The rhizosphere, the soil volume, which is directly affected by root activity, is an important hot spot for a multitude of biotic and abiotic processes. Carbon transfer from plants to microorganisms and to soil takes place in these small volumes around living roots, creating chemical gradients and zones of microbial activity over distinct temporal and spatial scales. Hydraulic and biogeochemical properties of the rhizosphere and the formation of complex three-dimensional structures such as micro- and macroaggreates in turn, result from complex feedbacks between physical, chemical and biological processes. The aim of this Research Topic is to advance our understanding of rhizosphere interactions by collating 16 original contributions across disciplines, including original research, reviews and specific methods on the processes taking place in the rhizosphere, to shed new light on one of the most important interfaces for the diversity of life on earth.

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact.

The book contains research articles and reviews recently published online for the MDPI journal Diversity, in the Special Issue "Genetic diversity of soil bacterial communities". The issue aimed to collect up to date information from the international scientific community to get insight in the "black box", as soil has been defined in the last decades, focusing in detail on the role that the microbial communities have in soil processes such as carbon and nutrient fluxes and on their genetic and functional diversity. The book meets the interests of scientific communities directly involved in the topics investigated, as well as of PhD students, scholars, professional organizations interested in improving their knowledge on a group of organisms considered vitally important to the maintenance and sustainability of the biosphere, where soil has a key role as an important natural resource.

This book presents a timely review of the latest advances in rhizosphere biology, which have been facilitated by the application of omics tools. It includes chapters on the use of various omics tools in rhizosphere biology, focusing on understanding plant and soil microbe interactions. The role of proteomics and metagenomics in research on symbiotic association is also discussed in detail. The book also includes chapters on the use of omics tools for the isolation of functional biomolecules from rhizospheric microorganisms. The book’s respective sections describe and provide detailed information on important omics tools, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and meta-epigenomics. In turn, the book promotes and describes the combined use of plant biology, microbial ecology, and soil sciences to design new research strategies and innovative methods in soil biology. Lastly, it highlights the considerable potential of the rhizosphere in terms of crop productivity, bioremediation, ecological engineering, plant nutrition and health, as well as plant adaptation to stress conditions. This book offers both a practical guide and reference source for all scientists working in soil biology, plant pathology, etc. It will also benefit students studying soil microbiology, and researchers studying rhizosphere structure.

Advanced Microbial Technology for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment focuses on plant-microbe interactions in respect to bioremediation and plant growth promotion, providing insights on diverse approaches such as genomics, metagenomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and other high-throughput analyses of environmentally relevant microorganisms. The impact of frequent applications of potentially toxic chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) and increased industrialization processes on microbial diversity emphasizes the potential threat to microbial biodiversity in ecosystems. This is an ideal resource on current trends and the future of PGPR developments with bioremediation potential.Moreover, it gives a deep understanding of the genetics of microbial biodegradation and different remediation mechanisms that help to re-establish the natural environment. - Helps readers find sustainable ways for environmental clean-up and increased agricultural productivity - Gives a systematic overview of the role of PGPR in bioremediation, selection and preparation of potential PGPR microbial inoculum for bioremediation, biodegradation and plant growth promotion - Illustrates the importance of PGPR in the bioremediation of potentially hazardous and relatively novel compounds with the maintenance of sustainable agricultural productivity - Addresses emerging novel approaches of PGPR-based biodegradation of toxic compounds and highlights key developments and challenges associated with the processes

The present book Sustainable Use of Biochar - From Basics to Advances compiles detailed information on a thoughtful approach that maximizes biochar’s benefits while minimizing potential environmental and social impacts. To achieve this, it's crucial to start with sustainable sourcing of biomass, ensuring it comes from renewable and responsibly managed sources. During the pyrolysis process, adopting efficient technologies that reduce emissions and energy consumption contributes to sustainability. Quality control measures, such as monitoring biochar’s properties like particle size and nutrient content, ensure its effectiveness in soil improvement and carbon sequestration. Application rates should be tailored to soil types and crop needs, supported by long-term monitoring to assess biochar’s impact on soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and crop productivity. Integrating biochar with other sustainable agricultural practices and promoting knowledge sharing further enhances its sustainable use, fostering resilience and environmental stewardship in agriculture. This book has information on sustainable agricultural practices, and promoting knowledge sharing further enhances its sustainable use, fostering resilience and environmental stewardship in agriculture. Biochar applications are able to cope with global challenges in soil management, and ecological approaches can restore the damaged ecosystem. The present book will be helpful to researchers, the scientific community, academics, business farmers, and policymakers to overcome various environmental concerns.

