GIES Case Study on the Guanghua Blueberry in the Cold Region and Black Soil Area of Tonghua, Jilin Province

Zhu Weihong¹², He Wensheng³, Liu Ying⁴, Jin Ni⁵, Zhuang Hongwei⁶, Qin Lipeng⁶, Wei Shibao⁶, Yin Xiuyan⁷, Wang Jingzhi¹², Jin Ri¹², Yang Yuanchao⁸, Tang Yuqi², Quan Donghe², Han Yingqi², Zhang Yue’e², Cai Xiaoyu², Tian Fangzheng²

1 Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, Jilin, China

2 College of Geography and Marine Sciences, Yanbian University, Hunchun 133300, Jilin, China

3 Tonghua Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, Tonghua 134001, Jilin, China

4 Tonghua County Government, Tonghua County 134100, Jilin, China

5 Tonghua County Administration for Market Regulation, Tonghua County 134100, Jilin, China

6 Guanghua Town People’s Government, Guanghua Town 134111, Jilin, China

7 Tonghua Heyun Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd., Tonghua County 134100, Jilin, China

8 Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Testing Center, Yanji 133000, Jilin, China

Abstract: Guanghua Town is located in Tonghua County, Tonghua City, Jilin Province, within the mountainous geomorphic system of the Longgang Mountain branch, which is part of the Changbai Mountain range. The terrain in the area is predominantly characterized by gentle slopes and river terraces. It has a temperate continental monsoon climate and is one of the key production areas of high-quality blueberries in China. Soil analysis shows that the organic matter content ranges from 15.7 to 718 g/kg, total nitrogen from 0.084% to 2.282%, total phosphorus from 0.021% to 0.185%, and total potassium from 0.25% to 2.61%. In addition, the concentrations of heavy metals (including lead, cadmium, and mercury) in the soil are considerably lower than the national standards. In the case study area, the pH of surface water ranges from 6.58 to 7.62. The contents of heavy metals (such as mercury, cadmium, and lead) were below detection limits, and indicators including fluorides meet the national standards. Blueberries produced in this region are known for their plumpness, high sweetness, and excellent nutritional value. The total polyphenol content reaches 1,929.9 mg/kg, and the total flavonoid content is 87.15 mg/100g. The fruits are intact with no excessive heavy metal residues, thus demonstrating strong market competitiveness. A relatively complete industrial chain has been established, encompassing seedling cultivation, planting, harvesting, processing, diversified product development, and sales. The dataset includes: (1) boundary data of the case study area; (2) elevation and slope data; (3) land use and vegetation cover data; (4) climate and soil data; (5) blueberry quality and production data. The dataset is archived in .shp, .xlsx, .docx, .jpg, .txt, and .tif formats, comprising a total of 41 data files with a total data volume of 6.05 MB.

Keywords: Tonghua Guanghua Town; Changbai Mountain blueberry; GIES; Case 39

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2026.04.03

CSTR: https://cstr.escience.org.cn/CSTR:20146.14.2026.04.03

1 Introduction

Blueberry (scientific name: Vaccinium uliginosum), a perennial small berry plant of the Ericaceae family native to North America, is widely recognized as the "golden berry" and "king of antioxidants" due to its high content of vitamins, trace elements, and abundant phenolic compounds ^[1]. Blueberries exhibit strong antioxidant properties, which can enhance human immunity, combat cardiovascular diseases, and slow the aging process. With high nutritional and economic value, blueberries have been listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as one of the world's top five health foods ^[2].

Blueberries were first introduced to China in the 1980s. At present, domestic blueberry production can be divided into five major advantageous regions: the Changbai Mountain production area, the Liaodong Peninsula production area, the Jiaodong Peninsula production area, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River production area, and the Southwest production area ^[3]. The Changbai Mountain production area is characterized by low pollution levels and virtually no environmental interference. The fresh fruit supply period in this region extends from late July to early September, making it the latest-maturing blueberry production area in China. The main cultivated varieties include 'Blomidon', 'Fenty', 'Northland', 'Bluecrop', 'Northblue', and 'Bluegold' ^[4].

