A method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs.

Abstract

This invention discloses a method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs, belonging to the field of plant cultivation technology. The method includes: S1, dividing the area into a mountain conservation zone, a water circulation zone, a tree planting zone, and a medicinal herb cultivation zone; S2, implementing soil and water conservation projects and constructing a water circulation system; S3, mixing trees and understory vegetation in the tree planting zone to form a composite canopy with a canopy density of 0.6-0.7 and a forest gap ratio of 10-15%; S4, constructing a medicinal herb community and planting medicinal plants in suitable spaces; S5, systematic maintenance and introducing beneficial organisms to promote system stability. This invention integrates "mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs" into a synergistic and symbiotic organic whole, not only controlling soil erosion at the source and realizing water resource recycling, but also significantly improving the yield and quality of medicinal herbs by constructing three functional subsystems: "root promotion, quality improvement, and disease prevention," thereby directionally regulating the growth environment of medicinal herbs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant cultivation technology, specifically to a method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs. Background Technology

[0002] With increasing demands for the safety and sustainable production of Chinese medicinal herbs, traditional, monoculture-based, high-input farmland cultivation models are no longer sufficient to meet the needs. Therefore, existing technologies have disclosed various methods for cultivating medicinal plants in mountainous or forested areas.

[0003] For example, Chinese patent document CN202410597130.1 discloses a "method for constructing an ecosystem composed of mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs." This includes site selection, site treatment, ridging, fertilization, seed selection, sowing, irrigation, and weeding. It combines mountains, water, and forests to form a new ecosystem for medicinal herb cultivation, rationally utilizing limited land resources. It allows for medicinal herb cultivation without damaging the original environment, thus increasing economic output without occupying arable land, and has potential for widespread application. However, this type of existing technology involves agricultural activities with medicinal herb production as the sole objective within a pre-defined, static "forest" environment. Its focus is concentrated on the agronomic management of the planting process itself, lacking planning for the entire ecosystem. Furthermore, pest and disease control still relies on spraying chemical fungicides and insecticides. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs, comprising the following steps:

[0005] S1. Site planning: Based on the topography and hydrological conditions of the target area, the target area is divided into a mountain conservation area, a water circulation area, a forest planting area, and a medicinal herb cultivation area.

[0006] S2. Construction of mountain and water base: Implement soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area, and construct or restore streams, ponds or wetlands in the water circulation area for irrigation; in daily maintenance, transpiration can meet the needs, and in case of severe drought, manual water pumping irrigation can be selected.

[0007] S3. Forest community construction: In the forest planting area, trees and understory vegetation are mixed and planted to form a composite forest community;

[0008] S4. Construction of medicinal plant communities: Medicinal plants are planted in the understory and forest edge spaces of the medicinal plant cultivation area and the composite forest community;

[0009] S5. System maintenance and succession promotion: Introduce pollinating insects (such as bees and scarabs) and birds (such as tits and sparrows) to promote positive succession and functional stability of the ecosystem.

[0010] Preferably, in step S1, the mountain conservation area is located at the highest point of the system or the core slope; the water circulation area is located at the foot of the mountain, in the valley and / or on the low-lying water catchment line; the forest planting area surrounds, encloses and / or intersperses between the mountain conservation area and the water circulation area; and the herbal medicine cultivation area is embedded in the mountain conservation area, the water circulation area and the forest planting area.

[0011] Preferably, in step S2, the specific method for implementing soil and water conservation engineering in the mountain conservation area is as follows:

[0012] (1) Terrain modification: Excavate fish-scale pits or horizontal terraces along the contour lines of the mountain to form rainwater in-situ storage and infiltration units;

[0013] (2) Vegetation restoration: Plant deep-rooted shrubs as the framework (such as sea buckthorn, caragana, etc.), and mix herbaceous plants (such as ryegrass, tall fescue, etc.) with green manure plants (such as alfalfa, clover, etc.) to quickly cover the ground surface;

[0014] (3) Diversion: Ditches are constructed in the middle and lower parts of the hillside to divert surface runoff and avoid erosion and damage to the terrain and vegetation.

[0015] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of promoting the root development of medicinal plants: in step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Astragalus membranaceus, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Polygonatum sibiricum, or Paris polyphylla.

[0016] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0017] The tree species is one or more of the following: Scots pine, Quercus acutissima, and walnut;

[0018] The understory vegetation consists of one or more of the following: hazelnut, dogwood, lespedeza, and caragana; the decomposition of forest litter and root exudates are used to improve soil structure and promote the root development of medicinal plants.

