How Plants Farm Soil Microbes...in Roots

A summary of James F. White’s presentation at BioFarm, 2020 (Nov. 12, 2020).

The rhizophagy cycle is an amazing process recently discovered by James White’s laboratory at the University of New Jersey, by which root tips “ingest” bacteria and absorb nitrogen and phosphorus and other nutrients from them.

The microbes pictured here in roots are called endophytes because they can live inside plants. The bacteria are attracted to the root tip by root exudates. They then enter the root where the cell walls are dissolved using superoxide, allowing nutrients to leak out to the plant. But the plant does not kill the microbes instead the microbes stimulate the formation of root hairs, which are escape routes for the microbes.

After ejection from root hair tips, bacterial cell walls re-form. The bacteria fatten up and are soon ready to acquire soil nutrients and become another meal for the plant.

Source: How Plants ‘Farm’ Soil Microbes and Endophytes in Roots

What is Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and why is it important?

The simple answer is CEC is the holding capacity of your soil. The higher the CEC the more your soil can hold of everything, most importantly nitrogen. Knowing the CEC will indicate how much nitrogen you can apply at any given time. This will help to prevent possible run off that can end up in nearby water sources.

Please view AgPhd's video for more detailed information regarding Cation Exchange Capacity.