Abstract: We investigated the effects of intercropping patterns on physiological and growth traits of Coptis chinensis and rhizospheric soil physicochemical properties under three intercropping systems \[Magnolia officinalis-C. chinensis (CC),M. officinalisFritillaria hupehensis-C. chinensis (FH-CC), andM. officinalis-Scrophularia ningpoensis-C. chinensis (SN-CC) cropping systems\]. Results showed that plant height, fresh weight, leaf area and peroxidase activity ofC. chinensis in the intercropping modes (SN-CC system and FH-CC system) were (19.56%, 14.70%),(91.38%, 4.86%), (28.86%, 16.63%) and (47.10%, 37.46%) higher than those in the CC system, respectively. The physiological/growth comprehensive index of C. chinensis under SN-CC system and FH-CC system was 0.413 and 0.007, respectively. Growth traits of C. chinensis in the intercropping systems were better than those in the monoculture. The intercropping systems were beneficial to the growth ofC. chinensis, with SN-CC system being the optimal. Soil physicochemical properties significantly affected the physiological and growth traits of C. chinensis. Enzymeactivities ofC. chinensis rhizosphere soil significantly affected soil nutrient contents. Sucrase activity, available potassium content and alkaline phosphatase activity were the main soil factors affecting the growth of C. chinensis, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999, 0.9639 and 0.9094, respectively.

Key words: Coptis chinensis, Fritillaria hupehensis, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Magnolia officinalis, physiological and growth trait, soil physicochemical property.