The blueberries cultivated in Guanghua Town, Tonghua County, are located within the Changbai Mountain forest region. These blueberries possess strong competitiveness in both domestic and international markets due to their late maturation, delicate fruit texture, rich flavor, and outstanding nutritional quality. Their research value lies in providing genetic resources for cold-region blueberry breeding and revealing mechanisms of cold tolerance; investigating the effects of multiple factors on blueberry quality to improve cultivation theories for cold regions; and offering a whole-industry-chain model that can serve as a reference for the development of characteristic agriculture in cold regions. This paper focuses on Tonghua Changbai Mountain blueberries, aiming to systematically review their high-quality habitat conditions, suitable varieties, and key cultivation techniques, thereby providing a scientific basis for the sustainable development of the blueberry industry in this region and the full utilization of its geographical advantages.

2 Dataset Metadata Overview

The metadata of the Case Study on the Geographical-Indicator Habitat of Guanghua Blueberry in the Cold Region and Black Soil Area of Tonghua ^[5] include the following elements: title, authors, geographical region, data time period, dataset composition, data publishing and sharing service platform, data sharing policy, etc. Detailed information is presented in Table 1.

Table 1 Metadata summary of the case study on the geo-indicative habitat of Tonghua Guanghua blueberries in cold black soil regions

Item	Description
Dataset name	Case Study of Cold-Region Black Soil Habitat for Blueberries in Guanghua, Tonghua
Dataset alias	Tonghua Blueberry Habitat Landmark Dataset
Author information	Weihong Zhu, Yanbian University, whzhu@ybu.edu.cn Wensheng He, Tonghua Municipal Administration for Market Regulation Ying Liu, Tonghua County Government, Tonghua City Ni Jin, Tonghua County Administration for Market Regulation, Tonghua City Hongwei Zhuang, Guanghua Town Government, Tonghua County Lipeng Qin, Guanghua Town Government, Tonghua County Shibao Wei, Guanghua Town Government, Tonghua County Xiuyan Yin, Tonghua Heyun Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd. Jingzhi Wang, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Yanbian University, jzwang@ybu.edu.cn Ri Jin, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Yanbian University, jinri0322@ybu.edu.cn Yuanchao Yang, Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Testing Center of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture Yuqi Tang, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences,Yanbian University Donghe Quan, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences,Yanbian University Yingqi Han, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences,Yanbian University Yue’e Zhang, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Yanbian University Xiaoyu Cai, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Yanbian University Fangzheng Tian, College of Geography and Ocean Sciences, Yanbian University.
Geographic area	Guanghua Town, Tonghua County, Jilin Province
Data year	2025
Data formats	.docx、.tif、.jpg、.xlsx、.shp
Data size	2.3 MB (compressed)
Dataset composition	Case-area maps, natural-geographic data, processed soil data, product characteristic data, and socio-economic, historical, and cultural data
Publishing and sharing service platform	Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository, http://www.geodoi.ac.cn
Address	No. 11 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Data sharing policy	(1) The data are made publicly accessible to society through an Internet system in the most convenient manner; users may browse and download them free of charge; (2) users are required to cite the data source appropriately in works generated from using the data, including formally published works and unpublished works; (3) users who disseminate or distribute the data by any means, including through computer servers, must sign a written agreement with the Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository (GCdataPR) and obtain permission; (4) records extracted from the “data” through extractive methods or partial modification must follow the 10% citation rule, namely, records extracted from this dataset must account for less than 10% of the total number of records in the new dataset, and the source of the extracted data records must be clearly cited^[6]
Data and paper indexing systems	DOI，DCI，CSCD，WDS/ISC，GEOSS，China GEOSS

3 Case Study Data Development

3.1 Scope of the Case Study Area

Guanghua Town, Tonghua County, Tonghua City, Jilin Province, is situated between 125°17′–126°25′ E and 41°49′–42°02′ N. It is located 56 km from the county seat and has a total area of 333.1 km². The town currently administers eight administrative villages and 62 resident groups. The total cultivated land area in the town is 142 hectares, including 3.2 km² of paddy fields, 1.336 km² of dry farmland, and 4.86 km² of cash crop land. Grain crops grown in Guanghua Town mainly include corn, rice, and soybeans; livestock farming focuses on pigs, cattle, and poultry ^[7].

