| The study is to identify the effects of different planting patterns and the density of intercropping angelica and garlic on the quality of angelica, and to look for the optimal garlic intercropping pattern in which the problem caused by continuous cropping of angelica can be effectively alleviated and the intrinsic quality of angelica can be improved. Rotation and continuous cropping patterns were provided with three treatment of intercropping density 2∶1(M2), 3∶1(M3), 4∶1(M4) respectively. The monoculture was the control. Analysis was made on the quality index of total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble extract, volatile oil and the content of ferulic acid in the root of angelica dried in the shade. The results showed that each index showed a trend of increase first and decrease then in different density of intercropping, and all the content in M2 reached the maximum value. The volatile oil and ferulic acid content in the rotation was greater than those in the continuous cropping, while total ash and acid insoluble ash content in continuous cropping were greater than those in rotation, and there was no difference in alcohol soluble extract. The content of the volatile oil and ferulic acid reached maximum of 0.56% and 0.084% in M2 in the rotation pattern, 0.09% and 0.032% more than those in monoculture respectively. The content of total ash content reached minimum of 4.08% in M4 in the rotation. The content of acid insoluble ash reached minimum of 0.5% in monoculture in the continuous cropping patterns. The content of ethanol soluble extract reached maximum of 65% in M2 in the continuous cropping pattern, which met the requirements of pharmacopoeia. In conclusion, the rotation pattern with M2 was the optimal one, which produced angelica of the best quality index, effectively promoted the growth of angelica, and alleviated the problem of angelica resulted from continuous cropping. |