Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247

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Plant Diversity

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

Jun Yang a, Jifeng Luo a, Qiliang Gan d, Leiyu Ke a, Fengming Zhang c, Hairu Guo a, ** * Fuwei Zhao b, , Yuehu Wang a, c, a Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resource, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China b Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, 210042, China c Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China d Zhuxi Qiliang Institute of Biology, Zhuxi, 442300, China article info abstract

Article history: In the Qinba mountainous area of Central China, pig farming has a significant impact on the growth of the Received 30 April 2020 rural economy and has substantially increased farmer incomes. Traditional knowledge plays an important Received in revised form role in the selection of forage plant species for pig farming by local people. This study aimed to identify the 21 December 2020 forage plants used for pig feeding and to catalog indigenous knowledge regarding their use. During 2016 Accepted 27 December 2020 and 2017, ethnobotanical surveys and inventories were conducted in Zhuxi County, Province, China. Available online 4 January 2021 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 ob- Keywords: Qinba mountainous area tained data were analyzed using a relative frequency citation (RFC) index. Overall, 145 wild forage plants Zhuxi county from 91 genera and 31 families were recorded. The most cited families were Asteraceae, Polygonaceae, Ethnobotany Urticaceae, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae, Cruciferae, Caryophyllaceae, and Lamiaceae. Whole plants (75.9%) Traditional knowledge and tender leaves (12.4%) were the most frequently used parts of the plants. Most of the forage plants were Pig forage plants 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. Copyright © 2021 Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY- NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction * Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resource, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China. China's small-scale pig farmers are the largest community of ** Corresponding author. pork producers in the world (Riedel et al., 2012). China's con- E-mail addresses: [email protected] (J. Yang), [email protected] sumption of meat, particularly pork, has increased tremendously as (J. Luo), [email protected] (Q. Gan), [email protected] (L. Ke), zhangfengming@ its economy has grown. Fifty to eighty percent of all pigs produced mail.kib.ac.cn (F. Zhang), [email protected] (H. Guo), [email protected] (F. Zhao), [email protected] (Y. Wang). in China originate from smallholder farms (Neo and Chen, 2009; Peer review under responsibility of Editorial Office of Plant Diversity. Geng et al., 2017). In rural areas, pig breeding plays a vital role in the https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2020.12.008 2468-2659/Copyright © 2021 Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247 local economy, especially in the vast mountainous areas of China. In (iii) identify the top-priority fodder plants for pig feeding, and (iv) these areas, arable land is limited, vehicle travel is inconvenient, provide appropriate suggestions for the conservation of biodiver- and local people still maintain traditional farming and animal sity and the sustainable use of forage species resources. husbandry practices to meet their daily food supply needs. Small- holder farmers rely on their observations and experience in feeding 2. Materials and methods and managing their livestock. The sustainable production of live- stock usually involves the efficient utilization of locally available 2.1. Study area resources, particularly feed resources (Geng et al., 2017). The Qinba mountainous area is located in central mainland This study was carried out in 16 villages located in the rural zone China, which is the transitional zone between the northern and around Zhuxi County (109290e109080E, 31310e32320N), Hubei southern climate regions in China. It is an important ecological Province, China (Fig. 1). All mountains in Zhuxi County are within barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and includes 76 the Daba Mountains. The county has 15 townships, and the whole counties (districts) in six provinces. In this area, the zonal climate county is approximately 51 km from east to the west and approx- spans two climatic zones: the northern subtropical zone and the imately 104 km from north to south. The area of the county is warm temperate zone. The elevation is very variable, the ecological 3310 km2. The highest elevation in the county is at Congping conditions are diverse, and the plants show an obvious vertical (2740 m) in the southwest, and the lowest elevation in the county is distribution. Many plants thrive in the complex and diverse cli- at Langningwang (276 m) in the northeast; there is a relative matic conditions in the Qinba Mountains. The Qinba Mountains are elevation difference of 2464 m between these locations (Gan, one of two key areas of biodiversity conservation (the Qinling 2005). The population living in Zhuxi is 99.8% ethnically Han Chi- Mountains and the Shengnongjia Forest region) in China (Xu et al., nese. Zhuxi County is one of the key floral distribution areas in 1997; Gong, 2006). Zhuxi County is located at the southern edge of Central China, and it is also an area where flora and vegetation