Unraveling the key mechanisms of continuous cropping obstacles: soil bacteria , , and along with soil metabolites 4-hydroxy-benzenemethanol and N-(2-butyl)-N-octadecyl-, ethyl ester as crucial indicators.

Background: Tian-ma () is a traditional medicinal herb found in China. It is used in healthy food and to treat various diseases, therefore cultivated extensively in southwest China. However, continuous cropping of this species has led to various obstacles, such as microbial disease and pest infestation, significantly affecting the production and development of valuable medicinal and food resources.

cultivation in fallow paddy fields and drylands affects the diversity of soil bacteria and soil chemical properties.

The properties of paddy field (DT) and dry land (HD) soil and food production can be enhanced by the cultivation of (ME) during the fallow period. However, whether ME cultivation affects the soil health and microbial diversity of paddy fields and drylands during the cultivation period remains unclear, and this has greatly limited the wider use of this cultivation model. Here, we analyzed the soil chemical properties and bacterial diversity (via metabarcoding sequencing) of DT and HD soils following ME cultivation.