Figure 1 Geographical location map of the case study area

3.2 Eco-environmental Data

3.2.1 Topography and Geomorphology

The landform of Guanghua Town belongs to the mountainous geomorphic system of the Longgang Mountain branch, which is itself a branch of the Changbai Mountain range. Mountains account for 87.3% of the town's total area, with an average elevation of 459.5 m. To the east lies the Sifang Mountain and to the west the Longgang Mountain—both are north–south trending mountain ranges—forming a core geomorphic pattern described as "two mountains flanking one river." The terrain is centered around the Hani River, with low elevation in the middle and higher elevation on both sides [8]. Combined analysis of elevation and slope (Figure 2) shows that most of the town's elevation ranges between 400-800 m, with moderate undulation, presenting an overall pattern of high surroundings and a low central area. Slopes are predominantly gentle; steeper slopes appear only sporadically in the peripheral mountainous areas. The terrain is gently undulating and exhibits good continuity.

Figure 2 Classification map of slope and elevation in the case study area

3.2.2 Climatic Conditions

The annual average temperature in Guanghua Town is approximately 3.6 °C. The hottest period occurs from late July to early August, with an average temperature of about 23.8 °C, while the coldest period is from late January to early February, where extreme low temperatures can reach -26 °C [9]. The winter season is characterized by a long duration of low temperatures, with an accumulated duration of temperatures below 7.2 °C exceeding 800 hours. The annual precipitation in the town ranges from approximately 865 to 995 mm, with rainfall concentrated in July and August, reaching 219 mm and 196 mm, respectively. The region benefits from favorable light conditions, with abundant sunshine throughout the year. During the growing season, there are frequent sunny days, and the average daily sunshine duration exceeds 6 hours. After September, the region enters a short-day photoperiod phase, which aligns with the requirements for flower bud differentiation and contributes to an increase in fruit soluble solids content.

Figure 3 Annual average precipitation and annual average temperature in Guanghua Town (2016–2025)

Figure 4 Annual average sunshine duration in Guanghua Town (2016–2025)

3.2.3 Land Use and Vegetation Cover

The land use structure of Guanghua Town presents a typical mountainous pattern characterized by ecologically dominated land use, clustering of agriculture in river valleys, and sparse, scattered construction land. Mountains account for 87.3% of the town's total area, and the forest coverage rate reaches 79.4%. Forest land is the predominant land use type across the entire town, widely distributed in the mountain ranges on the eastern and western sides. Cultivated land is mainly distributed in strips along the river terraces of the Hani River, with a total cultivated area of 2030.93 hm² ^[10]. Cultivated land is primarily used for grain crops such as corn, soybeans, and rice. Additionally, relying on suitable terrain and loose soils, blueberry specialty cultivation has been established, forming a grain–cash crop composite agricultural land use structure ^[8].The vegetation cover is highly coupled with the land use pattern as a whole. NDVI analysis shows that high-value areas are concentrated in the forested mountain areas on the eastern and western sides. The central Hani River valley, where cultivated land is distributed, exhibits medium-value coverage, with relatively high vegetation cover during the crop growing season, reflecting the vegetation characteristics of grain–cash crop composite cultivation. Built-up areas, including the town center, residential settlements, and roads, show low NDVI values, appearing as scattered point-like patches with small area and weak disturbance.

Figure 5 Classification map of land use and vegetation coverage

3.2.4 Water Conditions

Guanghua Town is endowed with abundant water resources, and the core irrigation source is the Hani River, which flows through the entire town. As a water supply source for Tonghua City, the upper reaches of the Hani River flow through mountainous areas with extensive forest cover, where there is little or no industrial pollution^[11]. The hydrological characteristics of large water volume, low sediment content, and low pollution levels result in good water quality, consistently meeting or exceeding the Class III water standard. According to the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB 3838-2002), agricultural water use areas should refer to the functions and standards of Class V waters^[12]. Therefore, the water resources in this region fully meet the requirements for clean irrigation water for blueberries, avoiding fruit contamination and plant diseases caused by water quality issues.

