Abstract:Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum piperitum) is an important cash crop in the mountain areas of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, especially in the fragile dry valleys of the upper Minjiang Rivers which is one of the most important branches of Yangtze River. Monoculture of the species on the slopes was a common practice which has caused serious soil erosion and many other problems such as serious pest and disease plagues, aborted seedling replant, and declined production. It is thus urgent for creating a suitable...