Five Problems to Be Paid Attention to in Forest Medicine Interplanting
Xuzhou Xinbaisheng Protective Equipnent Co., Ltd. , https://www.xinparkson.com
The practice of interplanting Chinese medicinal herbs in areas where farmland is being converted back to forests is a promising strategy to improve land use efficiency and boost farmers' income. However, several key challenges must be carefully addressed to ensure the success of this initiative.
First, the selected medicinal plant varieties must be well-suited to the local soil and climate conditions, particularly in mountainous regions where the land is often thin, nutrient-poor, and prone to drought. It's essential to choose hardy species that can thrive under such conditions, such as Bupleurum, Spearmint, and Honeysuckle. Additionally, factors like altitude, slope orientation, soil moisture, and tree age should be taken into account. For example, cold-resistant plants like Xiyang white peony and Chuanxiong are suitable for high-altitude shaded areas, while Houttuynia cordata and Gynostemma pentaphyllum work well in low-light environments. When trees are young, light-demanding herbs like Salvia miltiorrhiza can be planted, but as the trees grow, shade-tolerant species like Coptis chinensis and Huangjing become more appropriate. It's also important to avoid replanting the same species in the same area for 3–5 years to prevent soil depletion and disease buildup.
While some medicinal plants with active ingredients can be interplanted, their yield may be high but the concentration of active compounds might be low, leading to poor quality products. Therefore, it’s crucial not to blindly develop these crops. Many alpine medicinal plants, for instance, may not adapt well to lower altitudes. To ensure quality, it’s better to prioritize native species that have been tested and proven to have high levels of active ingredients. New imported varieties should undergo thorough testing before large-scale planting to confirm both yield and potency.
The goal of returning farmland to forests is to stabilize the ecological benefits and maintain long-term environmental health. Therefore, interplanting should align with this objective. It’s best to select herbs that can be harvested from their above-ground parts, such as leaves, flowers, or fruits, without requiring frequent tilling. Examples include Honeysuckle, Roses, and Papaya. Perennial herbs like Peony, Spearmint, and Mint can also be grown for multiple years without continuous plowing, helping to preserve ground cover and reduce erosion. Root and tuber-based medicinal plants, however, may conflict with the policy if they require frequent disturbance of the land.
To enhance the production of modern Chinese medicinal materials, regionalization, scale, specialization, and standardization are essential. This applies to interplanting as well. Local governments should assess their unique resources and environmental conditions, set clear priorities, and implement unified cultivation standards. Only through such coordinated efforts can the products gain market competitiveness and deliver sustainable economic returns.
Finally, the economic viability of forest-medicine interplanting must be ensured. The ultimate aim is to increase farmers’ income while maintaining forest coverage. Therefore, every step—from selecting medicinal materials to layout, cultivation, harvesting, and processing—should consider market demands. This means leveraging local advantages, staying responsive to market trends, avoiding overproduction, and preventing price drops due to oversupply. By doing so, the interplanting model can achieve both ecological and economic success.