What varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs can be intercropped in orchards, and what are the principles?

Planting medicinal herbs under fruit trees is already fairly common, but Chinese medicinal herbs are agricultural by-products, and each by-product has a different growth cycle. Some are half-year plants, some annual, and some perennial. So which Chinese medicinal herbs can be intercropped in orchards? What principles apply?

I. Principles for intercropping Chinese medicinal herbs in orchards

1. A reasonable field structure should be formed according to the biological characteristics of different fruit trees and Chinese medicinal herbs. The selected medicinal herb varieties should mainly be shade-tolerant and shallow-rooted;

2. The arrangement ratio should be appropriate, adhering to the principle of giving priority to fruit trees while achieving complementary advantages;

3. Local premium and locally produced medicinal herbs should be intercropped;

4. Field management should be strengthened to promote mutual benefit, control conflicts, and ensure a double harvest.

II. Which Chinese medicinal herbs can be intercropped in orchards?

1. Intercropping according to orchard tree age

In young orchards, because the fruit trees have not yet closed their rows, light-loving Chinese medicinal herbs that are harvested in 1-3 years can be intercropped between the rows, such as Rehmannia glutinosa, Scutellaria baicalensis, chrysanthemum, Astragalus membranaceus, Achyranthes bidentata, Isatis indigotica, Cassia tora, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Bupleurum chinense. In mature orchards, shade-loving or shade-tolerant Chinese medicinal herbs should be selected for intercropping.

2. Intercropping according to fruit tree canopy

For fruit trees with dense canopies and leaves, such as peach, cherry, apricot, grape, and persimmon trees, shade-loving and moisture-loving Chinese medicinal herbs such as Pinellia ternata, Polygonatum sibiricum, Ganoderma lucidum, and Coptis chinensis can be intercropped between the rows. For fruit trees with sparser canopies, such as apple, pear, and hawthorn trees, Chinese medicinal herbs that are slightly tolerant of shade and moisture, such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, lily, and Asparagus cochinchinensis, can be intercropped between the rows.

3. Intercropping according to orchard type

Dryland orchards can intercropping drought-tolerant Chinese medicinal herbs between the rows, such as Bupleurum chinense, Scutellaria baicalensis, Astragalus membranaceus, and Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Irrigated orchards can intercropping moisture-loving and less cold-tolerant Chinese medicinal herbs between the rows, such as Corydalis yanhusuo, Bletilla striata, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Glehnia littoralis. Mountain orchards can intercropping moisture-loving and heat-sensitive Chinese medicinal herbs between the rows, such as Coptis chinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Paris polyphylla, and Panax quinquefolius.

4. Intercropping according to fruit tree species

For fruit trees that sprout relatively late, such as jujube and persimmon, Chinese medicinal herbs that love light but have a summer dormancy habit, such as Fritillaria and Corydalis yanhusuo, can be intercropped between the rows. For fruit trees whose fruit ripens before the hottest months arrive, such as peach, apricot, cherry, and loquat, fungal Chinese medicinal herbs that like heat and fear being trampled, such as Poria cocos and Gastrodia elata, can be intercropped between the rows. The canopy's moisture-retaining and shading effects at this stage can also be used to hang bags for producing wood ear mushrooms and silver ear mushrooms.

III. Precautions for intercropping Chinese medicinal herbs under fruit trees

1. Do not plant medicinal herbs too close to the fruit trees, to prevent the growing medicinal herbs from harming the fruit trees;

2. Do not choose medicinal herb varieties with too strong lignification or tall growth, to prevent the medicinal herbs from competing with the fruit trees for fertilizer and water and from affecting orchard management;

3. Choose medicinal herb varieties suitable for local growing conditions, to prevent failure to grow after planting due to unsuitable soil and climate conditions, wasting effort and money;

4. Choose medicinal herb varieties with market demand and stable prices, to prevent the planted medicinal herbs from having nowhere to be sold.