Jiayao Zhou , Hongpeng Wang

Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 4   
Received: 04 Jul., 2025    Accepted: 10 Aug., 2025    Published: 28 Aug., 2025

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.

Leonurus japonicus is a common Chinese herbal medicine with high medicinal value. However, when it is planted off-season in winter and spring, it often encounters some problems, such as too cold weather, hard soil, easy loss of nutrients, and fewer microorganisms. These problems will affect its growth and efficacy. In order to make L. japonicus grow well in these seasons, we have consulted the methods of improving soil at home and abroad in recent years. There are mainly several ways: such as using machinery to loosen the soil, adding organic fertilizers, using beneficial bacteria, applying biochar, and adjusting the pH of the soil. By comparing cases, field experiments, and literature in different regions, we have summarized which methods are most effective under various soil problems. We have also compiled a more practical technical combination table for the reference of growers. The study found that as long as the appropriate method is selected according to the actual situation of the soil, the soil structure and root environment can be significantly improved, thereby increasing the emergence rate, yield, and accumulation of medicinal ingredients of L. japonicus. We also suggest that the government and agricultural departments increase the promotion of technology and improve the service system to promote the wider application of these technologies.

Leonurus japonicus; Off-season cultivation; Soil improvement; Microbial agents; Chinese medicinal material cultivation