Figure 1.

Comparison of soil properties between rhizosphere and bulk soil. The schematic illustrates key differences in soil aeration, moisture, and texture around plant roots. Insets highlight variations in oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, soil porosity, and macro-aggregation between rhizosphere and bulk soil. The accompanying table summarizes quantitative differences, showing that rhizosphere soil has lower oxygen concentration, higher carbon dioxide concentration, increased porosity, and greater macro-aggregation than bulk soil. Soil moisture content fluctuates based on environmental conditions, with rhizosphere soil retaining more moisture during dry periods but less during wet conditions.