Objective  To study the effects of straw cover amount on growth and development, dry matter accumulation, yield and quality of Ligusticum chuanxiong, and provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for sustainable agricultural development and ecological planting of L. chuanxiong.

Method  Single-factor randomized block design was adopted, and three treatments including no straw cover, covering Lingzi, covering whole ridge were setted. The emergence rate, morphological indexes, dry matter accumulation, drying rate, yield and chemical components of L. Chuanxiong were determined and analyzed. Finally, the economic benefit was evaluated.

Result  Covering whole ridge treatment had the highest emergence rate reaching 97.66%, which was significantly higher than no straw cover treatment (94.05%). The emergence rate of covering Lingzi was 96.68%, which was not significantly different from other two treatments. Straw cover treatment had significant effects on plant height during multiple growth stages especially early growth stage, had significant effects on stem number, leaf number and rhizome width at late growth stage and no significant effect on rhizome length and rhizome thickness. Except for senescene period, the aboveground part dry weight, underground part dry weight and aboveground part drying rate of covering Lingzi and covering whole ridge were higher than those of no straw cover treatment at each growth stage. The yield of covering whole ridge was 16.6% and 41.6% higher than those of covering Lingzi and no straw cover respectively, and the net income was 24.4% and 68.3% higher than those of other two treatments respectively. Straw cover treatment increased the contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, ligustilide, and total phthalides in the rhizome of L.chuanxiong.

Conclusion  Straw cover treatment of L. chuanxiong during planting period is conducive to promoting growth and development and dry matter accumulation of L. chuanxiong, and improving its yield, quality and economic benefits. The effect of covering whole ridge is superior to the traditional half-cover of covering Lingzi solely.