[0019] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of increasing the content of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants: in step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Forsythia suspensa, Lonicera japonica, or Schisandra chinensis;

[0020] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0021] The tree in question is spruce;

[0022] The understory vegetation consists of one or more of the following: privet, cornelian cherry, gardenia, wolfberry, and elderberry.

[0023] By utilizing the moderate shade environment and allelopathic effects created by the aforementioned trees, the synthesis of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants can be stimulated.

[0024] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of ecological control of pests and diseases: in step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Astragalus membranaceus, Scutellaria baicalensis, or Saposhnikovia divaricata.

[0025] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0026] The tree species mentioned are one or more of juniper, ailanthus, and chinaberry;

[0027] The understory vegetation consists of one or more of oleander, camellia, pyrethrum, marigold, artemisia, and rue; its volatile or secreted substances are used to repel or inhibit pests and diseases.

[0028] Preferably, the canopy closure of the trees is 0.6-0.7, and the area of ​​the gaps between trees is 10%-15%.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0030] 1. This invention provides a method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs. It integrates "mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs" into a synergistic and symbiotic organic whole. It not only controls soil erosion and realizes water resource recycling from the source, but also regulates the growth environment of medicinal herbs in a targeted manner by constructing three functional subsystems of "root promotion, quality improvement, and disease prevention". This significantly improves the yield and quality of medicinal herbs, while achieving ecological production with almost zero chemical pesticides. It solves the technical problems of ecological fragility, unstable quality, and reliance on pesticides in the traditional model.

[0031] 2. This invention provides a method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs. It upgrades the traditional scattered planting of medicinal herbs into a complete ecosystem that includes mountain conservation, water circulation, tree planting, and herb cultivation. The mountain conservation area controls soil erosion at its source, the water circulation area purifies and recycles water resources, and the tree planting area creates a stable growth environment. Together, they establish a natural ecological environment for the herb cultivation area. The functional areas work together to achieve a virtuous cycle of "using ecology to protect production and using production to promote ecology," fundamentally solving the problems of single ecological function and fragile system in existing technologies.

[0032] 3. This invention, by selecting and combining trees with specific functions with target medicinal herbs, can directionally regulate the growth environment of medicinal plants and construct different subsystems:

[0033] (1) Constructing a subsystem aimed at promoting the root development of medicinal plants:

[0034] The deep-rooted roots of trees such as Pinus sylvestris and Quercus acutissima can penetrate the plow pan, acting as a biological deep-loosening agent. Their litter, such as pine needles and oak leaves, decompose slowly, forming a loose, well-aerated, and well-drained acidic humus layer. This provides an indispensable space and substrate environment for the root development of Astragalus membranaceus, the enlargement of Polygonatum sibiricum rhizomes, and the growth of Paris polyphylla tubers, effectively preventing root deformities and poor development caused by soil compaction. Leguminosae nitrogen-fixing shrubs such as Lespedeza bicolor and Caragana sinica act as green manure factories, continuously injecting usable nitrogen into the soil through biological nitrogen fixation. Simultaneously, their dense fibrous root systems and abundant litter rapidly increase the organic matter content of the topsoil, providing a stable, slow-release, and balanced nitrogen source and organic nutrients for root and rhizome medicinal herbs with high nutrient requirements. This significantly promotes the accumulation of root biomass and avoids the risks of soil acidification and excessive nitrate content in medicinal herbs caused by chemical fertilizer application.

[0035] (2) Constructing a subsystem aimed at increasing the content of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants:

[0036] The canopy of spruce trees can regulate the light intensity under the trees to 30%-60% of the full sunlight. For medicinal herbs such as forsythia and honeysuckle, which prefer light but tolerate shade, the stress of light competition forces the plants to allocate more photosynthetic products and metabolic resources to flowering, fruiting, and secondary defense metabolism, rather than excessive vegetative growth. This effectively increases fruit yield and the concentration of active ingredients in flowers, such as forsythosides and chlorogenic acid. The volatile terpenes released by spruce trees stimulate the herbs to initiate defense responses to varying degrees, significantly upregulating the activity of key enzymes in their secondary metabolic pathways, thereby synthesizing large amounts of flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, and other active ingredients. At the same time, this forest community can effectively reduce summer heat and water transpiration, making the environmental temperature and humidity more stable, reducing damage to medicinal herbs caused by high temperatures and drought, and contributing to the synthesis and accumulation of active ingredients in medicinal herbs.