This edited volume covers all aspects of the latest research in the field of soil formation and its functioning, soil diversity, soil proteomics, the impact of anthropogenic activities on the pedosphere, plant-microbe interactions in the pedosphere, and factors influencing the formation and functioning of the soils. In the pedosphere, all forms of soils possess a particular type of structure and different organic and mineral components. Thus, the pedosphere as a whole plays a significant role in providing unique habitats for a vast diversity of life forms, developing a link between geological and biological substances circulation in the terrestrial ecosystems. In the processes making available vital mineral elements to plants and supporting human health as various trace elements in the lithosphere are accessed by people through the formation of soils and such soils are utilized for food production. With the depth of information on different aspects of soil, this extensive volume is a valuable resource for the researchers in the area of soil science, agronomy, agriculture, scientists in academia, crop consultants, policymakers, government from diverse disciplines, and graduate and post-graduate students in the area of soil and environmental science.

The present book entitled, “Re-visiting the Rhizosphere Eco-system for Agricultural Sustainability” written by experts in the field, provides a comprehensive and consolidated state-of art overview of various aspects of rhizosphere biology, ecology and functioning. The role of rhizosphere microbial diversity in enhancing plant health and plant-microbe beneficial symbioses is discussed. Main topics include the diversity of plant-associated microbes in the rhizosphere, below-ground communication among the plant, soil, insects and microbes, rhizosphere ecosystem functioning, rhizosphere engineering, recruitment of microorganisms in the rhizosphere, mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis, positive interaction of the plants with the beneficial soil microorganisms for inducing the plant growth, conferring abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and modulating several pathways of the plants for the proper establishment and revitalization in the degraded and contaminated soils or negative likes the host-pathogen interactions leading to the disease development in plants. Further chapters focus on the role of signaling during the different stages of the plant-microbe coexistence, in symbiotic or pathogenic relationships, in quorum sensing, microbial signaling and cross-talk, bio-film formation, and antimicrobial peptides. The book also discusses the application of microbes in biodegradation of xenobiotic contaminants, bioremediation of heavy metals, sustainable agriculture and soil health, biological control of insect pests and plant pathogens, and the latest tools of omics which offer pioneering approaches to the exploration of microbial structure and function, secretome, holobiome, below-ground interaction, and microbial cooperation for sustainable food production and enhanced resource acquisition. Descriptions of cutting-edge techniques and novel approaches make this book unique in the area of rhizosphere biology. This is a useful reading material for researchers and students of microbiology, agriculture, ecology, and rhizosphser studies.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Microbes in Soil, Crop and Environmental Sustainability reviews the exploitation of microbial biodiversity in soil with respect to nutrient-use efficiency, also discussing the improvement and maintenance of certain physical and chemical conditions in soil that can provide economic and environmental benefits toward agricultural sustainability. The utilization of microbes ranges from applications in biotechnology, marginal land restoration, the formulation of microbial inoculants, the enhancement of crop productivity, and the mitigation of global warming gases. Finally, various uses for microbial resources in crop disease management, bioenergy production, and income based on microbial cultivation are explored. - Highlights the developments and achievements of microbial resources and their role in the sustainable management of soil fertility and agriculture productivity - Outlines the role of microbial resource and biotechnology in sustainability to industry, agriculture, forest and management of environment - Provides up-to-date information on the application of microbial resources and the role of biotechnology to meet the ever increasing demand of food, soil and plant productivity management - Outlines enhancement in productivity through interventions of microbial bio-agents and eco-friendly technology