Agricultural waste compost enhances seedling retention rate of continuous cropping Panax ginseng by improving soil properties and microbial community structure

To address the issues of microecological imbalance and plant growth inhibition caused by continuous cropping soil of Panax ginseng , this study utilized different ratios of pig manure, cow manure, chicken manure, edible fungal medium, and corn stover to treat ginseng continuous cropping soil followed by replantation. By measuring soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, metagenomics profile, and ginseng root metabolomics features, metagenomics, coupled with transmission electron microscopy observations, the study comparatively analyzed the impacts of diverse compost on alleviating continuous cropping obstacle and their underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that most compost combinations showed elevated seedling retention or seed emergence rate except for S6 and S10 treatments. The soil amendment with a mixture of cow manure, chicken manure, pig manure, corn stover, and edible fungal medium at a rate of 0.05 m³ /m² showed the best mitigated effect on continuous cropping obstacle. These beneficial effects were primarily achieved by reducing soil acidification, increasing soil bulk density, decreasing soil moisture content, enhancing activities of soil urease, sucrase, and catalase, as well as optimizing functional gene distribution. In addition, Burkholderiales and Castellaniella defragrans were positively correlated with seedling retention rate, which had the functions of promoting plant growth and degrading allelopathic chemicals respectively. Furthermore, we concluded that the mechanism of continuous cropping obstacle alleviating is mainly dependent on the reclaim of suitable soil pH, adequate nutrients, and healthy microbial community structure. In summary, this research provides both theoretical foundation and technological support for sustainable utilization of ginseng continuous cropping soils and agricultural waste management. • Agricultural waste compost alleviates ginseng continuous cropping obstacle. • Optimal combination: each materials applied at a rate of 0.05 m³ /m². • Compost treatments enhance retention rate of replanted ginseng seedlings. • Soil physicochemical property, enzyme activity, and microbial community is amended.