Effects of Organic Materials and Microbial Agents on Soil Properties and Growth of Scutellaria baicalensis

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of organic materials and microbial agents on continuous cultivation of Chinese medicinal materials.

Method Soil was applied with Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus mucilaginosus, humic acid, biochar and vermicompost in soil with non- or three-continuous cropping years. The Scutellaria baicalensis growth traits, nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) absorption efficiency, and soil characteristics were studied after 105 days of potted cultivation in greenhouse.

Result Biochar and vermicompost significantly promoted the growth and nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) absorption of S. baicalensis. In non-continuous cropping soil, the dry weight of shoot and root of S. baicalensis increased 154.4% and 110.1% by biochar. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus mucilaginosus and humic acid decreased the dry weight of S. baicalensis. Vermicompost increased the nutrients’ (total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium) contents of soil by 21.8%-253.0%. The nutrients’ (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) concentrations of S. baicalensis increased by 6.5%-37.6%. In soil with 3 continuous cropping years, the dry weight of shoots increased by 342.2% and 216.5%, and the dry weight of roots increased by 271.1% and 252.7% under the action of biochar and vermicompost, respectively. The increases of root dry weight of S. baicalensis treated with biochar and vermicompost were 4.7-9.1 times and 4.4-8.5 times than other treatments, respectively. Vermicompost increased the nutrients’ (total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium) contents of soil by 30.2%-410.7%, and the nutrient concentrations of S. baicalensis increased by 20.7%-80.4%.

Conclusion Compared with other materials, biochar and vermicompost could effectively increase soil nutrient contents (total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium), promoting nutrients’ (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) absorption of scutellaria, promoting the growth of S. scutellaria, and alleviating continuous cropping obstacles.