the eastern section of the Qinling Mountains and the northern resources are well preserved in the northern subtropical region of slope of the eastern section of the Daba Mountains. Terrain China (Gan, 2005). Zhuxi has a great natural environment with a complexity determines the diversity of mountain climates and high level of biodiversity, where the local community has kept thereby determines species diversity. According to the survey of traditional pig farming with a long history. Gan (2005), there are 204 families, 1043 genera, and 3310 species of The economy of Zhuxi consists of traditional agriculture, vascular plants in this county. forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery, as well as industry. The Zhuxi County, which is a typical mountainous area that is local economy is dominated by traditional agriculture and forestry. difficult to access and has a limited connection to the outside world, Pig farming is often integrated with other agricultural activities; pig has been designated a national poverty-stricken county. A semi- manure is used to fertilize crops, and crop residues are in turn used self-sufficient model dominates the rural economy in this area. as pig feed (An et al., 2004). According to local surveys (Compilation According to official reports, animal husbandry in Zhuxi County Committee of Local Chronicles of Zhuxi County, 2014), there are accounts for approximately 30% of the total agricultural output, of three main modes of pig production: traditional small-scale which pig farming accounts for more than 80% of the total output household farming (70% of all production), professional farming value of animal husbandry. Small-scale household farming is (25%), and large-scale farming (5%). Traditional small-scale house- dominant, accounting for approximately 70% of pig farming hold farming is dominant in the countryside, where pigs are usually (Compilation Committee of Local Chronicles of Zhuxi County, 2014). fed kitchen waste, agricultural byproducts, and wild forage plants. Indigenous people have accumulated abundant ethnobotanical knowledge about describing and applying local natural resources 2.2. Data collection from long-term practice. Forage plants refer to the plants that can be eaten by livestock, In October 2016 and May 2017, ethnobotanical studies were poultry, and wild animals (Kahasbagan and Pei, 2000). Because carried out in 16 villages in 13 towns/townships (Fig. 1). All inves- wild forage plants are nutritious, safe, and important for environ- tigated communities were located in Zhuxi County, where the main mental conservation and do not generate medicinal residues, more method of raising pigs is small-scale family farming. Informed attention is being paid by scientists to the sustainable use and in- consent for the investigation of traditional knowledge was ob- tegrated management of wild forage plants. Indigenous knowledge tained from the local government and participants based on the (or traditional knowledge) is the tool with which local people “Intangible Cultural Heritage Law of the People's Republic of China interact with the environment to meet their needs and goals, which (2018)” and access and benefit-sharing (ABS)-related rules (Zheng, range from survival to personal achievement and self-esteem 2019). Informants were selected randomly during house-to-house (Yemataw et al., 2016). Indigenous communities that have been questioning. Semi-structured interviews, key informant reports, involved in livestock handling possess significant knowledge about free listings, guided field walks, and participatory observations potential forage resources (Sadat-Hosseini et al., 2017). Ethnobo- were used in the surveys. A total of 77 households were selected. tanical investigations of fodder plants for ruminant animals have The ages of the informants ranged from 20 to 73, and the mean age been performed in some countries, such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, was 45 years old. The questions were designed to collect data on Uganda, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Pakistan (Bahru et al., 2014; the (i) local names of the plants, (ii) function (forage, veterinary, or Nunes et al., 2015; Vogl et al., 2016; Geng et al., 2017, 2020; Harun other usages), (iii) parts used, (iv) methods for preparation and the et al., 2017; Shaheen et al., 2020). In China, there is no overall feeding mode (cooked or raw), and (v) condition of the plant ma- documentation about the relative importance of these feeds to terial (dried or fresh). Other factors, such as the availability of the farmers, especially for pig feeding, although some researchers have plant in the area (scarce, sufficient, or abundant), the harvesting reported on the fodders browsed by ruminant animals (Jia, 1987; season, and the extent of the palatability to pigs (highly palatable, Geng et al., 2017; Ma et al., 2019). This study aimed to (i) investigate fairly palatable, or weakly palatable), were also recorded. All in- and document traditional knowledge about the forage plants uti- terviews were carried out in spoken Mandarin and were performed lized for pig feeding through a case study of Zhuxi County, (ii) by visiting each respondent individually; we recorded the local assess the traditional knowledge regarding the use of forage plants, names for the plants using Chinese characters and .

240 J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247

Fig. 1. The study area in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province, China.

