The application of fertilizers is a key agronomic practice in the artificial cultivation of medicinal plants, aiming to boost yields and enhance the levels of their bioactive constituents. However, systematic investigations on the influence of various fertilizers on the concentration of active compounds in saponin-containing medicinal plants remain insufficient. In this study, 966 experimental outcomes from 29 papers were analyzed via meta-analysis to examine the effects of organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and their combined application on the levels of different saponin monomers in medicinal plants. The findings from the meta-analysis revealed that inorganic fertilizers contribute positively to the accumulation of saponins such as Rg1 in ginseng, Rb1, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1, in addition to the saponins from Paris polyphylla, Dioscorea, Panax quinquefolius, and Platycodon grandiflorus. Moreover, the application of organic fertilizers was found to markedly elevate the concentrations of Notoginsenoside R1, Ginsenoside Rb1, Ginsenoside Rb2, Re, and Rg1, along with Lancemasid saponins and Quinoa saponins. The combined use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers was shown to effectively increase the levels of Notoginsenoside R1 and Panax ginsenosides, encompassing Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg1. Overall, the results suggest that both individual and combined applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers have a positive impact on the enhancement of saponin monomers in medicinal plants. However, inorganic fertilizers promote the increase of saponin content, their prolonged use may lead to soil compaction and acidification, which could compromise the yield and quality of medicinal plants. On the other hand, organic fertilizers improve the soil environment and stimulate saponin accumulation, they do not supply all the nutrients required for the sustained growth of these plants. Therefore, a balanced fertilization strategy combining both organic and inorganic fertilizers is recommended as the optimal approach for cultivating saponin-rich medicinal plants.

Rice-fish coculture system (RFS) operates through effectively utilizing water and land resources in a complementary form, but it requires more efficient utilization of fertilizer and feed without compromising rice yield. However, the knowledge of how to regulate the proportion of nitrogen (N) supplied from fertilizer and feed at an equivalent total N level to improve the benefits of RFS remains limited. Therefore, four treatments (S0: RFS with 0% N from fertilizer and 100% N from feed; S25: RFS with 25% N from fertilizer and 75% N from feed; S50: RFS with 50% N from fertilizer and 50% N from feed; S75: RFS with 75% N from fertilizer and 25% N from feed) were conducted to assess the variation of ditch bottom soil properties, microbial communities and enzyme activities, as well as to obtain the optimal ratio of N supplied from fish feed and fertilizer.The experiments showed that the contents of soil organic matter, total carbon and total N, and the activities of urease, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, protease, β-1,4-glucosidase and catalase in the ditch bottom soil significantly reduced in S25 treatment, compared with the other three treatments. Ammonium N content decreased with increasing percentage of the basal fertilizer, whereas nitrate N content and pH value showed an adverse trend. However, the bacterial and fungal communities were unaffected by the ratio shifts between fertilizer-N and feed-N, but their dominant phyla were influenced by the ditch bottom soil N level. Moreover, the bacterial community composition was positively related to nitrate N, whereas fungal diversity was positively correlated with pH, ammonium N and nitrate N, and urease. We also found that the treatment of N input with 25% N from fertilizer and 75% N from feed can reduce N deposition in the ditch bottom soil in the rice-fish coculture system.Our findings indicate that under the equivalent total N input level, the relative higher ratio of N from fish feed increased (S0 treatment) or reduced (S25 treatment) the deposition of N in the ditch bottom soil, and improved fish production, but decreased rice yield; while the higher ratio of N from basal fertilizer increased the transportation of nutrients into the ditch bottom soil and rice yield, but reduced fish production. So when considering multi-balance and multiple benefits, we recommend that a selective substitution ratio within 50% ~ 75% from fish feed to substitute for the basal fertilizer under the equivalent total N input may achieve a good balance of rice and fish production improvement, and reduce nutrients wastage to the ditch bottom, as well as alleviate the potential of non-point source pollution. This study also provides an evidence for regulating and optimizing the ratio of N supplied from fertilizer and fish feed at an equivalent total N level through monitoring the nutrient accumulation in ditch bottom soil in the rice-fish coculture system. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

\n \n BACKGROUND: Leaves of\n Lycium chinense\n L. are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and as functional food in China and south‐east Asia. Polyphenols are important active compounds in leaves of\n L. chinense\n L, but their compositions are still not very clear. Selenium has been reported to increase some components of plants. In this study, the composition of polyphenols of\n L. chinense\n leaves were analysed, and the effects of selenium on the polyphenols and other components were studied.\n \n