The research team selected a total of 13 sampling sites within the blueberry production area of Guanghua Town to collect surface water samples (Figure 6). Water quality analyses were entrusted to Jilin Province Zhongnong Testing Certification Service Co., Ltd. The tested parameters included pH, dissolved oxygen, mercury, lead, and fecal coliforms, among others. The mean values of each parameter are presented in Table 2. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and five‑day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) met the Class Ⅳ standard (COD ≤30 mg/L, BOD₅ ≤6 mg/L), while the average values of all other parameters met the Class Ⅲ water quality standard. The heavy metal contaminants mercury, chromium, cadmium, lead, and arsenic were all below detection limits. All indicators comply with the requirements of the Standards for Irrigation Water Quality (GB 5084‑2021) ^[13].

Figure 6 Spatial distribution map of sampling points

Table 2 Statistical summary of water quality sampling data in Guanghua Town

Test Indicator	Mean Value	Class III Water Standard	Irrigation Water Standard	Test Indicator	Mean Value	Class III Water Standard	Irrigation Water Standard
pH	6.94	6-9	5.5-8.5	Mercury	ND	≤0.0001	≤0.001
Dissolved oxygen	5.44	≥5	/	Cadmium	ND	≤0.005	≤0.01
Permanganate index	2.66	≤6	/	Chromium (hexavalent)	ND	≤0.01	≤0.1
Chemical oxygen demand	20.42	≤20	≤60	Lead	ND	≤0.05	≤0.2
Five-day biochemical oxygen demand	4.20	≤4	≤15	Fluoride	ND	≤0.2	≤0.5
Ammonia nitrogen	0.66	≤1.0	/	Total phosphoru	0.05	≤0.2	/
Copper	ND	≤1.0	≤1.0	Volatile phenols	ND	≤0.005	≤1.0
Zinc	ND	≤1.0	≤2.0	Petroleum	ND	≤0.05	≤1.0
Fluoride（calculated as F⁻）	0.14	≤1.0	≤2.0	Anionic surfactants	ND	≤0.2	≤5
Selenium	ND	≤0.01	≤0.02	Sulfide	ND	≤0.2	≤1.0
Arsenic	0.0009	≤0.05	≤0.05	Fecal coliforms (count/L)	＜200	≤10000	≤10000

Note: ND indicates not detected.

3.2.5 Soil Conditions

Guanghua Town, under the jurisdiction of Tonghua County, is located at the southern foot of the Changbai Mountains. The main soil types in the area include dark brown soil, brown soil, and albic bleached soil^[14]. The research team established 12 soil sampling plots in typical blueberry cultivation areas and collected stratified samples at depths of 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm, 60–80 cm, and 80–100 cm. The samples were sent to Jilin Province Zhongnong Testing Certification Service Co., Ltd. for analysis. The test results show that the soil pH in this region ranges from 6.55 to 7.32. The contents of various heavy metals in the soil are far below the national Soil Environmental Quality Risk Control Standard for Soil Contamination of Agricultural Land (Trial) (GB 15618-2018)^[15]. The total nitrogen content in the 0–20 cm surface layer ranges from 0.209% to 2.09%, which is at an above‑moderate level and can adequately meet the nitrogen uptake requirements of blueberry roots.From a vertical profile perspective, the total nitrogen content in the soil generally exhibits slight fluctuations with increasing depth but remains relatively stable overall. Organic matter content tends to increase with depth, indicating that the soil in this region is rich in organic matter accumulation, which is beneficial for improving soil structure, enhancing water and nutrient retention capacity, and thereby promoting root development and efficient nutrient uptake. Regarding major nutrients, the mean total phosphorus content across different soil layers ranges from approximately 0.087% to 0.108%, which is at an appropriate level and conducive to promoting root development, flower bud differentiation, and fruit quality formation in blueberries. The mean total potassium content ranges from 1.63% to 2.04%, indicating a generally sufficient supply that can significantly enhance plant stress tolerance, promote sugar accumulation, and improve fruit flavor quality. Overall, the coordination of the three major elements—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—is well balanced, contributing to a harmonious equilibrium between vegetative growth and reproductive growth in blueberries.

