The integration of crop cultivation with traditional Chinese medicinal plants offers a sustainable solution to the competition for land and resources. By combining these two systems, it is possible to fully utilize natural resources such as land, sunlight, air, water, nutrients, and heat. This practice enhances the marginal effects between different plant species, promoting mutual benefits and achieving dual harvests of both food crops and medicinal herbs.
In many agricultural areas, about 70% of the land is used for crops, while 30% consists of field edges, irrigation ditches, and road embankments. In hilly or mountainous regions, the proportion of underutilized land is even higher. These residual lands can be effectively used to grow hardy medicinal plants that require minimal soil conditions. Not only does this help maximize limited land use and boost economic returns, but it also reduces water and nutrient loss and suppresses weed growth, which in turn minimizes pest and disease problems. For example, honeysuckle thrives in dry conditions and has low demands on climate and soil. It can be planted along roadsides and drainage channels at intervals of 80 cm, with six seedlings per hole. This yields approximately one pound of flowers annually, worth around 15 yuan. On average, 60 pounds can be harvested per mu (about 0.067 hectares) from zero-land areas. Suitable medicinal plants for such environments include licorice, cassia, atractylodes, schisandra, papaya, vaccaria, polygonatum, astragalus, safflower, gentian, and rhubarb.
Another effective approach is intercropping tall-stalked crops with short medicinal herbs. This method optimizes the multiple cropping index, ensuring that early-maturing crops are followed by late ones within the same year. This improves light and land utilization, significantly increasing economic efficiency. For instance, a common pattern involves planting *Bansheng* (Radix Isatidis), maize, and *Bupleurum* in the same area. In spring, sorghum is first planted, and in May or June, maize is sown at 60 cm intervals, with two plants per hole. After harvesting the maize, *Bupleurum chinense* can be sown. The shade provided by the corn helps the germination of *Bupleurum*, which can be harvested within 15 to 20 days. After the corn is harvested in September or October, *Bupleurum* continues to thrive. Suitable crops for this model include tall plants like corn, sorghum, sugarcane, and cotton, while the medicinal plants typically include *Banlangen*, *Paeonia lactiflora*, *Platycodon grandiflorum*, *Rhizoma Chuanxiong*, *Atractylodes macrocephala*, *Salvia miltiorrhiza*, *Bupleurum chinense*, *Pinellia ternata*, *Heterophylla*, *Coptis chinensis*, and *grass coral*.
Additionally, intercropping deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants can optimize resource use. By matching plant species based on their root systems and nutrient needs, it is possible to create multi-layered systems that make better use of vertical space and reduce input costs. For example, in watermelon fields, intercropping with *Cassia* or *Atractylodes* allows the medicinal plants to absorb deeper soil nutrients, complementing the shallow roots of watermelons. This not only improves nutrient uptake but also increases overall yield and efficiency. Crops suitable for this model include wax gourd, squash, sweet potato, potato, and soybean, while the medicinal plants often include licorice, honeysuckle, astragalus, platycodon, atractylodes macrocephala, peony, safflower, yam, barley, papaya, anemarrhena, ginger, and saffron.
Interplanting methods for traditional Chinese medicinal materials and agricultural crops include partitioned, interleaf, intermediate, intertemporal, and mixed planting. Regardless of the method, it is essential to consider the size, leaf shape, growth period, and environmental requirements of each plant. Proper combinations ensure optimal use of light, temperature, and moisture, while maintaining the authenticity and quality of the medicinal plants.
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