The plant specimens were collected with the assistance of the de-Santayana, 2008; Sujarwo and Caneva, 2016; Harun et al., 2017). key informants during guided field trips, and specimens were The following formula was used: identified by referencing the Flora of China. The taxonomic circumscription of plant families and species followed the APG IV RFC ¼ FC/N (0 < RFC < 1) system (APG, 2016), and the information found in The Plant List (2020) was used to provide a uniform nomenclature. All voucher where FC is the number of informants that mentioned the use of specimens were deposited in the Key Laboratory of Economic the species as fodder, and N is the total number of informants Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese included in the study. Academy of Sciences. 3. Results 2.3. Data analysis and quantitative index 3.1. The transition of local pig production and feeding modes 2.3.1. Data analysis An inventory of the forage plant species cited by each informant Two pig feeding modes, traditional pig feeding and modern pig was established in a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft feeding, are recorded in our study. Traditional pig feeding involves Corporation, http://www.microsoft.com/). Along with the list of feeding cooked food that consists of cooked wild forage plants plant taxa, the compiled table (see Table S2) also contains the local mixed with corn cobs and bran, distiller grains, wheat bran, maize and scientific names, family name, palatability, parts consumed, life bran, or cornmeal, occasionally with some raw wild forage plants. form, and feeding mode. Modern pig feeding primarily uses concentrate supplemented with raw green forage plants, which are usually the leaves of other readily available cultivated plants, such as sweet potato, cabbage, 2.3.2. Relative frequency of citation (RFC) mustard, and turnip. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) index helped us estab- The distribution of traditional knowledge about forage plants and lish the priority order of the listed forage plants (Tardío and Pardo- feeding modes among local populations varies by gender and age.

241 J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247

Among 77 households interviewed in this survey, there were 33 herbs (88.9% of the total), followed by shrubs (3.5%), trees (3.5%), males and 44 females, accounting for 42.9% and 57.1% of the total, vines (2.1%), herbs or subshrubs (1.4%), and trees or shrubs (0.7%). respectively (Table S1). Males and females reported the same number of forage plant species. Informants over 60 years old 3.3. Gathering season administration and preparation preferred the traditional pig feeding mode, while the younger adults preferred the modern pig feeding mode. In addition, we found there The gathering of wild forage plants for pig feed showed no has been a dramatic change in the pig production modes. Specif- obvious seasonality in Zhuxi County. Generally, the local people ically, previous reports indicated that from 1980 to 2005 the major collect the tender parts of the plant as pig forage; therefore, the mode of pig production was traditional small-scale household gathering activities always follow the cycle of plant growth. Forage farming (70% of all production), followed by professional farming plants for pigs are available throughout most of the year. Most (25%), and large-scale farming (5%) (Compilation Committee of Local forage plants can be collected throughout the year (62.7% of the Chronicles of Zhuxi County, 2014). Currently, however, the propor- total) (Fig. 5); others can be collected from May to August (20.7%), tion of traditional small-scale household farming is declining. Ac- March to August (4.8%), and March to June (3.5%). The collection cording to the local farmers, the proportion of traditional small-scale months overlap with each other. household farming has shrunk to approximately 40e50%, a reduc- The analysis of the preparation methods in the study area tion that was accelerated by conservation policy in 2016 that banned revealed that there were two main preparation methods: raw and pig feeding in some special areas. This shift in pig production modes cooked. Raw is usually either direct feeding or chopping and mixing from traditional small-scale household farming to professional with other starchy foods, such as cornmeal, soybean meal, and farming and larger-scale farming has led to dramatic changes in bran. Cooked involves chopping the plant and cooking it with other feeding modes. We found that almost 78% of farmers are currently starchy foods or drying and powdering the plant, before cooking it. using modern feeding methods, whereas only 22% of farmers still use traditional feeding methods. 3.4. Availability and prioritization of recorded forage plants based on RFC 3.2. Diversity of forage plants, parts consumed, and life forms The relative frequencies of citation (RFC) of the 145 cited species A total of 145 forage plants used for pig feeding were docu- are shown in Table S2. The RFC values vary from 0.01 to 0.97, with 45 mented (Table S2). These species belong to 91 genera and 31 species having RFC values higher than 0.19 (the average RFC value). families. The most cited families of the forage plants were Aster- There were 100 species with lower-than-average RFC values. The aceae (species 27), Polygonaceae (19), Urticaceae (17), Amar- most frequently cited species were Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.- anthaceae (11), Fabaceae (9), Cruciferae (6), Caryophyllaceae (5), Mazz. (RFC value: 0.97), Bidens pilosa L. (0.95), Sonchus oleraceus and Lamiaceae (5) (Fig. 2). Of all species, 68.3% were in these L. (0.95), Pilea verrucosa Hand.-Mazz (0.90), and Pilea pumila (L.). A. fi families. Twenty families (13.8% of the total) were represented by Gray var. obtusifolia C. J. Chen (0.90). In addition to these ve spe- only one species each. The remaining ten families contributed be- cies, another nine plant species had RFC values greater than 0.5, tween 2 and 4 species each (17.2%). namely, Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore (0.84), Most of the forage plants consumed were used as whole plants Sigesbeckia pubescens (Makino) Makino (0.84), Chrysanthemum (75.9% of the total), followed by the use of tender leaves (12.4%), indicum L. (0.82), Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. (0.64), Bidens aerial parts (8.3%), and tender leaves and branches (3.5%) (Fig. 3). In bipinnata L. (0.64), Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. et Sherff (0.64), terms of the plant life form (Fig. 4), the forage plants included mostly Bidens maximowicziana Oett (0.64), Bassia scoparia (L.). A.J. Scott (0.58), and Lamium amplexicaule L. (0.56). These plants had good palatability and were preferred feed types for pigs. The least-cited species were Cayratia albifolia C. L. Li, Cayratia oligocarpa (H. Lev. & Vaniot) Gagnep., Orychophragmus violaceus (L.) O.E. Schulz, Fal- lopia dentatoalata (F. Schmidt) Holub, Actinidia callosa var. henryi Maxim., and Veronica laxa Benth. (RFC values of 0.01 each).

