Article
Article
Rhizosphere ecology
Article By:
Kao-Kniffin, Jenny Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Last reviewed:August 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.900133
The study of interactions among the biotic and abiotic components within the narrow region of soil surrounding plant roots. The rhizosphere (the soil region subject to the influence of plant roots and characterized by a zone of increased microbiological activity) extends from the root surface to less than 5 mm (0.2 in.) from the root. The close proximity of plant roots to the soil provides abundant simple sugars and amino acids that sustain large populations of microorganisms. The diffusion of gases through roots creates habitats rich in oxygen, which further supports zones of high microbial activity within the soil matrix. The interactions of plants, soil, and microorganisms within the rhizosphere heavily influence the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through ecosystems. See also: Biogeochemistry; Carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycles; Microbial ecology; Rhizosphere; Root (botany); Soil chemistry; Soil ecology; Soil microbiology
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