[0037] (3) Construct a subsystem with the goal of ecological control of pests and diseases:

[0038] Tall trees such as juniper and ailanthus are in the upper layer, shrubs such as oleander and rue are in the middle and lower layers, and herbaceous plants such as pyrethrum and marigold are in the near-ground layer, forming a multi-layered insect-repelling gas barrier that can effectively repel or inhibit a variety of pests. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 The diagram shows the implementation effect of the subsystem constructed in Example 1 that aims to promote the root development of medicinal plants.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the implementation effect of the subsystem for ecological control of pests and diseases constructed in Example 3.

[0041] Figure 3 The image shows the forest soil three years after the implementation of Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Example 1

[0043] A method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs includes the following steps:

[0044] S1. Site planning: Based on the topography and hydrological conditions of the target area, the target area is divided into a mountain conservation area, a water circulation area, a forest planting area, and a medicinal herb cultivation area.

[0045] S2. Construction of mountain and water base: Implement soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area, and construct or restore streams, ponds or wetlands in the water circulation area;

[0046] S3. Forest community construction: In the forest planting area, trees and understory vegetation are mixed and planted to form a composite forest community;

[0047] S4. Construction of medicinal plant communities: Medicinal plants are planted in the understory and forest edge spaces of the medicinal plant cultivation area and the composite forest community;

[0048] S5. Systemic Maintenance and Succession Promotion: Introduce pollinating insects and birds to promote positive ecosystem succession and functional stability.

[0049] Preferably, in step S1, the mountain conservation area is located at the highest point of the system or the core slope; the water circulation area is located at the foot of the mountain, in the valley, and on the low-lying water catchment line; the forest planting area surrounds, encloses, and intersperses between the mountain conservation area and the water circulation area; and the herbal medicine cultivation area is embedded in the mountain conservation area, the water circulation area, and the forest planting area.

[0050] Preferably, in step S2, the specific method for implementing soil and water conservation engineering in the mountain conservation area is as follows:

[0051] (1) Terrain modification: Excavate fish-scale pits or horizontal terraces along the contour lines of the mountain to form rainwater in-situ storage and infiltration units;

[0052] (2) Vegetation restoration: Plant deep-rooted shrubs as the framework, and mix herbaceous plants and green manure plants to quickly cover the ground surface;

[0053] (3) Diversion: Ditches are constructed in the middle and lower parts of the hillside to divert surface runoff and avoid erosion and damage to the terrain and vegetation.

[0054] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of promoting the root development of medicinal plants. Figure 1 In step S4, the herb is Astragalus membranaceus;

[0055] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0056] The tree in question is Pinus sylvestris;

[0057] The understory vegetation consists of Cornus officinalis and Lespedeza bicolor; the decomposition of forest litter and root exudates are used to improve soil structure and promote the root development of medicinal plants.

[0058] Preferably, the canopy closure of the trees is 0.6, and the area of ​​the gaps between trees is 10%.

[0059] Example 2

[0060] A method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs includes the following steps:

[0061] S1. Site planning: Based on the topography and hydrological conditions of the target area, the target area is divided into a mountain conservation area, a water circulation area, a forest planting area, and a medicinal herb cultivation area.

[0062] S2. Construction of mountain and water base: Implement soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area, and construct or restore streams, ponds or wetlands in the water circulation area;

[0063] S3. Forest community construction: In the forest planting area, trees and understory vegetation are mixed and planted to form a composite forest community;

[0064] S4. Construction of medicinal plant communities: Medicinal plants are planted in the understory and forest edge spaces of the medicinal plant cultivation area and the composite forest community;

[0065] S5. Systemic Maintenance and Succession Promotion: Introduce pollinating insects, birds, and soil microorganisms to promote positive ecosystem succession and functional stability.

[0066] Preferably, in step S1, the mountain conservation area is located at the highest point of the system or the core slope; the water circulation area is located at the foot of the mountain, in the valley, and on the low-lying water catchment line; the forest planting area surrounds, encloses, and intersperses between the mountain conservation area and the water circulation area; and the herbal medicine cultivation area is embedded in the mountain conservation area, the water circulation area, and the forest planting area.

[0067] Preferably, in step S2, the specific method for implementing soil and water conservation engineering in the mountain conservation area is as follows:

[0068] (1) Terrain modification: Excavate fish-scale pits or horizontal terraces along the contour lines of the mountain to form rainwater in-situ storage and infiltration units;

[0069] (2) Vegetation restoration: Plant deep-rooted shrubs as the framework, and mix herbaceous plants and green manure plants to quickly cover the ground surface;

[0070] (3) Diversion: Ditches are constructed in the middle and lower parts of the hillside to divert surface runoff and avoid erosion and damage to the terrain and vegetation.