4. Discussion

4.1. Current situation for traditional knowledge of forage plants

In this study, we found that wild forage plant resources are abundant in Zhuxi County. The local people have accumulated rich traditional knowledge about forage plant utilization and manage- ment. However, our study showed that only a small group of older smallholding farmers occasionally use wild forage plants to feed pigs. Traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of wild forage plants may be at risk of disappearing because the number of smallholding pig farmers is dwindling, and the use of traditional feeding methods is being abandoned by the younger generation. In recent years, the younger generation has received a better education. Increasing numbers of young people have aban- doned traditional farming to seek higher incomes in big cities. We also found a dramatic change in feeding modes. In the past, espe- Fig. 2. Frequently cited families of wild forage plants in Zhuxi County. cially in times of food scarcity, wild forage plants were considered

242 J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247

Fig. 3. Wild forage plant parts consumed by pigs in Zhuxi County.

an essential component of pig food in all production environments forage plants have been replaced by concentrates and the leaves of (Kambashi et al., 2014a). In addition to being a substitute for food other readily available cultivated plants, such as sweet potato, crops, these plants can also improve the overall health of pigs (Aube cabbage, mustard, and turnip. The collection of wild forage plants et al., 2019). In developing countries, the high cost and low avail- has become unnecessary, resulting in the gradual disappearance of ability of conventional livestock feedstuffs drive rural pig-keeping traditional knowledge about the utilization and management of smallholders to use fiber-rich ingredients and forage species forage plants. (Kambashi et al., 2014b). In the past twenty years, rearing pigs in this region has mostly depended on local vegetation, agricultural 4.2. Relationships among palatability, gathering season, and byproducts, and household and kitchen waste. However, farmers preparation have changed their attitude and management approach to pig keeping in response to increased regulations and socioeconomic The diversity of traditional forage plant resources used by development. Professional smallholders that operate on a larger indigenous people is related to the life forms, quantity, and parts of scale have increased, and since 2011 have represented half of all wild plant species, and traditional knowledge about feeding forms, smallholders (Hu et al., 2017). The change in the production mode gathering season, and preparation (Vogl et al., 2016; Harun et al., has been accompanied by a dramatic shift in feeding mode. The 2017; Ouachinou et al., 2018; Ma et al., 2019; Shaheen et al., 2020). traditional feeding mode has been replaced by the modern feeding Pigs are omnivorous animals; their demand for forage plants is mode. The modern feeding mode utilizes less green forage. Wild different from that of other ruminants. Green forage plants are only

Fig. 4. Wild forage plant life forms in Zhuxi County.

