Rhizosphere
Rhizosphere Research at WSU
Rhizosphere interactions are a main focus area of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences as it is the literal and functional interface between the crops we grow and the soils that support them. The rhizosphere is key for sustainable production of food and fuel to support the rising global population. A highly interdisciplinary, dynamic area of study, the rhizosphere has been established as an important frontier with rapidly growing discoveries and interactions involving chemistry and nutrient dynamics, as well as phenomics, genomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Carbon and nutrient cycling is uniquely influenced by the rhizosphere, which sustains both plant and microbial communities, results in reciprocal community engineering, and maintains ecosystem services at every level.