Effects of continuous cropping on yield, medicinal quality, and rhizosphere soil microecological environment of Atractylodes chinensis in the Horqin Sandy land

Background Continuous cropping is a major constraint that limits the sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants. However, the effects of continuous cropping on yield, medicinal quality, and the rhizosphere soil microecological environment of Atractylodes chinensis , particularly in the Horqin Sandy Land, remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a field experiment with continuous cropping and rotation systems to compare the yield, bioactive compound content, soil chemical properties, and rhizosphere microbial communities of A. chinensis and to further elucidate their potential relationships. Methods Plant and soil samples were collected to assess plant yield and bioactive compounds, soil chemical properties, and soil microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing, followed by bioinformatic analysis of the sequencing data. Results Compared with crop rotation, continuous cropping significantly reduced yield and the contents of major bioactive compounds, including atractylodin, atractylon and β-eudesmol. Continuous cropping significantly increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and available potassium, and decreased alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and organic matter (OM). Additionally, continuous cropping decreased fungal richness (Chao1 index) and increased bacterial diversity (Shannon index) and evenness (Pielou’s evenness). Fusarium and Volutella were significantly enriched, whereas Nocardioides and Arthrobacter were depleted. The predicted microbial functional potential associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling significantly decreased under continuous cropping. The correlation analysis revealed that the yield of A. chinensis was negatively correlated with soil EC and positively correlated with OM content, and the relative abundances of Heydenia and Enterocarpus . Atractylon content was positively correlated with Aleuria and Acremonium and negatively correlated with Volutella . Conclusion These findings demonstrate that continuous cropping reduces the yield and medicinal quality of A. chinensis in the Horqin Sandy Land and is associated with the deterioration of several soil chemical properties and dysbiosis of the rhizosphere microbial community. This study provides novel insights into the continuous cropping constraint associated with A. chinensis and its ecological consequences in the Horqin Sandy Land and establishes a theoretical foundation for optimizing cropping systems, maintaining soil ecological health, and improving the yield and quality of this medicinal herb.