The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots
Despite often being conceptualized as a thin layer of soil around roots, the rhizosphere is actually a dynamic system of interacting processes. Hiltner originally defined the rhizosphere as the soil influenced by plant roots. However, soil physicists, chemists, microbiologists, and plant physiologis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Oxford University Press
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35285/ |
| _version_ | 1848795043575365632 |
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| author | York, Larry M. Carminati, Andrea Mooney, Sacha J. Ritz, Karl Bennett, Malcolm J. |
| author_facet | York, Larry M. Carminati, Andrea Mooney, Sacha J. Ritz, Karl Bennett, Malcolm J. |
| author_sort | York, Larry M. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Despite often being conceptualized as a thin layer of soil around roots, the rhizosphere is actually a dynamic system of interacting processes. Hiltner originally defined the rhizosphere as the soil influenced by plant roots. However, soil physicists, chemists, microbiologists, and plant physiologists have studied the rhizosphere independently, and therefore conceptualized the rhizosphere in different ways and using contrasting terminology. Rather than research-specific conceptions of the rhizosphere, the authors propose a holistic rhizosphere encapsulating the following components: microbial community gradients, macroorganisms, mucigel, volumes of soil structure modification, and depletion or accumulation zones of nutrients, water, root exudates, volatiles, and gases. These rhizosphere components are the result of dynamic processes and understanding the integration of these processes will be necessary for future contributions to rhizosphere science based upon interdisciplinary collaborations. In this review, current knowledge of the rhizosphere is synthesized using this holistic perspective with a focus on integrating traditionally separated rhizosphere studies. The temporal dynamics of rhizosphere activities will also be considered, from annual fine root turnover to diurnal fluctuations of water and nutrient uptake. The latest empirical and computational methods are discussed in the context of rhizosphere integration. Clarification of rhizosphere semantics, a holistic model of the rhizosphere, examples of integration of rhizosphere studies across disciplines, and review of the latest rhizosphere methods will empower rhizosphere scientists from different disciplines to engage in the interdisciplinary collaborations needed to break new ground in truly understanding the rhizosphere and to apply this knowledge for practical guidance. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:25:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-35285 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:25:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-352852020-05-04T17:42:02Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35285/ The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots York, Larry M. Carminati, Andrea Mooney, Sacha J. Ritz, Karl Bennett, Malcolm J. Despite often being conceptualized as a thin layer of soil around roots, the rhizosphere is actually a dynamic system of interacting processes. Hiltner originally defined the rhizosphere as the soil influenced by plant roots. However, soil physicists, chemists, microbiologists, and plant physiologists have studied the rhizosphere independently, and therefore conceptualized the rhizosphere in different ways and using contrasting terminology. Rather than research-specific conceptions of the rhizosphere, the authors propose a holistic rhizosphere encapsulating the following components: microbial community gradients, macroorganisms, mucigel, volumes of soil structure modification, and depletion or accumulation zones of nutrients, water, root exudates, volatiles, and gases. These rhizosphere components are the result of dynamic processes and understanding the integration of these processes will be necessary for future contributions to rhizosphere science based upon interdisciplinary collaborations. In this review, current knowledge of the rhizosphere is synthesized using this holistic perspective with a focus on integrating traditionally separated rhizosphere studies. The temporal dynamics of rhizosphere activities will also be considered, from annual fine root turnover to diurnal fluctuations of water and nutrient uptake. The latest empirical and computational methods are discussed in the context of rhizosphere integration. Clarification of rhizosphere semantics, a holistic model of the rhizosphere, examples of integration of rhizosphere studies across disciplines, and review of the latest rhizosphere methods will empower rhizosphere scientists from different disciplines to engage in the interdisciplinary collaborations needed to break new ground in truly understanding the rhizosphere and to apply this knowledge for practical guidance. Oxford University Press 2016-03-14 Article PeerReviewed York, Larry M., Carminati, Andrea, Mooney, Sacha J., Ritz, Karl and Bennett, Malcolm J. (2016) The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots. Journal of Experimental Botany, 67 (12). pp. 3629-3643. ISSN 1460-2431 Depletion Microbial Mucilage Nutrient Plant Rhizodeposition Root Soil. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erw108 doi:10.1093/jxb/erw108 doi:10.1093/jxb/erw108 |
| spellingShingle | Depletion Microbial Mucilage Nutrient Plant Rhizodeposition Root Soil. York, Larry M. Carminati, Andrea Mooney, Sacha J. Ritz, Karl Bennett, Malcolm J. The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title | The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title_full | The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title_fullStr | The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title_full_unstemmed | The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title_short | The holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| title_sort | holistic rhizosphere: integrating zones, processes, and semantics in the soil influenced by roots |
| topic | Depletion Microbial Mucilage Nutrient Plant Rhizodeposition Root Soil. |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35285/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35285/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35285/ |