Abstract: Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the major cash crops in tropical and subtropical regions. It plays an important role in the international fruit trade. There still exists a big yield gap in banana production between the average yield of banana in China and the highest yield in the world. Hence the banana industry faces grand challenges to overcome soil limiting factors and improve soil heath. A new conceptual strategy was proposed to improve soil health, including (1) identifying soil constraint factors in the intensive banana production, (2) eliminating soil constraint factors by root-zone management strategies, and (3) promoting biological activities and ecosystem services of banana orchards. Soil physical, chemical and biological constraint factors were investigated for intensive banana production. The factors included poor soil tilth, low soil pH, low soil organic matter content, low nutrient availability, loss of microbial diversity, soil-borne diseases (e.g. Fusarium oxysporum) and root-knot nematode disease of banana. Lime applied in the root-zone soil improved soil pH and soil nutrients availabilities. Soil organic amendments combined the other effective measures promoted soil physical structure, soil pH, soil organic matter content and nutrients availabilities. Bio-organic fertilizer reduced soil-borne diseases and enhanced soil beneficial microbial community. In conclusion, root-zone nutrient integrated management will promote soil health and ecosystem service function to achieve the sustainable and green development goals of banana industry in intensive banana orchards.