243 J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247

Affairs of the People's Republic of China issued notice No. 194. Starting on January 1, 2020, all growth-promoting antibiotic addi- tives were withdrawn except for those used in traditional Chinese medicine (MARA, 2019). In response, alternatives to these additives are being widely considered, including environmentally friendly and sustainable agriculture. Replacing chemical additives with organic additives may be an essential method for environmentally friendly agriculture. Phytogenic feed additives would expand the number of nonantibiotic growth promoters, such as organic acids and probiotics, that are already well established in animal nutrition (Windisch et al., 2008). In this study, we used RFC values to identify the 14 top forage species (RFC values greater than 0.5) that are prioritized in the choice of forage species. The relevant research on forage values, forage situations, functions, and other multifunctional studies are summarized in Table S3. These species should be investigated as rich sources of food, medicine, and feed additives for humans and animals in the future. For example, Taraxacum mongolicum is the forage plant species that was most frequently cited by the local people. It not only can be gathered year-around but also has both

Fig. 5. Wild forage plant gathering periods in Zhuxi County. edible and medicinal uses. It is a type of Chinese medicine that is commonly used in medical practices and has multiple functions, including heat reduction, detoxification, swelling reduction, and tumor therapy (Ma et al., 2015). In addition, this species has been used as additional nutritional supplements to provide fiber, protein, associated with antimicrobial (Li et al., 2014; Sun et al., 2018), anti- amino acids, and minerals (Kambashi et al., 2014a). In our investi- inflammatory (Ma et al., 2015; Yang et al., 2016), and anticancer gation, we found that local people improve the palatability of forage activities (Li et al., 2017). It can also be used as a compound feed plants through seasonal management and preparation to improve additive that can promote lactation in sows after birth to help the utilization rate of forage plants. On the surface, there was no piglets grow healthily (Liu, 2012). obvious seasonality in the collection of wild forage plants by the Sonchus oleraceus is a multifunctional species; as a forage plant, local people in Zhuxi County. However, they always collect forage it has both edible and medicinal uses (Vilela et al., 2010; Dolina and plants according to the growth cycle of the plants. To improve plant Luczaj, 2014). It contains rich nutrient matter as a wild vegetable palatability, they usually collect the tender parts of a plant in the (Jimoh et al., 2011), and it is high in vitamin C for a forage plant season when the plant is flourishing. For example, in Oenothera (Cheng and Jia, 2002; Tian et al., 2014). Previous studies showed biennis L., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Rumex patientia L., and that it could improve the immunity of pigs as a feed composition Sigesbeckia pubescens, palatability will decrease after flowering, so additive (Shi et al., 2020). In addition, it shows some potential the local people usually collect these plants before blooming. There pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant (Yin et al., 2008), are spines on plants such as Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., Cirsium antidepressant-like (Vilela et al., 2010), antibacterial (Xia et al., setosum (Willd.) MB., Urtica fissa E. Pritz., and Polygonum perfoliatum 2011), anti-inflammatory (Vilela et al., 2010), and antidiabetic L.; the local people commonly cook these plants to improve their (Chen et al., 2019) properties. palatability. Some forage plants have strong smells, such as Premna Bidens pilosa was also one of the most frequently cited species, puberula Pamp., Bidens tripartita L., and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., and it grows abundantly in Zhuxi County. It is an easy-to-grow herb and others have poor palatability when fed raw, such as Anredera that is widely distributed globally and has been traditionally used cordifolia (Ten.), Rumex acetosa L. Steenis, and Rumex japonicus in foods and medicines without obvious adverse effects (Bartolome Houtt. These plants are also cooked and mixed with corn cobs and et al., 2013). It has high nutritional value both as food and forage bran, distiller grains, or cornmeal to improve their palatability. (Cheng and Jia, 2002; Bartolome et al., 2013). According to previous studies, this species has no adverse effects in mice or chickens 4.3. The fodder value of the top forage plants in Zhuxi County based when given as 5% or less of the total food intake (Liang et al., 2020). on their RFC values B. pilosa has a beneficial impact on growth performance and pro- tozoan infection in chickens, probably via modulation of gut bac- The swine industry in China has grown rapidly over the last two teria (Chang et al., 2016). In addition, previous studies have claimed decades (Li and Chen, 2005). To improve household economies and that it can be used as a feed composition additive for pigs to reduce breeding costs, as well as to reduce morbidity and mortality, enhance immunity and reduce the incidence of common diseases feed additives such as antibiotics fed at subtherapeutic levels have (Hu, 2016). In our study, we found that several plants from this been widely utilized in the swine and poultry industries for the past same genus, which had RFC values greater than 0.5, were used as 50 years (Cromwell, 2002). However, the use of feed additives has forage plants, including B. bipinnata, B. biternata, B. maximowic brought a series of environmental pollution and food safety prob- ziana, and B. tripartita (see Table S3). lems. For example, many countries have restricted or even banned Boehmeria nivea (Ramie) is a multipurpose crop. It has been used the use of antibiotics as feed additives due to increased concerns as a raw textile material for a long . It is also used as a regarding the transmission and proliferation of resistant bacteria source of feed for livestock because it is an excellent source of crude via the food chain (Zeng et al., 2015). To reduce the harm caused by protein, lysine, methionine, carotenoids, riboflavin, and calcium, the abuse of antibiotics and to maintain animal-derived food safety and it has a low level of crude fiber (Miranda et al., 2012; Rehman and public health safety, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural et al., 2019). It can improve the quality of mutton and increase milk

