultivated Ginseng (Panax ginseng). Journal of Agriculture & Life Science 45(2): 9-13.
Steiner, R. 1924. The Agriculture Course. http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA327/English/BDA1958/Ag1958_index.html