[0071] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of increasing the content of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants: in step S4, the herbs are forsythia, honeysuckle, and schisandra;

[0072] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0073] The tree in question is spruce;

[0074] The understory vegetation consists of privet, cornelian cherry, gardenia, wolfberry, and elderberry.

[0075] By utilizing the moderate shade environment and allelopathic effects created by the aforementioned trees, the synthesis of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants can be stimulated.

[0076] Preferably, the canopy closure of the trees is 0.7, and the area of ​​the gaps between trees is 15%.

[0077] Example 3

[0078] A method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs includes the following steps:

[0079] S1. Site planning: Based on the topography and hydrological conditions of the target area, the target area is divided into a mountain conservation area, a water circulation area, a forest planting area, and a medicinal herb cultivation area.

[0080] S2. Construction of mountain and water base: Implement soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area, and construct or restore streams, ponds or wetlands in the water circulation area;

[0081] S3. Forest community construction: In the forest planting area, trees and understory vegetation are mixed and planted to form a composite forest community;

[0082] S4. Construction of medicinal plant communities: Medicinal plants are planted in the understory and forest edge spaces of the medicinal plant cultivation area and the composite forest community;

[0083] S5. Systemic Maintenance and Succession Promotion: Introduce pollinating insects and birds to promote positive ecosystem succession and functional stability.

[0084] Preferably, in step S1, the mountain conservation area is located at the highest point of the system or the core slope; the water circulation area is located at the foot of the mountain, in the valley, and on the low-lying water catchment line; the forest planting area surrounds, encloses, and intersperses between the mountain conservation area and the water circulation area; and the herbal medicine cultivation area is embedded in the mountain conservation area, the water circulation area, and the forest planting area.

[0085] Preferably, in step S2, the specific method for implementing soil and water conservation engineering in the mountain conservation area is as follows:

[0086] (1) Terrain modification: Excavate fish-scale pits or horizontal terraces along the contour lines of the mountain to form rainwater in-situ storage and infiltration units;

[0087] (2) Vegetation restoration: Plant deep-rooted shrubs as the framework, and mix herbaceous plants and green manure plants to quickly cover the ground surface;

[0088] (3) Diversion: Ditches are constructed in the middle and lower parts of the hillside to divert surface runoff and avoid erosion and damage to the terrain and vegetation.

[0089] Preferably, a subsystem is constructed with the goal of ecological control of pests and diseases ( Figure 2 In step S4, the herb is Saposhnikovia divaricata.

[0090] In step S3, within the composite forest community:

[0091] The tree in question is juniper;

[0092] The understory vegetation consists of oleander, camellia, pyrethrum, marigold, artemisia, and rue; its volatile or secreted substances are used to repel or suppress pests and diseases.

[0093] Preferably, the canopy closure of the trees is 0.65, and the area of ​​the gaps between trees is 13%.

[0094] Comparative Example 1

[0095] The difference between this comparative example and Example 1 is that it adopts a traditional single-herb field planting mode: a flat farmland adjacent to the area of ​​Example 1 with similar conditions is selected, conventional field cultivation methods are used, Astragalus membranaceus is planted alone, and conventional watering, fertilization and pesticide spraying are used for management.

[0096] Comparative Example 2

[0097] The difference between this comparative example and Example 1 is that a pure Chinese fir forest was selected, and Astragalus membranaceus was planted in the forest. Only simple weeding was carried out in the early stage of medicinal herb planting, and watering and maintenance were carried out in the later stage.

[0098] Experimental Section

[0099] In Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, an experimental area of ​​1 hectare was selected. From the completion of system construction (or the start of planting), a three-year follow-up monitoring and data collection was carried out, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0100] Table 1. Comparison of the overall effects of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 (three-year average)

[0101]

[0102] As shown in Table 1, the yield of Astragalus membranaceus in Example 1 (188 kg / mu) is slightly lower than that in the field cultivation mode of Comparative Example 1 (177 kg / mu). This invention relies on natural regulation, requiring no manual labor and saving significant costs. Furthermore, the yields of Astragalus membranaceus in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are significantly higher than those in the simple understory cultivation mode of Comparative Example 2 (93 kg / mu), demonstrating significant effectiveness. It is noteworthy that Example 1 has the smallest coefficient of variation in yield, indicating its most stable production performance and minimal impact from interannual climate fluctuations. In contrast, Comparative Example 2 has the lowest yield and the largest variation, proving that simple understory cultivation is high-risk and uncontrollable.

