Soil is a highly dynamic environment where plants and microorganisms jointly participate in key biogeochemical cycles. At the root–soil interface—the rhizosphere—roots release a variety of organic compounds that shape microbial communities, influence soil structure, and drive nutrient and carbon fluxes. Other soil domains such as the detritusphere, biopores, and aggregates provide diverse physical and chemical conditions that further control these interactions.
Despite significant progress, it remains challenging to connect processes occurring at very small scales—such as molecular exchanges or microbial activity around root hairs—with larger-scale outcomes at the level of root systems or soil profiles. Overcoming this gap is essential for understanding how plant–microbial interactions contribute to soil carbon stabilization, nutrient availability, plant health, and ecosystem resilience.
We welcome experimental and modelling studies that investigate:
- Spatial and temporal gradients in microbial diversity and functions along root systems and soil interfaces.
- The influence of root exudates, decomposition products, and soil structure on microbial activity and nutrient cycling.
- Feedbacks between plant growth, microbial processes, and soil physical properties.
- Methodological advances such as high-resolution imaging, isotopic tracing, multi-omics, and microfluidic systems for studying soil microhabitats.
- Modelling approaches that integrate micro-scale processes with field-scale or ecosystem-scale dynamics.
By integrating knowledge from plant physiology, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, and soil physics, this session aims to advance a mechanistic understanding of how plant–microbial–soil interactions shape ecosystem functioning under changing environmental conditions.