Table 3 Soil test data of Guanghua Town

Sampling Depth (cm)	Organic Matter (g/kg)	Total Nitrogen (%)	Total Phosphorus (%)	Total Potassium (%)	Mercury (mg/kg)	Lead (mg/kg)	Arsenic (mg/kg)	Chromium (mg/kg)	Nickel (mg/kg)	Copper (mg/kg)	Zinc (mg/kg)	Cadmium (mg/kg)	pH
Standard Limit	/	/	/	/	<2.4	<120	<30	<200	/	<100	/	<0.3	/
0-20	35.8-343.0	0.209-0.209	0.073-0.185	1.62-2.43	0.098-0.447	14.3-34.2	5.02-15.40	70-143	21-43	20-36	44-138	0.08-0.18	6.65-7.23
Mean	101.1	0.448	0.108	2.04	0.213	19.4	7.53	104	33	29	86	0.14	6.86
20-40	24.4-499	0.107-2.029	0.021-0.176	1.09-2.53	0.058-0.337	10.3-25.1	2.60-14.80	61-148	26-42	17-33	52-124	0.11-0.18	6.71-7.23
Mean	116.6	0.527	0.100	1.97	0.198	17.8	7.76	111	33	27	93	0.15	6.91
40-60	20.2-562.0	0.111-2.282	0.026-0.137	0.38-2.61	0.062-0.341	7.6-26.2	1.22-18.80	103-148	24-45	20-38	69-135	0.08-0.22	6.64-7.32
Mean	174.0	0.738	0.091	1.85	0.199	15.1	7.69	126	33	26	96	0.14	7.01
60-80	15.7-644.0	0.084-2.282	0.026-0.155	0.25-2.61	0.113-0.341	8.8-26.2	1.31-18.80	49-148	23-52	18-40	54-135	0.08-0.22	6.72-7.12
Mean	222.6	0.950	0.088	1.68	0.202	13.8	6.51	118	36	31	100	0.14	6.89
80-100	15.7-718.0	0.099-2.023	0.029-0.167	0.81-2.42	0.049-0.359	6.7-16.8	1.82	60-139	23-49	25-37	68-110	0.09-0.20	6.55-7.25
Mean	246.2	0.900	0.087	1.63	0.225	13.1	6.21	100	34	31	96	0.14	6.95

4 Product characteristic data

4.1 Blueberry varieties and characteristics

At present, the blueberry base in Guanghua Town mainly cultivates varieties such as “Meideng”, “Northland”, “Bluecrop”, and “Northblue”. These varieties have been developed and tested over many years, have gained high market recognition, and are well adapted to the cold alpine environment of the Changbai Mountain region.“Meideng” is a lowbush blueberry variety characterized by extremely strong cold resistance, high yield, early maturity, disease resistance, and strong adaptability, with excellent overall performance. It is a small-fruited variety, with an average fruit weight of approximately 0.69 g. Under open-field cultivation, it matures in mid-July and has a sweet flavor.“Northland”is a half-highbush blueberry variety with high photosynthetic potential. It is not selective with respect to soil conditions, and is extremely high-yielding and cold-tolerant. Most fruits of this variety have a diameter greater than 1.3 cm, and the fruit flavor is slightly sweet and sour.“Bluecrop” has moderate tree vigor, strong cold resistance and drought tolerance, and broad adaptability to soil conditions, making it easy to cultivate. It has a relatively high yield per unit area, medium to large fruit size, good taste, and good storage and transport tolerance.“Northblue” produces relatively large fruits, with a diameter greater than 2.9 cm. It has stable yield and relatively strong cold resistance. The fruit tastes sweet and sour, but has relatively little bloom ^[2].

Figure 7 Blueberries in the case study area

4.2 Product quality testing and analysis

To comprehensively and scientifically evaluate the edible safety, nutritional composition, and other quality attributes of blueberries from the Changbai Mountain region in Tonghua, and to objectively reflect the overall quality level of blueberries produced in this area, blueberry samples were selectively collected and subjected to a series of tests in this study. The results are as follows:

The nutritional components were tested by Titan and Spectrum Testing Technology Co., Ltd. The results showed that the total polyphenol content of the blueberries reached 1,929.9 mg/kg, and the total flavonoid content was 87.15 mg/100 g. The high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids provide a strong material basis for the antioxidant activity and health-promoting value of blueberries.In terms of anthocyanins, Tonghua Guanghua blueberries show significant regional advantages owing to the unique geographical and climatic conditions of the Changbai Mountain production area. Previous studies have systematically compared the nutritional components of blueberries from different production areas, including Lijiang City in Yunnan Province, Chengdu City in Sichuan Province, Genhe City in Inner Mongolia, the Changbai Mountain area in Jilin Province, and the Daxing’anling area in Heilongjiang Province. The results showed that blueberries from the Changbai Mountain area in Jilin Province had the highest anthocyanin content among all production areas, reaching 1.88 ± 0.04 mg/g ^[17]. This finding strongly confirms the unique advantage of the Changbai Mountain region in promoting anthocyanin accumulation in blueberries.

