Bioscience Evidence 2026, Vol.16, No.4, 277-290 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 282 A foliar selenium application study clearly showed that nutrient supplementation has an optimal range. Zhou et al. (2021) applied five selenium levels (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mg·m⁻²) and found that the 5.0 mg·m⁻² treatment significantly increased plant survival. Selenium application promoted rhizome yield when the application rate did not exceed 10.0 mg·m⁻², whereas yield declined at 20.0 mg·m⁻². Moderate selenium application also altered soil nutrient status and the rhizosphere microbial community, but it did not significantly affect the contents of atractylenolides in the rhizomes. Field studies on fertilizer recommendations for A. macrocephala are still limited. However, fertilization strategies developed for closely related Atractylodes species provide useful references, particularly the use of balanced fertilization, stage-specific nutrient supply, and the combined evaluation of yield and medicinal quality. These approaches should be further optimized according to local soil fertility, planting materials, and cultivation systems. Sun et al. (2022) investigated the effects of different nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium combinations on the growth and bioactive compound accumulation of Atractylodes chinensis. Basal fertilization followed by appropriate topdressing during the vegetative and reproductive stages promoted plant growth and rhizome development. The high-phosphorus treatment (T6; N 180, P₂O₅ 225, and K₂O 105 kg·ha⁻¹) achieved the best overall performance in yield and quality. At harvest, the atractylodin content reached 4.5589 mg·g⁻¹, which was 1.71 times higher than that of the control. Another fertilizer combination promoted greater atractylon accumulation, indicating that different nutrient ratios may favor the accumulation of different bioactive compounds. 4.2 Water management The rhizomes of A. macrocephala develop underground and are sensitive to both excessive and insufficient soil moisture. Appropriate soil moisture promotes plant establishment, leaf development, and rhizome enlargement. In contrast, prolonged drought reduces photosynthesis and limits the transport of assimilates to the underground organs, while continuous waterlogging creates oxygen-deficient conditions that increase the risk of root rot and rhizome decay. Therefore, the objective of water management is not to keep the soil continuously wet, but to maintain stable soil moisture according to the growth stage and weather conditions. In Zhejiang, Anhui, and other production regions along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, water management should pay particular attention to the rainy season and periods of heavy rainfall. Production fields are usually designed with main drainage channels, secondary ditches, and furrows to remove excess water rapidly. Low-lying fields, heavy clay soils, and poorly drained sites are especially prone to oxygen deficiency after continuous rainfall, even when soil fertility is high. Therefore, drainage is not simply a supplement to irrigation but one of the key components of water management in A. macrocephala production. 4.3 Intercropping and continuous cropping Continuous cultivation of A. macrocephala in the same field often results in weak plant growth, increased root rot, reduced survival, and poorer rhizome quality. These problems are not caused by a single pathogen or nutrient deficiency. Instead, they result from long-term changes in soil properties, root exudates, and the rhizosphere microbial community. Zhu et al. (2020) reported that continuous cropping reduced the diversity of endophytic fungi in the roots, stems, leaves, and rhizomes of A. macrocephala and significantly altered the composition of the rhizosphere fungal community. Several Fusarium species became more abundant in plants affected by root rot, while soil pH, hydrolyzable nitrogen, and electrical conductivity were closely associated with changes in the fungal community. Increased disease severity under continuous cropping was accompanied not only by the enrichment of pathogens but also by reduced stability of the entire rhizosphere ecosystem. Suitable rotation crops for A. macrocephala should preferably be cereals, legumes, or other non-Asteraceae crops that are distantly related, have different disease hosts, and possess complementary root systems. The length of the rotation period should be determined according to disease severity, soil conditions, and local land-use practices. For fields with severe root rot, rotating for only one season may not be sufficient to restore soil health. A longer
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