An ethnobotanical study of forage plants in Zhuxi County in the Qinba mountainous area of central China

In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China,pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes.Traditional knowledge plays an important role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people.This study aimed to identify the forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use.During 2016 and 2017,ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County,Hubei Province,China.Data were collected using semi-structured interviews,key informant reports,free listings,guided field walks,and participatory observations with 77 households in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships.The obtained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation(RFC)index.Overall,145 wild forage plants from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded.The most cited families were Asteraceae,Polygonaceae,Urticaceae,Amaranthaceae,Fabaceae,Cruciferae,Caryophyllaceae,and Lamiaceae.Whole plants(75.9%)and tender leaves(12.4%)were the most frequently used parts of the plants.Most of the forage plants were herbaceous(88.9%).Almost all forage plants could be collected throughout the year(62.7%).Raw and cooked were the two main preparation methods.The most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum,Bidens pilosa,Sonchus oleraceus,Pilea verrucosa,and Pilea pumila var.obtusifolia.A total of 14 species were identified as the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based on their RFC values(RFC value greater than 0.5).Local people possess rich traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of forage plants for pig feeding.However,the maintenance of this traditional knowledge may be seriously threatened by changes in pig feeding modes and the lack of successors.Appropriate strategies and action plans have been suggested for the conservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and the sustainable use of forage species resources.These include 1)taking targeted measures to protect forage resources and associated traditional knowledge;2)strengthening research on the forage plants with the highest RFC values for nutritional value,digestibility,other functions,and ecological status;and 3)enhancing the identification of poisonous forage plants.

Preliminary study on ecological environment and biological resources of Qinba areas

The Qinba areas,located in the Central China,represent 317000 km2,cover 6 provinces.The major mountain of Qinba areas,the Qinling,separates China North and South.This region is one of the areas with the most biodiversity and ecological importance in China and globally,and considered as natural gene bank and bio-resource bank.Qinba mountain areas,together with the Alps in Europe and the Rocky Mountains in North America,are known as the"Three sisters of the earth"by the geological and biological circles.Most of the lands in this region are protected as national park,natural reserve,water resource protection area,etc.These areas have well preserved ecosystem and breeding and habitat area for many endangered species of plants and animals,inculding Panda.In this region,there are more than 4000 species of higher plants,about 2000 species of medicinal plants and animals,200 species of wild ornamental plants and 180 species of economic fungi with edible and medicinal value in those areas.Medicinal plant cultivation,eco-agriculture and ecotourism are the major industries in this region.The State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment of Qinba Areas,located in Hanzhong,the central city of Qinba,is focusing on pan-regional biological resources research and rational utilization,ecological protection,and comprehensive and coordinated regional development.

Applicability of TRMM Precipitation Product in Qinba Mountainous Area of Shaanxi Province

The applicability of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM3B42V7) precipitation data in the region was evaluated using the measured daily precipitation data in 16 hydrological stations in Shaanxi Province from 1998 to 2014. The evaluation process with several statistical error metrics was applied to daily, monthly, and annual timescale. The results show that the satellite and gauge stations show good consistency for monthly and annual timescale, but rather worse accuracy of daily timescale. All timescales produced the overestimated result of average precipitation measurement. The spatially statistical distribution shows a slight correlation between the observation and satellite estimation, especially at the higher elevation area such as Taibai. The TRMM precipitation value is closer to the gauge station precipitation value at a place with lower elevation, whether the timescale is daily, monthly or annual. At the same time, the smaller timescale leads to closer relations between elevation and metrics. The research results are important value of the research study of meteorological process in the Qinba mountain area.

Development of Qinba Mountainous Area in the Historical Period from the Perspective of Man-Land Relationship

Taking agricultural development as the starting point,this paper explored the dynamic mechanism and implementation path of agricultural development in Qinba Mountainous Area from the perspective of man-land relationship. It found the regular understanding of ecological changes in Qinba Mountains. It is a comprehensive review and exploration on agricultural development and environmental evolution,and aims to provide a historical reference for the development of the contemporary Qinba Mountains.

Study on Biogas Development in the Qinba Mountain Area in the Background of Developing Ecological Civilization

Biogas is a clean energy source with high value for the comprehensive development and utilization of the Qinba Mountain area.Promoting biogas in the Qinba Mountain area can effectively solve the energy dilemma in the construction of a new socialist countryside.However, the promotion and usage of biogas are faced with economic, technical, and policy obstacles.The government and farmers of the five provinces and one municipality in the Qinba Mountain area have invested time and resources to build household biogas pools and related supporting facilities.Whether these facilities can continue to play a role or not has become the most important issue faced by these farmers.Based on the inputs and outputs of biogas processes in the Qinba Mountain area, we present an analysis of the factors affecting the construction, maintenance, operations, and utilization of biogas in this area, and put forward relevant suggestions for the healthy and sustainable development of household biogas in the Qinba Mountain area.