Summary
This systematic review examines continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) in medicinal plant production, a significant cause of economic loss through soil degradation and reduced yield and quality. The authors synthesise recent molecular evidence linking CCOs to shifts in soil microbiology, nutrient dynamics, and allelopathic stress, and evaluate practical mitigation strategies—soil amendments, crop rotation, and intercropping—supported by transcriptomic and metabolomics data. The review proposes future research directions to advance sustainable medicinal plant cultivation.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK medicinal plant cultivation, particularly for growers practising monoculture on the same land. However, UK climate, soil types, and regulatory frameworks may require adaptation of recommended soil amendments and cropping strategies; the review does not appear to address temperate-climate–specific considerations.
Key measures
Differently expressed genes (DEGs), metabolite profiles, soil microbial community composition, soil fertility parameters, crop yield and quality, disease incidence
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised evidence on the causes of continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) in medicinal plants, including changes in soil microbial communities, nutrient availability, and allelopathic effects. It examined molecular mechanisms via transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses, and evaluated control strategies including soil amendments, crop rotation, and intercropping.
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