Objectives Globally, soil compaction causes major changes in soil physical and chemical processes, restricts growth of crop roots, and reduces crop productivity. The root system determines how plants explore soil resources and adapt to stress conditions. In this review, we discuss root-soil interaction of crops under soil compaction. We specifically focus on domestic and international research progress on how to improve the adaptability of root systems to compaction stress through morphological and physiological change, and other root biological potentials.
Advances Soil compaction inhibits root penetration and limits root access to soil moisture and nutrients. Plant roots change a series of anatomical and morphological traits to fully utilize soil pores for expanding growth space and improving adaptability to soil compaction. In addition, the roots also physiologically respond to soil compaction by releasing large amounts of exudates which in turn affect the soil microstructure, changes the micro-environment of root-soil interface, and reduce the mechanical resistance to root growth.
Prospects Soil compaction has long been ignored as a yield-limiting factor. Improving the adaptability of plant root to compacted soil by stimulating the biological potentials of root is critical for optimal plant growth. Hence, future research should focus on revealing the mechanisms and processes underlying soil compaction and root-soil-microbe interaction. These advances will provide scientific basis for developing biological potential of roots, strengthening key root or rhizosphere traits, shaping healthy soil structure, and improving crop productivity under soil compaction stress.
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