Study On Intercropping Dioscorea Nipponica Makino With Coix Lachryrma-jobi L

Objective:To study the effecf of intercropping Dioscorea nipponica Makino with Coix Lacryma-jobi L. on the plant of the growth and development, biological characters, the yield and quality of the Chinese herbal medicines, and to discuss the feasibility and the influence on economic benefit.Methods:The phenological phase, some biological characters of Dioscorea nipponica Makino plant and Coix Lacryma-jobi L. plant were surveyed, the yield and the contents of diosgenin in the Chinese herbal medicines of Dioscorea nipponica Makino, polysaccharide in the Chinese herbal medicines of Coix Lacryma-jobi L. were measured, too, with the knowledge of medicinal plant cultivation.The Coix lachryma-jobi polysaccharide contents were determined by colorimetry and the Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae diosgenin contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The phenological phase were decided by the characters which50%plants above showed in each experimental plot, and some biological characters of the two kinds of plants were surveyed by choosing10plants at random. The economic benefit of Dioscorea nipponica Makino were analyzed when the rhizoma were harvested at the beginning of November, that of Coix Lacryma-jobi L. were analyzed when harvesting the seed each year in October.Results:There was no obvious effcet of intercropping on the growth process of Dioscorea nipponica Makino plant, and had certain effect on that of Coix Lacryma-jobi L. plant. Intercropping effected the biological characters of the two kinds of plants, had no obvious effect on the yield of the Chinese herbal medicines of Dioscorea nipponica Makino, had obvious on that of Coix Lacryma-jobi L., had no obvious effect on the contents of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae diosgenin and Coix lachryma-jobi polysaccharide. The intercropping economic benefit was higher than that of Dioscorea nipponica Makino sole cropping by￥1242.87each acre each year, was higher than that of Coix Lacryma-jobi L. sole cropping by￥2483.3each acre each year.Conclusion:In the limited areas of arable land, the intercropping economized the field resources, increasing the economic benefits. which showed the feasibility of intercropping.