Abstract
Background and aims
Hostile soil conditions have a global impact on crop production. While root traits of individual plant species adapted to specific hostile soils are well studied, a comprehensive synthesis of how to use diversified cropping systems with complementary root growth strategies to adapt to and remediate hostile soils is lacking.
Scope
We begin by providing definitions, categorizations, and global distribution of hostile soils, followed by a synthesis of recent advances in below-ground niche complementarity or facilitative root interactions among crop species in diverse cropping systems across various hostile soils. Lastly, we highlight the significance of cultivating a robust understanding of root adaptations for crop diversification in hostile soils for future research.
Conclusion
Diversified cropping systems that incorporate complementary root growth strategies can efficiently utilize nutrients and mitigate abiotic stress in hostile soils, such as nutrient deficiency, aridity, and waterlogging conditions. Furthermore, intercropping hyperaccumulator plants or halophytes with crops is effective in reducing metal or salt accumulation in target crops grown in contaminated or saline-alkali soils, respectively. Cover crops could create biopores for succeeding crop roots in compacted soils, while diversified cropping systems aid in preventing additional soil erosion in eroded areas. Leveraging diverse root traits can also contribute to the suppression of soil‑borne diseases and pests within intercropping setups. Enhancing diversified cropping systems necessitates the application of novel methods and technologies for root studies. This multifaceted approach is crucial for sustaining yield under the challenges posed by multiple hostile soil conditions, especially within the context of climate change.
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Data Availability
Data involved in the article are available in the Supplementary Information.
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Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1900200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32130067, 31430014). Wei-Ping Zhang was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1500702, 2022YFC3501503) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32371627, 31971450), and Yinglong Chen was funded by the Australian Research Council (FT210100902).
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Zhang, WP., Surigaoge, S., Yang, H. et al. Diversified cropping systems with complementary root growth strategies improve crop adaptation to and remediation of hostile soils. Plant Soil (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06464-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06464-y