ObjectiveTo study the accumulation and absorption of dry matter and nutrients in Curcuma phaeocaulis from Sichuan， the origin of Curcumae Radix （tuber） and Curcumae Rhizoma （rhizome）， to explore the growth and development laws and nutrient demand characteristics of the medicinal species， and thus to lay a theoretical basis for rational fertilization. MethodThe plant growth indexes， dry matter accumulation， and nutrient content of C. phaeocaulis at different growth stages in Sichuan were measured and analyzed. ResultThis medicinal species featured the dominant growth of aboveground leaves and stems before October and growth of underground part （particularly the rhizomes and tubers） from October. During the whole growth period， the accumulation of nitrogen， phosphorus， potassium， calcium， magnesium， iron， manganese， zinc， and copper per plant was 2 450.31， 907.09， 3 171.18， 625.94， 493.38， 14.53， 2.24 ， 2.93， 0.46 mg， respectively， with the order of potassium > nitrogen > phosphorus > calcium > magnesium > iron > zinc > manganese > copper. ConclusionThe species needs sufficient potassium and nitrogen， appropriate amount of phosphorus， calcium， and magnesium， a small amount of iron， and very little zinc， manganese， and copper for growth， and potassium is particularly important. Nitrogen， phosphorus， and potassium fertilizers supply macroelements and nitrogen fertilizer should be supplemented at seedling stage， leafy stage， early rhizome expansion stage， tuber expansion stage， and the second expansion stage of rhizome. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied at seedling stage， tuber expansion stage， secondary expansion stage of rhizome， and dry matter accumulation stage of tuber and rhizome. At seedling stage， leafy stage， early rhizome expansion stage， tuber expansion stage， and the second expansion stage of rhizome， a variety of medium and trace elements-containing foliar fertilizers should be used.

ObjectiveTo analyze the production of Poria in 5 major producing areas and the problems through field investigation and literature review and thus to lay a foundation for healthy development of Poria industry. MethodEach production process of Poria in Anhui， Hubei， Hunan， Yunnan， and Sichuan was probed and related research was retrieved for the analysis. ResultSichuan， Guangxi， Guizhou， and other areas have been the emerging producers of Poria. However， a few Poria cocos lines were used and the variety breeding lagged behind. Different cultivation techniques were adopted in different production areas. For example， the "induction" method failed to be widely used. Moreover， the harvest time was mainly dependent on the market demand not matter it was suitable or not. Furthermore， steaming has replaced the traditional diaphoretic processing in the processing of this medicinal material in production areas. In addition， fumigation with sulphur was still used in the processing of Poria. ConclusionAn excellent variety is the key to the quality of Poria. Efforts should be made to strengthen the evaluation of the germplasm resources of P. cocos and variety breeding and standardize the processing in production areas， thereby ensuring the safety and effectiveness of Poria and the decoction pieces. In addition， the contradiction between artificial cultivation and woodland ecology should be fully coordinated to ensure the sustainable development of Poria industry in China.