Bridging gaps and seeding futures: A synthesis of soil salinization and the role of plant-soil interactions under climate change

Abstract

Soil salinization, exacerbated by climate change, poses significant threats to agricultural productivity, land restoration, and ecosystem resilience. This study reviews current knowledge on plant-soil interactions as a strategy to mitigate soil salinization induced by climate change, focusing on their role in soil salinity dynamics and tolerance mechanisms. The review examines how alterations in hydrological and temperature regimes impact soil salinity and how plant-soil mechanisms-such as salt exclusion, compartmentalization, and plant-microbe interactions-contribute to salinity mitigation. This, in turn, enhances soil quality, fertility, microbial diversity, and ecosystem services. The analysis identifies a growing body of research and highlights key themes and emerging trends, including drought, microbial communities, and salt tolerance strategies. This study underscores the critical role of plant-soil interactions in sustainable salinity management and identifies knowledge gaps and future research priorities, advocating for plant-soil interactions as a crucial pathway for improving ecosystem resilience to salinity stress amid climate change.

Keywords: Agricultural science; Agricultural soil science; Soil science.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1

Soil Salinization Processes and Impacts This figure outlines the processes leading to soil salinization, encompassing causes, the influence of global climate change, effects on soil composition, plant stress, root adaptations, and the role of soil microbes. It also highlights the interconnected feedback loops within this environmental challenge.

Figure 2

Global trends in publications (A) and distribution by country (B) on the mechanism of soil salinization The different color represents the major class from the cluster analysis.

Figure 3

Network visualization of co-occurrence and cluster analysis regarding the mechanisms of soil salinization

Figure 4

Plant-soil interaction mechanisms for salinity mitigation This figure highlights the diverse mechanisms plants employ to manage salt stress through intricate interactions with the soil. These mechanisms operate at multiple levels: cellular and tissue, organ and whole-plant, and community and ecosystem. At the cellular level, salt exclusion strategies regulate the movement of ions, with key roles played by proteins like HKT and NHX. On the organ and whole-plant scale, root system adaptations, guided by proteins such as ARF and SOS1, influence salt tolerance by modifying root traits. In the broader community and ecosystem context, plants engage in symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms, such as rhizobia-legume, mycorrhizal, and endophytic symbioses, which enhance nutrition, water uptake, and growth.