The sensory quality of the blueberries was tested by Heilongjiang Biaojian Product Testing Co., Ltd. The results showed that all indicators performed well and met the requirements of the “Jizhi Jipin” blueberry standard ^[18]. The samples exhibited the natural color inherent to the variety, with intact bloom on the fruit surface (with the c value meeting the standard). The stem scar was dry, with no tearing around the stem end, and the fruit skin showed no picking-related tearing marks. The fruits were regular in shape and free from deformities or defects. Fruit diameter reached the excellent grade, maturity was moderate, and no unripe or overripe fruits were observed.

Pesticide residues were tested by the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Testing Center of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. The results showed that residues of all 67 tested pesticides, including carbendazim, methomyl, thiamethoxam, and carbaryl, did not exceed the maximum residue limits specified in the National Food Safety Standard—Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food (GB 2763-2021) ^[19], and all samples were qualified. This confirms that blueberries from this production area comply with China’s current and most stringent national food safety standards in terms of pesticide residue control, thereby effectively ensuring their edible safety.Regarding heavy metal testing, four key indicators, namely lead, cadmium, total mercury, and total arsenic, were not detected. Only chromium was detected, at a concentration of 0.21 mg/kg, which met the requirements of the T/JQSA 5 “Jizhi Jipin” blueberry standard ^[18].

Table 4 Statistical table of main test results of blueberries

Test Item	Standard	Test Result	Test Item	Standard	Test Result
Color	Variety-specific color	Variety-specific color	Fruit Shape (c)	Variety-specific characteristics, no defects	Variety-specific characteristics, no defects
Stem Scar	Dry	Dry	Maturity (c)	No immature or overripe fruits	No immature or overripe fruits
Peel Tear at Harvest	None	None	Lead (as Pb) (mg/kg)	≤0.1	Not Detected
Fruit Diameter (mm)	≥16	21	Cadmium (as Cd) (mg/kg)	≤0.05	Not Detected
Soluble Solids Content	≥12	13.5	Total Arsenic (as As) (mg/kg)	≤0.01	Not Detected
Bloom (c)	Intact	Intact	Total Mercury (as Hg) (mg/kg)	≤0.04	Not Detected
Stem Tear (c)	None	None	Chromium (as Cr) (mg/kg)	/	0.21

5 Development and Management of the Blueberry Industry
5.1 Socioeconomic Overview of Guanghua Town

From 2020 to 2024, the total population of Tonghua County exhibited a gradual decline, decreasing from 234,600 to 218,000, while the urbanization rate remained relatively stable at around 37%. The gender structure was balanced, whereas the age structure showed a clear trend of aging: the proportion of the population aged 60 and above increased from 22.50% to 29.40%, accompanied by a slight decline in the share of the working-age population ^[20]. Natural population growth remained negative throughout the five-year period, and the number of births decreased steadily, indicating an overall pattern of slow population contraction and deepening aging. Similarly, the population of Guanghua Town declined from 10,388 in 2020 to 9,900 in 2024, with a relatively stable population structure and ethnic composition ^[21].

From 2020 to 2024, the economy of Guanghua Town maintained an overall steady growth trajectory, with annual growth rates fluctuating within the range of 3.3% to 7.4%, demonstrating sustained development resilience ^[20]. The industrial structure underwent continuous optimization and adjustment. The primary industry developed steadily, with output value increasing from 1.055 billion yuan to 1.200 billion yuan, maintaining its foundational supporting role. The secondary industry expanded in a stable manner, with output value rising from 2.993 billion yuan to 3.860 billion yuan; the driving effect of industry and related sectors on the economy continued to strengthen, with an increasing share. The tertiary industry exhibited some fluctuations, with output value ranging between 3.921 billion yuan and 4.630 billion yuan, remaining an important component of the regional economy.

