Functional reshaping of rhizosphere microorganisms drives the degradation of soil multifunctionality in continuously cultivated Rhodiola crenulata

Summary

Continuous cultivation is a common mode in the production of medicinal plants. Rhodiola crenulata , as a rare and endangered medicinal plant, like other medicinal plants, suffers from a decline in soil functionality due to long-term monoculture, which may constrain its growth and yield. However, the microbial community succession, soil functional changes, and their relationship during the artificial cultivation of R. crenulata remain poorly understood. In this study, rhizosphere soils from R. crenulata cultivated for 1-4 years were analyzed. By combining physical and chemical properties, extracellular enzyme activity analysis, high-throughput sequencing, and functional prediction, the relationship between microorganisms and soil under continuous cultivation was explored. The results showed