Tea–vegetable gardens in Longsheng Nationalities Autonomous County: temporal and spatial distribution, agrobiodiversity and social–ecological values

The tea–vegetable gardens in Longsheng are particular agro-cultural landscapes constructed by the Miao, Yao and Zhuang nationalities, based on the ecological system in which they are located. Herein, we aimed to clarify the traditional agricultural practices of tea planting in Longsheng and explore the value and characteristics of tea agricultural heritage systems. A household survey among the farming communities and a quadrat investigation of different agroecosystems in the study area were conducted. The results revealed that most tea trees in the study area were 50–80 years old, and only a few ancient tea trees – older than 150 years – remained. A total of 35 vegetables belonging to 15 families were intercropped with tea trees. This agroecosystem is an artificial community in which shrubs (tea trees) form the uppermost layer, crops such as Gramineae, Araceae, Paniceae and Cucurbitaceae, make up the intermediate layer, and the bottom layer comprises low-growing crops such as Convolvulaceae and Cruciferae. Indigenous peoples have shown rich experience and high ecological wisdom in the biological combination of a complex ecological agriculture mode, with time and space configuration, and comprehensive management technology. Hence, we suggest that tea–vegetable gardens should be well documented and effectively conserved.