5.2 Historical Traditions and Cultural Heritage of Blueberry Cultivation

Guanghua Town has a long history of blueberry utilization and cultivation. As early as over a century ago, early inhabitants of the local forested areas had the tradition of harvesting wild blueberries and drying them for consumption, using them both as a daily health food and a source of local flavor. In the 1980s, research on the introduction and domestication of blueberries was initiated in the Changbai Mountain region, laying the technical foundation for the large-scale cultivation of blueberries in Guanghua Town.Since the beginning of the 21st century, leveraging its favorable climatic conditions, soil quality, and water resources, Guanghua Town has gradually transitioned from wild harvesting to standardized artificial cultivation. Through the selection of cold-resistant varieties and the establishment of demonstration bases, an industrial model integrating “enterprises + cooperatives + farmers” has been developed, promoting the transformation of blueberries from a household sideline product into a characteristic leading industry ^[22].Over the course of its long-term development, blueberry culture has become deeply embedded in the rural life and local customs of Guanghua Town. During the annual blueberry harvest season, activities such as picking experiences, product exhibitions and sales, and agricultural festivals are organized, serving as important platforms for the integration of rural culture and agri-tourism. The region consistently adheres to the principle of ecological priority and near-natural cultivation, integrating traditional farming knowledge with green production practices to preserve the distinctive quality of Changbai Mountain blueberries.Today, Guanghua Town has become a core production area for blueberries in the Changbai Mountain region. The blueberry industry not only serves as a key pillar for increasing farmers’ incomes and promoting rural development, but also embodies the ecological wisdom of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in the Changbai Mountain area, representing a vivid symbol of regional cultural heritage and rural revitalization.

5.3 Blueberry Cultivation and Management

（1）Planting Environment

Guanghua Town is characterized by a cool and humid climate with a relatively large diurnal temperature range, conditions that are conducive to the accumulation of sugars and the development of flavor in blueberries. The soil, primarily composed of fertile black soil, can meet the blueberry’s preference for loose and well-aerated conditions after organic matter amendment. In addition, as blueberries are sensitive to waterlogging, cultivation should be carried out on gently sloping land with good drainage or on raised beds, accompanied by well-designed drainage systems. These measures provide favorable conditions for root development and the improvement of fruit quality.

(2) Seedling Cultivation

First, soil amendment materials are prepared and subjected to composting and fermentation, during which the compost is regularly turned to promote full decomposition. Subsequently, blueberry seedlings are transplanted under the improved soil conditions. After planting, field management practices are implemented, including weeding, fertilization, and water regulation, along with pruning, pinching, and pest and disease control based on plant growth conditions. Finally, replanting is conducted according to seedling survival rates and growth performance to ensure uniformity and overall stand quality.

(3) Blueberry Cultivation

Prior to transplanting, field sanitation should be carried out, followed by ridge formation and plastic mulching at a spacing of 1.2 × 2.0 m, adopting a single-row planting pattern on raised beds. After planting, shade nets should be installed to provide moderate shading, thereby improving seedling establishment and survival rates. Once seedlings are established, a hardening period is implemented, during which irrigation is controlled for approximately 20 days to promote root development and suppress excessive vegetative growth.In terms of nutrient management, scientific fertilization should be conducted in conjunction with the application of well-decomposed organic fertilizers. During the mid- to late-growth stages, timely pruning of overly dense branches and weak or diseased shoots, as well as the removal of non-productive flower buds, should be performed to optimize canopy structure and promote balanced fruit development ^[24].

(4)Water and Fertilizer Management and Pest Control

The planting base collects livestock manure and corn stalks from surrounding farmers for resource reuse to produce biological organic fertilizer, which improves soil fertility and organic matter content and regulates soil nutrients. For pest and disease control, virus-free seedlings are produced through tissue culture technology. Pest and disease prevention is carried out by pruning blueberry branches in winter, removing weeds, and deep plowing the soil by about 20 cm to eliminate underground pests. Field management is strengthened by laying weed-proof cloth and balancing water and fertilizer ratios to ensure that blueberries meet organic standards ^[33].

(5)Processing, Packaging and Transportation

After harvesting, blueberries are subjected to sorting, washing and cold storage. Blueberries in the same package are of the same variety, batch and specification without foreign impurities. The outer package is labeled with variety, origin (Guanghua Town, Tonghua County, Changbai Mountain) and grade. Cold chain (0-4 ℃) is adopted for long-distance transportation, and thermal insulation for short-distance transportation to maintain fruit freshness and marketability.

