This text covers the biochemistry of the plant–soil interface or rhizosphere. Rhizosphere processes involve complex interactions between plant roots and the soil and organisms that surround them. This text does well to cover this topic in 14 chapters. Subjects included are: types of exudates; rhizodeposition and specificity of microbial populations; involvement of exudates in responses to nutrient availability (new to 2nd Edition); effects of nutrient availability on root architecture (new to 2nd Edition); effects of plant physiological status on exudation; plant membrane activity and transformations relating to nutrient uptake; function of siderophores;. Chapters also discuss specifically interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobia. Root–root and root–microbe signalling are new to this edition, as are discussions on manipulation of the system for rhizosphere management. A chapter on modelling of the rhizosphere is included and finally chapter 14 discusses gene flow (new to 2nd Edition). The writing style makes an easy read while remaining informative. Many of the figures give clear illustrations of processes and models, but some of the tables are less useful.

The bias is generally towards discussions of processes and interactions that influence, or are directly influenced by, nutrient uptake. While considered, implications of abiotic stress on rhizosphere processes are given much lower emphasis. Of particular interest are the critical discussions of techniques and interpretation of results related to the pitfalls from different techniques.