Soil sampling sites. (A) Two soil sampling sites in the arid region of Ghardaïa (Algeria): Metlili and Beni Isguen. The sampled soils were associated to the roots of different plants: (1) Cleome arabica, (2) Reseda villosa, (3) Zilla spinosa, (4) Pulicaria undulata. (B) Four soil sampling sites in the semi-arid region of Djelfa (Algeria): Messaad, Ain Naga, Moudjbara and Zaafrane. The sampled soils were associated to the roots of different plants: (5) Arthrophytum scoparium, (6) Astragalus armatus, (7) Retama raetam, (8) Stipa tenacissima, (9) Artemisia herba-alba, (10) Salsola tetragona, (11) Atriplex halimus, (12) Peganum harmala, (13) Suaeda fruticose, (14) Thymelaea microphylla. The numeric labels and the pictures of the different plants are shown in the figure.