[0103] In the Astragalus membranaceus produced in Example 1, the content of astragaloside A reached 0.082%, which was higher than that of field planting in Comparative Example 1 and simple understory planting in Comparative Example 2. The present invention can directionally stimulate and promote the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants through the natural environment created, which cannot be achieved by conventional planting methods.

[0104] The incidence of root rot in Example 1 was only 2.8%, which was significantly lower than that in Comparative Examples 1 and 2. This may be due to factors such as the excellent ventilation and suitable humidity provided by the canopy structure of the trees provided by the present invention, the destruction of the pathogen breeding environment, the biological barrier formed by healthy soil and beneficial microbial communities, and the natural control of pests and diseases by the rich biodiversity within the system.

[0105] The soil organic matter content (28.5 g / kg) in Example 1 increased significantly over three years, far exceeding that of field soil and simple understory models. This demonstrates the effectiveness of tree litter, green manure plants, and nutrient cycling within the system, achieving sustainable production that combines land use with soil conservation. Figure 3 Images of forest understory soil three years after implementation, and also from... Figure 3 As can be seen, the soil is yellowish-brown, loose and without clumps, with many plant roots growing inside, indicating that the soil has a high organic matter content, making it suitable for plant growth.

[0106] During the dry season, the medicinal herbs planted in Example 1 showed only slight, reversible wilting, demonstrating a strong water retention and regulation capacity. This is due to the natural regulatory effect of the mountain-water-forest structure of the present invention. In contrast, Comparative Examples 1 and 2 relied entirely on irrigation. Comparative Example 1 showed acceptable stress resistance, while Comparative Example 2 likely experienced exacerbated drought stress due to competition for water among trees, resulting in poorer performance.

Claims

1. A method for constructing a four-in-one medicinal plant complex ecosystem integrating mountains, water, forests, and medicinal herbs, characterized in that, Constructing any one of the following subsystems: one aimed at promoting root development in medicinal plants, one aimed at increasing the content of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants, or one aimed at ecological control of pests and diseases, includes the following steps: S1. Site planning: Divide the target area into a mountain conservation area, a water circulation area, a forest planting area, and a medicinal herb cultivation area; The mountain conservation area is located at the highest point of the system or on the core slope; the water circulation area is located at the foot of the mountain, in the valley, and / or on the low-lying water catchment line; the forest planting area surrounds, encloses, and / or intersperses between the mountain conservation area and the water circulation area; the herbal medicine cultivation area is embedded in the mountain conservation area, the water circulation area, and the forest planting area; S2. Construction of mountain and water base: Implement soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area, and construct or restore streams, ponds or wetlands in the water circulation area; S3. Forest community construction: In the forest planting area, trees and understory vegetation are mixed and planted to form a composite forest community; S4. Construction of medicinal plant communities: Medicinal plants are planted in the understory and forest edge spaces of the medicinal plant cultivation area and the composite forest community; S5. System maintenance and succession promotion: Introduce pollinating insects and birds to promote positive succession and functional stability of the ecosystem; When constructing a subsystem aimed at promoting root development in medicinal plants: In step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Astragalus membranaceus, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Polygonatum sibiricum, or Paris polyphylla. In step S3, within the composite forest community: The tree species is one or more of the following: Scots pine, Quercus acutissima, and walnut; The understory vegetation consists of one or more of the following: hazelnut, dogwood, lespedeza, and caragana. When constructing a subsystem aimed at increasing the content of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants: In step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Forsythia suspensa, Lonicera japonica, or Schisandra chinensis. In step S3, within the composite forest community: The tree in question is spruce; The understory vegetation consists of one or more of the following: privet, cornelian cherry, gardenia, wolfberry, and elderberry. When constructing a subsystem with the goal of ecological control of pests and diseases: In step S4, the herb is any one or a combination of Astragalus membranaceus, Scutellaria baicalensis, or Saposhnikovia divaricata. In step S3, within the composite forest community: The tree species mentioned are one or more of juniper, ailanthus, and chinaberry; The understory vegetation consists of one or more of the following: oleander, camellia oleifera, pyrethrum, marigold, artemisia, and rue.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the specific method for implementing soil and water conservation projects in the mountain conservation area is as follows: (1) Terrain modification: Excavate fish-scale pits or horizontal terraces along the contour lines of the mountain to form rainwater in-situ storage and infiltration units; (2) Vegetation restoration: Plant deep-rooted shrubs as the framework, and mix herbaceous plants and green manure plants to quickly cover the ground surface; (3) Diversion: Ditches are constructed in the middle and lower parts of the hillside to divert surface runoff.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The canopy closure of the trees is 0.6-0.7, and the area of ​​the gaps between the trees is 10%-15%.

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