Abstract: In order to systematically evaluate the soil condition of long-term continuous cropping (for seven consecutive years) bases of Pinellia ternata in Qianjiang City, 49 soil samples were randomly collected from different cultivation greenhouses to determine the physicochemical properties, nutrient contents, and heavy metal concentrations. The results indicated that the soil was generally alkaline(average pH 7.56), with a moderate organic matter content(17.67 g/kg), and exhibited slight salinization(average EC 0.76 mS/cm). The contents of total nitrogen and total potassium were moderate, while total phosphorus, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were all at high levels. Available boron was high; available iron, copper, and zinc were moderate; while available manganese and molybdenum were relatively low. The contents of total cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, mercury, and arsenic were all below safety thresholds. However, the detected total cadmium in some samples reached 0.3 mg/kg, approaching the risk limit. Based on these findings, it was recommended that subsequent cultivation practices adopted integrated measures such as salinity control, optimization of the fertilization structure (reducing chemical fertilizers and increasing organic fertilizers), and strict regulation of exogenous cadmium input, in order to maintain soil health and guarantee the quality of Pinellia ternata.

Key words: Pinellia ternata, continuous cropping, soil physicochemical properties, nutrients, heavy metal content, Qianjiang City