Guangman Xu

Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Medicinal Plant Research, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 3   
Received: 02 May, 2026    Accepted: 13 Jun., 2026    Published: 22 Jun., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This review examines the effects of organic fertilizer substitution for chemical fertilizers on the growth environment, yield formation, quality accumulation, stress resistance, and ecological benefits of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. The results indicate that organic fertilizer substitution provides favorable conditions for the growth and development of A. macrocephala by increasing soil organic matter content, improving soil physicochemical properties, optimizing nutrient supply, and regulating rhizosphere microbial community structure. Meanwhile, organic fertilizer substitution promotes rhizome yield by enhancing root development, increasing photosynthetic assimilate accumulation, and regulating dry matter allocation. In terms of quality formation, organic fertilizer substitution facilitates the accumulation of key active constituents, including atractylenolides, polysaccharides, and volatile oils, and its underlying mechanisms are closely associated with nutrient regulation, activation of secondary metabolic pathways, and rhizosphere microbial-mediated regulation. Furthermore, organic fertilizer substitution improves the stress resistance of A. macrocephala, reduces agricultural non-point source pollution, promotes resource recycling, and supports the sustainable development of the medicinal plant industry. However, suitable substitution ratios vary among different ecological regions and cultivation conditions, and the molecular mechanisms underlying quality formation and precision fertilization systems require further investigation. Future studies should integrate multi-omics approaches, precise soil monitoring, and intelligent management technologies to establish a quality-oriented, green, and efficient cultivation system for Atractylodes macrocephala.

Atractylodes macrocephala; Organic fertilizer substitution; Yield formation; Medicinal quality; Green cultivation