Influence of Rooting Pattern and Root Chemical Characteristics on Soil Properties

This review examines the profound influence of rooting patterns and root exudates on soil properties and plant growth. Advanced imaging techniques like rhizotrons, gel-based systems, and X-ray micro-computed tomography enable detailed investigations into root architecture and dynamics. The impact of rooting patterns on soil physical characteristics such as aggregate stability, porosity, water infiltration, and organic carbon dynamics is explored. Root exudates, complex mixtures of organic compounds, play a pivotal role in mobilizing essential nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc by facilitating their acquisition through various mechanisms elucidated in the review. Additionally, root exudates shape the rhizosphere microbiome by recruiting beneficial microorganisms and mediating plant-microbe interactions. Their effects on soil physical properties like water-holding capacity, chemical properties including cation exchange capacity and organic acid concentration, and biological properties such as microbial community structure and functional gene diversity are discussed. The potential of root exudates in facilitating plant-plant interactions and implications for crop productivity are also examined. Overall, this review synthesizes current knowledge on the intricate interplay between roots, their exudates, and the edaphic environment, highlighting their multifaceted roles in shaping soil properties and ecosystem functioning.