The medicinal value of the herb Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang has driven its cultivation expansion. However, long-term monoculture of C. yanhusuo causes severe soil degradation and increases the risk of soil-borne diseases. Crop rotation improves soil sustainability and reduces pathogen pressure. Further research is necessary to establish successful crop rotation systems for C. yanhusuo and to comprehend their effects on soil microbial populations and physicochemical qualities. In this study, we established three crop cultivation systems, including CR (C. yanhusuo–rice rotation), CS (C. yanhusuo–soybean rotation), and CN (continuous cropping of C. yanhusuo), to examine sustainable models suitable for C. yanhusuo cultivation and their regulatory effects on the soil. To assess alterations in the physicochemical characteristics of the soil, we employed chemical analysis. The microbial makeup and roles of bacterial and fungal communities were compared using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. We investigated the effects of these rotations on soil ecosystem functions through the use of structural equation modeling. The results showed that CR and CS increased C. yanhusuo tuber yield and tetrahydropalmatine and protopine contents compared to CN. The concentrations of soil organic matter, total/hydrolysable nitrogen, total/available phosphorus, and soil enzyme activity were significantly higher in CR and CS compared to CN. Firmicutes grew in rhizosphere soil in CS, while Actinobacteria abundance increased in CR. The abundance of Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Rhodanobacter, and Trichoderma increased. Meanwhile, that of Flavobacterium, Fusarium, and Plectosphaerella decreased in CR and CS. CR and CS had increased bacterial and fungal community network linkages and modularity. Structural equation modelling revealed that crop rotation affects soil nutrients through microbial community dynamics. These soil nutrients, in turn, influence the yield and quality of C. yanhusuo. In this study, we have deepened our understanding of the effects of rice and soybeans on the microbial community and physicochemical properties of C. yanhusuo cultivation soil. The findings can inform the development of ecological restoration. methods for the sustained production of C. yanhusuo, increasing green agricultural development.

Corydalis yanhusuo W.T. Wang, a herb in the Papaveraceae family used for pain treatment, faces challenges with continuous cropping. Crop rotation with soybean can mitigate soil issues and facilitate the development of subsequent crops. This study evaluated how varying durations of soybean– C. yanhusuo rotation affect yield and active component of C. yanhusuo , soil nutrients, and microbial communities. Rotation with soybean progressively improved yield and active component of C. yanhusuo . Concurrently, soil organic matter, total/hydrolysable nitrogen, and soil enzyme activities improved over time. Microbial OTUs increased in the bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and roots, along with significant improvements in α-diversity. Over time, the Proteobacteria and pathogenic genera decreased, while Firmicutes and other beneficial genera increased. Network complexity and functions related to nitrate denitrification, cellulolysis, and xylanolysis improved with increased rotation duration. Significant positive correlations were detected between Bacillus , Mortierella , Trichoderma , and yield, medicinal components in C. yanhusuo , and soil nutrients. Structural equation modelling revealed that crop rotation affects C. yanhusuo yield by influencing the microbial community, which in turn alters soil nutrients. The soybean– C. yanhusuo rotation system enhances C. yanhusuo yield and active component content by improving soil nutrients and microbial diversity, providing valuable insights for sustainable medicinal plant cultivation.

The APETALA 2/ethylene-responsive element binding factors (AP2/ERFs) are crucial modulators of plant development and stress responses. Fritillaria thunberg