TGMB_2025v15n4

Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2025, Vol.15, No.4, 161-167 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 161 Review and Perspectives Open Access Comparative Study on Yield and Ecological Benefits of Different Intercropping Models in Chestnut Economic Forests Hongpeng Wang, Shiying Yu Biotechnology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China Corresponding email: shiying.yu@cuixi.org Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 2025, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2025.15.0019 Received: 10 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 13 Aug., 2025 Published: 21 Aug., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Wang and Yu, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang H.P., and Yu S.Y., 2025, Comparative study on yield and ecological benefits of different intercropping models in chestnut economic forests, Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 15(4): 161-167 (doi: 10.5376/tgmb.2025.15.0019) Abstract This study summarizes the application and existing achievements of different intercropping methods in chestnut forests. Research has found that when chestnuts are planted in combination with tea trees, food crops, forage grasses, etc., not only can the utilization rate of land be improved, but also considerable ecological benefits can be brought about, such as making the soil more fertile, increasing the variety of animals and plants, improving the microclimate, and helping orchards generate higher income. The analysis also found that sometimes a balance needs to be struck between yield and ecology. Whether different crops can be well combined and whether their growth cycles are consistent are all issues that need to be considered during intercropping. This study aims to provide some theoretical support for intercropping in chestnut forests, helping to find more reasonable and sustainable planting methods that can balance economic and ecological benefits. Keywords Chestnut economic forests; Intercropping models; Yield performance; Ecological benefits; Agroforestry optimization 1 Introduction Chestnuts (Castanea genus) are cultivated in many countries and are a very valuable economic forest. It can provide products such as nuts and wood, and is also of great help in protecting the ecological environment. However, nowadays, chestnut forests are facing many problems, such as global warming, severe pest infestations, invasion of alien plants, and changes in land use patterns. These problems will affect the long-term development and ecological functions of chestnut forests (Clark et al., 2023; Miller and Ivey, 2024). Moreover, the traditional planting methods sometimes do not match the current land demand, making it even more difficult to balance the yield and ecological protection of chestnut forests (Bruzzese et al., 2023; Wolpert et al., 2023). Intercropping in chestnut forests is a way to improve land efficiency. Planting chestnuts together with other crops not only helps to harvest more crops but also improves the soil, such as providing it with more organic matter and nutrients, which is also beneficial for the healthy growth of chestnut trees. Doing so can also make the microorganisms in the soil more diverse and enhance the stability and stress resistance of the entire forest (Wu et al., 2021b; Wu et al., 2021c; Wang et al., 2024). For instance, planting chestnuts together with tea trees not only increases soil nutrients but also improves the microbial structure around the roots, enhances fruit quality, and boosts disease resistance. This study compared the yield and ecological effects of chestnut forests under different intercropping methods, and analyzed their specific impacts on soil properties, microbial species and ecological functions. This study hopes to provide some scientific references for the better planting and management of chestnut forests. 2 Intercropping Systems in Chestnut Forests 2.1 Definition and classification of intercropping in agroforestry contexts Intercropping refers to the sequential planting of two or more crops or trees in the same plot of land. It can be done simultaneously or in sequence. This method is often used in chestnut economic forests, such as planting chestnut trees together with food crops, cash crops, medicinal materials or forage. This can not only make more full use of the land, but also improve the ecological environment and economic benefits (Yu et al., 2006; Wei et al., 2014).

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