RESUMO
Field experiments were conducted to investigate the suitable cropping patterns of grain crops and medical plant Bupleurum chinense in the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau. Three cropping patterns were designed, including corn-Bupleurum chinense intercropping (corn/Bupleurum chinense), wheat followed by soybean-Bupleurum chinense intercropping (wheat-soybean/Bupleurum chinense), and sequential planting of Bupleurum chinense (wheat-Bupleurum chinense). Of the three patterns, wheat-soybean/Bupleurum chinense was the best in economic yields and ecological benefits. Among the cultivars (cv. Lingchuan, Zuoquan and Wanrong) of Bupleurum chinense tested, the cv. Wanrong originated from relatively high temperature region exhibited the highest yield, while the cv. Zuoquan originated from relatively low temperature region had the lowest one, indicating that introducing Bupleurum chinense cultivars from the areas with higher temperature to lower temperature areas could increase their yield. The cropping pattern of wheat-soybean/Bupleurum chinense was the most effective one, with the yield being 11.6% and 16.8% higher than that of corn/Bupleurum chinense and wheat-Bupleurum chinense, respectively.