244 J. Yang, J. Luo, Q. Gan et al. Plant Diversity 43 (2021) 239e247 fat percentage, milk solids, and dry matter digestibility (Zhang 3) Population assessment of the forage species in natural habitats et al., 2019; Gao et al., 2020). At the same time, there were no is required to clear their status to avoid ecological damage adverse effects in SpragueeDawley rats from the intragastric caused by unrestrained collection by local people. administration of ramie leaf, and it can be an animal feed supple- 4) The publicity and popularization of poisonous forage plants ment in China (Mu et al., 2020). such as C. nepalensis should be strengthened to reduce the Several plants have been widely used as forage plants in Zhuxi. economic loss to the local communities caused by poisoning of Nevertheless, few studies have examined the nutritive composi- livestock. tion, forage function, or other functions of plants such as Pilea verrucosa, P. pumila var. obtusifolia, Sigesbeckia pubescens, Chry- santhemum indicum, and Lamium amplexicaule. These species Authors’ contributions should be the primary focus of related research in the future. Yuehu Wang and Fuwei Zhao conceived of and designed the 4.4. Notable uses of forage plants study. Jun Yang, JiFeng Luo, Qiliang Gan, Leiyu Ke, Fengming Zhang, Hairu Guo, Fuwei Zhao and Yuehu Wang participated in Wild plant resources with medicinal and veterinary effects can field surveys and data collection. Jun Yang and Qiliang Gan iden- provide a basic reference for improving animal health and treating tified the plants. Jun Yang interpreted data, analyzed it and wrote related diseases in the future (Khan et al., 2019; Mertenat et al., the manuscript. Yuehu Wang and Fuwei Zhao modified the 2020; Miara et al., 2019; Shaheen et al., 2020). In this study, there manuscript. were some species that are used as veterinary medicine by local people. For example, Ficus tikoua Bur. was cited as having a Declaration of competing interest lactation-promoting effect. R. japonicus, Rumex nepalensis Spreng., and Rumex obtusifolius L. were cited as having internal heat- The authors declare that they have no competing interests. reducing and laxative effects. At the same time, our study found that a kind of poisonous plant has been used as a forage plant. Coriaria nepalensis Wall. is a plant Acknowledgments used in Chinese medicine that has toxic properties. It is used in the treatment of numbness, toothache, traumatic injury, and acute We are grateful to all informants in Zhuxi County, Hubei Prov- fi conjunctivitis in traditional Chinese medicine (Jiangsu New ince, for their kind help in the duration of our eld surveys. All Medical College, 1977). In Zhuxi County, it is used as an insecti- traditional knowledge in this paper belongs to its informants, cidal plant. However, it was also cited as a low-proportion forage whose rights to their traditional knowledge should be respected. plant for pig feed. It contains neurotoxic sesquiterpene lactone This research was funded by the Biodiversity Investigation, Obser- compounds, such as coriamyrtin (De Haro et al., 2005) and tutin vation and Assessment Program, Ministry of Ecology and Environ- ’ (Wei et al., 1998; Zhao et al., 2012; Larsen et al., 2015; Watkins et al., ment, The People s Republic of China and the Yunnan Innovative 2018; J. Yang et al., 2020). C. nepalensis is therefore not recom- Talents Program, China (No. 2018HC009). mended for use as a forage plant. Appendix A. Supplementary data 5. Conclusion Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2020.12.008. In this study, the traditional knowledge of local people about forage plant resources for pig feeding was investigated in Zhuxi County as a case study from the Qinba mountainous area of Central References China. 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