Acquisition of phosphorus and nitrogen in the rhizosphere and plant growth promotion by microorganisms

• Published in: Plant and soil 2009-08, Vol.321 (1-2), p.305-339
• Main Authors: Richardson, Alan E, Barea, José-Miguel, McNeill, Ann M, Prigent-Combaret, Claire
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biochemistry and biology; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological properties; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; Environmental Sciences; Exudate; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; General agronomy. Plant production; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Microorganisms; mineralization; Minerals; Molecular biology; mycorrhizal fungi; Nitrogen; Nutrient availability; Organic soils; PGPR; Phosphorus; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Plant growth; Plant nutrition; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plants; REVIEW ARTICLE; Rhizosphere; Roots; Soil biochemistry; Soil fungi; Soil microorganisms; Soil properties; Soil science; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Uptake
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-009-9895-2

The rhizosphere is a complex environment where roots interact with physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Structural and functional characteristics of roots contribute to rhizosphere processes and both have significant influence on the capacity of roots to acquire nutrients. Roots also interact extensively with soil microorganisms which further impact on plant nutrition either directly, by influencing nutrient availability and uptake, or indirectly through plant (root) growth promotion. In this paper, features of the rhizosphere that are important for nutrient acquisition from soil are reviewed, with specific emphasis on the characteristics of roots that influence the availability and uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen. The interaction of roots with soil microorganisms, in particular with mycorrhizal fungi and non-symbiotic plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, is also considered in relation to nutrient availability and through the mechanisms that are associated with plant growth promotion.