Advance in Astragalus sinicus research

The breeding, cultivation, returning to soil and comprehensive utilization progresses of Astragalus sinicus were reviewed in this study. The breeding and cultivation included quality variety, obducens seed and application of rhizobium. A. sinicus could improve soil fertility, increase gain yield, benefit nitrogen fixation and energy saving, reduce CO2 emission and soil nitrogen loss, and encourage soil organic carbon to cumulate when it was returned to soil. In the view of comprehensive utilization, this study summarized the progress of A. sinicus utilization as seleniumrich product, nectar source, hay and vegetable. This study proposed that new breeding means and quality variety reproducing were effective approaches to resolve the worse quality, degeneration and complexity of A. sinicus variety for facing the decrease in area of A. sinicus, and suggested that extension of A. sinicus would benefit sustainable development of agriculture as green manure.