This study aims to safeguard the ethnobotanical knowledge pertaining to traditional forage plants within the ethnically diverse Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone. It seeks to establish a foundation for the sustainable utilization of these traditional resources for animal husbandry. A combination of literature research, village interviews, participatory observation, and ethnobotanical quantitative evaluation methods was employed to investigate and study the traditional knowledge of wild forage plants used by local residents in the study area. Local residents provided information on 73 forage plants, which were identified as 116 distinct wild forage plant species. These plants belong to 22 families and play an active role in the lives of the local inhabitants. Notably, the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae are prominent, comprising the most abundant and widely utilized wild forage plants. Bing Cao (collectively referring to plants of the Agropyron, Leymus, and Psammochloa), Suo Cao (collectively referring to plants of the genus Stipa), and Ku Cai (encompassing Lactuca tatarica (L.) C.A.Mey. and Ixeris polycephala Cass.) emerge as the most representative and vital wild forage plants for animal husbandry. Additionally, plants within the Astragalus (referred to collectively as NiaoZi by local residents) in the Fabaceae family, as well as plants from the Amaranthaceae family, exhibit notable significance. Animal husbandry assumes a pivotal role in the local agricultural economy, and the 116 wild forage plants investigated hold substantial importance in its development. Among these, 59 and 103 plant resources display high developmental potential, making them prospective candidates for high-quality cultivated forage grasses. Additionally, extensive grazing practices have resulted in significant ecological degradation within this already fragile ecosystem. The cultivation of forage grasses and the practice of pen-based animal husbandry may emerge as crucial strategies for sustainable development in this area.

中文翻译：

---

甘宁蒙交界区传统牧草植物民族植物学研究：畜牧业保护与可持续利用

本研究旨在保护甘肃、宁夏、内蒙古交界区多民族地区传统饲料植物的民族植物学知识。它旨在为这些传统畜牧业资源的可持续利用奠定基础。采用文献研究、村庄访谈、参与式观察、民族植物学定量评价等方法相结合的方法，对研究区当地居民对野生饲用植物的传统知识进行调查研究。当地居民提供了 73 种饲料植物的信息，经鉴定，这些植物有 116 种不同的野生饲料植物物种。这些植物属于22科，在当地居民的生活中发挥着积极的作用。值得注意的是，禾本科、豆科和菊科很突出，包括最丰富和最广泛利用的野生饲料植物。冰草（冰草、羊草、沙毛属植物的统称）、梭草（针茅属植物的统称）和苦菜（包括 Lactuca tatarica (L.) CAMey. 和 Ixeris polycephala Cass.）出现是最具代表性和重要的畜牧业野生饲草植物。此外，豆科黄芪（当地居民统称为鸟子）以及苋科植物也具有显着的意义。畜牧业在当地农业经济中占有举足轻重的地位，调查的116种野生牧草对其发展具有重要意义。其中，59种和103种植物资源具有较高的开发潜力，是优质栽培饲草的潜在候选资源。此外，广泛的放牧做法导致这个本已脆弱的生态系统出现严重的生态退化。饲草种植和圈养畜牧业可能成为该地区可持续发展的关键战略。