Rhizosheath: Distinct features and environmental functions

Mo，Xiaohan1,2,3; Wang，Mengke2,3; Zeng，Hui1; Wang，Junjian2,3

2023-07-01

10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116500

Geoderma   影响因子和分区

0016-7061

1872-6259

Interactions between plant roots and the surrounding soils are crucial for plant growth and soil health. The rhizosheath, which is the sheath-like soil that is tightly attached to the plant root surface, is increasingly acknowledged to exhibit distinct features and critical environmental functions for soil, plants, and microbes. However, the differences between the terms “rhizosheath” and “rhizosphere soil” remain ambiguous across the literature, and not all features and functions of rhizosheaths have reached a consensus. Here, we summarize the terminology, methodology, formation mechanisms, and findings of the features and functions of rhizosheaths via an integrated and quantitative approach. First, we propose a comprehensive framework for the terminology of different rhizosphere compartments, which allows for consistent definitions and improved comparability across studies. We also summarize the current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying rhizosheath formation. Moreover, by collecting evidence from the literature, we highlight the distinct physical, chemical, and microbial features of rhizosheath soils, such as 66% higher water content, 34% higher soil organic carbon, 56% higher water-extractable organic carbon, and 71% higher microbial biomass nitrogen in rhizosheath soils than those in other rhizosphere counterparts. We further discuss how these features lead to the environmental and biogeochemical functions of rhizosheaths, including sand fixation, soil aggregation, water and nutrient uptake, carbon dynamics, and microbial colonization. We highlight the significance of these functions from micro- to ecosystem-scale. Finally, we propose future research perspectives to better understand and harness the environmental benefits of rhizosheaths.

Environmental stress Plant growth Rhizosphere biogeochemistry Root−soil interface Sandy soil

SCI

英语

通讯

National Natural Science Foundation of China["42122054","42192513"] ; Key Platform and Scientific Research Projects of Guangdong Provincial Education Department["2019KZDXM028","2020KCXTD006"] ; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2021B1515020082] ; Science and Technology Development Fund Project of Shenzhen["JCYJ20190809142611503","JCYJ20190809162205531"]

Agriculture

Soil Science

WOS:001001412200001

ELSEVIER

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

2-s2.0-85159173256

Scopus

1.School of Urban Planning and Design,Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School,Peking University,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control,School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control,School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Mo，Xiaohan,Wang，Mengke,Zeng，Hui,et al. Rhizosheath: Distinct features and environmental functions[J]. Geoderma,2023,435.

Mo，Xiaohan,Wang，Mengke,Zeng，Hui,&Wang，Junjian.(2023).Rhizosheath: Distinct features and environmental functions.Geoderma,435.

Mo，Xiaohan,et al."Rhizosheath: Distinct features and environmental functions".Geoderma 435(2023).