Cultivation Suitability Assessment of Ainsliaea acerifolia Based on a Composite Suitability Index (CSI) and Maximum Limiting Factor Method (MLFM)

This study aimed to develop a quantitative Cultivation Suitability Index (CSI) and identify growth-limiting environmental factors for the stable cultivation of Ainsliaea acerifolia, an understory perennial native to the southern and south-central mountainous regions of Korea. Climatic conditions, site topography, microenvironment, soil physicochemical properties, vegetation structure, and plant growth indices were investigated at six representative natural habitats. The soils were generally acidic and nutrient-limited, with low available phosphorus and low exchangeable Ca and Mg. Community diversity indices indicated stable understory assemblages across sites. Thirteen environmental indicators were normalized and weighted to construct the CSI, and suitability classes were defined as highly suitable (≥0.75), suitable (0.5–0.75), potential (0.25–0.5), and unsuitable (