Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 241-254 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 246 (Karnatam et al., 2023). In a study conducted by Mu's team in 2015, it was found that enhancing root growth could improve the absorption of nitrogen in the later stage, thereby increasing yield. Deep-rooted corn not only contributes to the accumulation of soil carbon but also enhances its own stress resistance (Cotrufo et al., 2024; Sciarresi et al., 2025). These breeding efforts have also promoted the improvement of the interaction ability between roots and microorganisms, providing a genetic basis for resource utilization in low-input and adverse environments (Wild et al., 2024; Xu et al., 2025). 7.2 Fertilizer application and precision nutrient management Precise fertilization and reasonable nutrient management are the keys to enhancing the synergy between corn roots and soil. The reasonable proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, combined with organic fertilizers and biochar, can improve nutrient utilization efficiency, increase yield and improve soil quality (Hu et al., 2023). Precision fertilization can also reduce nutrient loss and environmental pollution, while promoting the absorption of deep nutrients by roots (Zhang et al., 2021; Li et al., 2022). Studies have shown that the combined use of nitrogen fertilizer and biochar can increase the contents of soil organic carbon, mineral nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium, promote root growth and nitrogen absorption, thereby significantly improving yield and nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate ( Yan et al., 2023). 7.3 Soil amendments (biochar, organic matter, microbial inoculants) to enhance root–soil synergy Biochar, organic fertilizer and microbial inoculation and other improvers can improve the physical and chemical properties of soil, regulate microbial communities and promote root-soil interaction. The combined use of biochar and organic fertilizer can increase soil pH and organic matter, enhance nutrient content, promote root growth and absorption, and also reduce the availability of heavy metals and nutrient loss (Zhang et al., 2021; Hu et al., 2023; Yan et al., 2023; Mu et al., 2025). The combined application of microbial inoculation (such as arbush mycorrhizal fungi) and biochar can also synergically promote root growth, enhance stress resistance and improve nutrient acquisition, especially with obvious effects in saline-alkali land or heavy metal polluted environments (Liu et al., 2018; Hong et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2022). Long-term field experiments have shown that the combined application of biochar and organic fertilizer can significantly increase soil enzyme activity and the abundance of phosphorus-related genes, while enhancing corn yield and achieving a win-win situation of high yield and environmental friendliness. 8 Case Study: Root-Soil Interactions in Maize under Low-Phosphorus Soils 8.1 Background: phosphorus limitation as a global constraint in maize production Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient element for corn. However, globally, available phosphorus in the soil is generally insufficient, which severely limits the yield. Phosphorus in the soil is easily fixed and not directly absorbed by plants, thus having a high dependence on chemical fertilizers and increasing environmental risks at the same time (Guo et al., 2024). Therefore, enhancing the adaptability of corn roots in low-phosphorus environments and their phosphorus utilization efficiency is a significant challenge for achieving sustainable agriculture. 8.2 Experimental observations (field or greenhouse-based examples): Under low-phosphorus conditions, the root system of corn will exhibit obvious morphological plasticity. For example, it will increase the number of crown roots, enhance the density of shallow roots, prolong root length and specific root length, thereby better obtaining phosphorus in the surface soil (Chen et al., 2022; Karunarathne et al., 2023). Research has found that genotypes with a large number of crown roots tend to have higher phosphorus concentrations in leaves, faster photosynthetic rates and better yields in low-phosphorus soils. Furthermore, reducing the proportion of root cortex living tissue (LCA) can decrease the cost of respiratory metabolism, allowing more roots to be distributed to the deep soil, thereby increasing biomass and yield. The root system also promotes the release and absorption of insoluble phosphorus by secreting citric acid and acid phosphatase (Tang et al., 2020; Bilyera et al., 2021) (Figure 2). Some low-phosphorus tolerant varieties secrete more citric acid and can absorb phosphorus more quickly, with stronger adaptability.
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