Aims

Journal of Soil and Rhizosphere Biotechnology (JSRB) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal devoted to the study of soil and rhizosphere systems as functional, interactive, and engineerable biological environments. The journal focuses on how biological, chemical, and physical processes in soil–root interfaces are analysed, manipulated, and translated into biotechnological strategies relevant to agriculture, environmental sustainability, and ecosystem management.

The journal approaches soil and rhizosphere environments not as static substrates or isolated microbial habitats, but as dynamic systems shaped by continuous interactions among plants, microorganisms, soil structure, nutrients, and external stressors. It emphasises research that treats the rhizosphere as an integrated functional system in which biological processes operate across molecular, organismal, and ecosystem scales.

JSRB places particular emphasis on the conceptual and methodological foundations of soil and rhizosphere biotechnology. This includes how microbial functions are characterised and regulated, how plant–microbe–soil interactions are modelled or engineered, how biological interventions are evaluated under realistic environmental conditions, and how uncertainty, variability, and spatial heterogeneity are addressed in soil-based systems.

At the same time, the journal recognises that progress in soil and rhizosphere biotechnology arises not only from novel tools or techniques, but also from the rigorous and transparent application of established experimental, analytical, and engineering approaches to biologically and agronomically meaningful problems. Studies employing mature methodologies are therefore welcomed, provided that system definition is explicit, functional interpretation is clear, and biological relevance is convincingly demonstrated.

Submissions are expected to clearly define the soil or rhizosphere system under investigation, articulate the biological or biotechnological rationale of the study, and demonstrate how the work advances functional understanding or practical application. Studies that are primarily descriptive, narrowly site-specific, or lacking explicit system-level reasoning fall outside the scope of the journal.

JSRB provides a forum for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of soil science, microbiology, plant biology, biotechnology, and environmental science, where biological function, system interaction, and application-oriented insight remain central. The journal publishes conceptual, experimental, methodological, and applied studies that contribute to robust, interpretable, and reproducible soil and rhizosphere research.

The journal is published by Acadlore and follows a structured peer-review process that emphasises clarity of system definition, transparency of methods, and consistency in editorial evaluation.

Key features of JSRB include:

• The journal addresses soil and rhizosphere processes through an explicit system-interaction perspective, rather than focusing on isolated soil properties, single microbial taxa, or purely descriptive observations;

• It emphasises biotechnological and functional interpretation of soil–plant–microbe interactions, with attention to how biological mechanisms translate into agronomic or environmental outcomes;

• The journal values contributions that present clear experimental or analytical frameworks, supported by explicit assumptions, methodological justification, and systematic evaluation;

• Research that advances robustness, reproducibility, and functional understanding in soil and rhizosphere biotechnology is encouraged, whether through methodological development or through well-designed application studies;

• Application-oriented research is welcomed where system reasoning remains central and where conclusions extend beyond local or empirical observations;

• The editorial and review process prioritises methodological transparency, system coherence, and interpretability, enabling published work to be critically assessed and meaningfully reused.

Scope

JSRB welcomes original research articles, systematic reviews, conceptual analyses, and well-documented experimental, computational, or field-based studies that advance functional understanding and biotechnological application of soil and rhizosphere systems. Contributions should be grounded in explicit biological or system-based reasoning and demonstrate relevance beyond narrowly local or descriptive observations.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas.

Soil–Rhizosphere System Processes

• Biological, chemical, and physical processes at the soil–root interface

• Rhizosphere dynamics involving roots, microorganisms, soil structure, and nutrients

• Plant root architecture, exudation, and rhizodeposition processes

• Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of soil and rhizosphere systems

Microbial Ecology and Functional Biotechnology

• Functional diversity and activity of soil and rhizosphere microorganisms

• Microbial interactions, community assembly, and functional redundancy

• Synthetic microbial communities and engineered biological consortia

• Microbial mediation of nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, and soil health

Plant–Microbe–Soil Interactions

• Molecular, physiological, and ecological mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions

• Signalling, metabolite exchange, and feedback processes in the rhizosphere

• Root-associated microbiomes and plant performance under stress conditions

• Genotype–environment–microbiome interactions affecting plant growth

Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Applications

• Rhizosphere-based strategies for improving nutrient use efficiency

• Biological approaches to reducing chemical inputs in agriculture

• Soil and rhizosphere processes supporting climate-resilient cropping systems

• Biological soil remediation, restoration, and ecosystem rehabilitation

Modelling, Data Integration, and Analytical Frameworks

• Mechanistic and data-driven models of soil and rhizosphere processes

• Integration of experimental, omics, imaging, and environmental data

• Scaling issues from micro-scale processes to field and landscape applications

• Uncertainty, variability, and sensitivity analysis in soil biological systems

Emerging Tools and Translational Technologies

• High-resolution sensing, imaging, and phenotyping of roots and soil systems

• Bioinformatics and computational tools for soil and rhizosphere analysis

• Use of advanced materials, carriers, or delivery systems for biological agents

• Translational studies bridging laboratory findings and field implementation

Methodological Evaluation and Reproducibility

• Validation of soil and rhizosphere biotechnologies under realistic conditions

• Comparative assessment of experimental designs and analytical approaches

• Reproducibility, transparency, and standardisation in soil biological research

• Critical evaluation of limitations and assumptions in soil–rhizosphere studies