Figure 8 Blueberry processing workshop

5.4 Industrial Development and Brand Building

Tonghua County has devoted intensive efforts to developing the blueberry industry, and has now formed a full agricultural industrial chain integrating improved variety breeding, planting, collection and storage, processing, and leisure tourism. Guanghua Town has been awarded several national-level titles such as "China's Characteristic Agricultural Products Advantage Zone". The leading enterprise, Tonghua Heyun Modern Agricultural Co., Ltd., has become a key national leading enterprise in forestry. The region has built a 8,000-mu standardized planting base, a 12,000-ton collection and storage base, a 4,000-ton intensive processing base, and a breeding base capable of producing 4 million high-quality seedlings annually, realizing a full-chain layout from seedling cultivation to product processing^{[16] .}

Relying on strict green production standards, Guanghua blueberries in Tonghua have successfully obtained dual organic food certifications from the European Union and China. The locality has also been recognized as a national "Three Products and One Standard" base for crop planting, making "Tonghua Blueberries" synonymous with ecological excellence.After being approved as a national "Internet +" agricultural products pilot county, it established the "Youguo Paradise" Tmall store and expanded sales channels through emerging business formats such as Douyin.Currently, 80% of the blueberries are sold as fresh fruit, and 20% are processed into dried blueberries, blueberry wine, blueberry juice, and other products. Through cooperation with major domestic brands such as Dili Fresh, China Resources, and COFCO, the products are sold to first-tier cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, with an annual sales revenue of 150 million yuan. A 3,000-ton raw fruit order has been signed with Amuxi, further expanding the market ^[10].

5.5 Real-time Blueberry Habitat Monitoring System

To achieve near-real-time monitoring of the blueberry habitat, a ground-based habitat monitoring station was established at the blueberry planting base in Guanghua Town, Tonghua County. It monitors core indicators including air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, rainfall, light intensity, and negative oxygen ions, enabling comprehensive perception of atmospheric environmental conditions. Synchronous monitoring is conducted for soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil electrical conductivity at three soil depths (10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm) to accurately capture differences in environmental parameters across soil layers. The system supports scanning a dedicated QR code to obtain real-time dynamic data of all the above indicators, making the monitoring process convenient and visualized.

Figure 9 Blueberry near-real-time habitat monitoring system

6 Discussion and Conclusion

The unique cold-region black soil habitat at the southern foot of Changbai Mountain in Guanghua Town, Tonghua County has nurtured high-quality geographical indication blueberry products with distinct regional characteristics. Future research and development should focus on the following aspects:(1) Continuously strengthen ecological and environmental protection, strictly delimit blueberry planting boundaries, prevent excessive reclamation from damaging natural forests, and promote the sustainable development of the industry;(2) Establish a "climate-soil-quality" prediction model based on the habitat monitoring system, improve the standardized production management system, and stabilize and enhance product quality;(3) Expand the production of extra-late-maturing varieties and develop functional products, extend the full industrial chain of "standardized planting → intensive processing → brand marketing", and increase added value and brand influence;(4) Promote mechanized and intelligent management to address the challenge of rural population aging.Through the above measures, the blueberry industry in Guanghua Town, Tonghua will achieve high-quality and sustainable development.

Author Contributions

Zhu, W. H. was responsible for the overall design and guidance of the case study, and participated in the investigation and sampling work. Zhu, W. H., Zhuang, H. W., Liu, Y., and Qin, L. P. jointly formulated the case implementation plan and participated in the case implementation. He, W. S., Jin, N., Wei, S. B., Wang, J. Z., and Jin, R. took part in the project investigation and provided or collected relevant materials for the case. Yin, X. Y. provided data on blueberry product characteristics, cultivation management, and industrial operation management. Wang, J. Z., Yang, Y. C., Tang, Y. Q., Han, Y. Q., and Zhang, Y. E. participated in the field investigation of the case study, and carried out the collection and analysis of soil and water samples. Wang, J. Z., Quan, D. H., Han, Y. Q., Zhang, Y. E., Cai, X. Y., and Tian, F. Z. completed the dataset compilation, mapping, and paper writing. All authors participated in the discussion of the paper.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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