Crop production depends on the availability of water and mineral nutrients, and increased yields might be facilitated by a greater focus on roots–soil interactions. Soil properties affecting plant growth include drought, compaction, nutrient deficiency, mineral toxicity, salinity, and submergence. Plant roots respond to the soil environment both spatially and temporally by avoiding stressful soil environments and proliferating in more favorable environments. We observe that crops can be bred for specific root architectural and biochemical traits that facilitate soil exploration and resource acquisition, enabling greater crop yields. These root traits affect soil physical and chemical properties and might be utilized to improve the soil for subsequent crops. We argue that optimizing root–soil interactions is a prerequisite for future food security.

作物的生产取决于水和矿质养分的供应，而更多地关注根与土壤的相互作用可能会促进单产的增加。影响植物生长的土壤特性包括干旱，压实，营养缺乏，矿物质毒性，盐分和淹没。植物根系通过避免有压力的土壤环境并在更有利的环境中繁殖而在空间和时间上对土壤环境作出反应。我们观察到，可以针对特定的根部构造和生化特性来培育农作物，从而促进土壤勘探和资源获取，从而实现更高的农作物产量。这些根系特性会影响土壤的物理和化学性质，可能会被用于改良土壤，以用于后续农作物。我们认为优化根与土壤的相互作用是未来粮食安全的前提。