Suitability Regionalization for Lycium barbarum Cultivation in Ningxia
A comprehensive survey was conducted during July and August in 2023 across Ningxia Ningxia to assess the growth suitability of wolfberry,the information of suitability for wolfberry were recorded at 186 sites,of which 70 samples of fresh wolfberry fruit were tested for soluble solid content hundred-grain weight,yield and fruit shape index.High-resolution environmental variables including climate,topography and soil properties were collected.Firstly,MaxEnt model was employed to predict the potential cultivation areas for wolfberry by incorporating the cultivation distribution information and environmental variables.Secondly,based on the subjective weight method,weighting and grading systems for four quality indicators of wolfberry were established,and incorporating environmental variables and random forest(RF)classification model,a suitability zoning of wolfberry cultivation in Ningxia was obtained.The impacts of environmental factors on wolfberry quality indicators were further analyzed using correlation analysis and principal component analysis.The results showed that the potential cultivation areas for wolfberry in Ningxia were mainly distributed in current farmland regions(excluding the cold zones in the southern Liupan Mountains)and at the marginal areas of farmlands and pastures,among which 47%,35%and 18%belonged to most-,moderate-and less-suitable.Climates acted as the most important factors for wolfberry cultivation,followed by soil and terrain properties.Among the four quality indicators,soluble solid content,hundred-grain weight and fruit shape index were significantly affected by climate,while yield was more influenced by soil fertility.This study provides guidance for the transformation of the wolfberry industry in Ningxia.