Meta-analysis of soil oxygen distribution: plant species-specific dynamics and optimal levels for plant growth

Abstract

Aims

Soil oxygen contributes to the root growth of plants, yet its correlation to the rhizosphere nutrient cycling and plant growth, as well as the optimal ranges remains poorly defined across diverse plant species.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis with nine plant species (including bamboo, tomato, wheat, barley, jojoba, maize, peach, reed, and rice) from six countries to elucidate the relationships between soil oxygen levels and the growth of plant species.

Results

Our results revealed a gradient of soil oxygen availability, with bamboo exhibiting the highest levels (16%–22%) and tomato and wheat frequently falling below 10%. Aeration significantly increased soil oxygen by 13.50% (8.29%–18.71%), while mulched provided a significant reduction, and their combined application yielded a 9.32% improvement relative to mulched alone. Soil oxygen decreased with depth, reaching a minimum at 31–40 cm. Notably, increased soil oxygen availability was strongly correlated with improved biomass and root activity in bamboo and rice, and enhanced soil organic matter and temperature in bamboo and tomato, respectively.

Conclusions

Localized regression analyses identified species-specific optimal soil oxygen ranges—for instance, 19.4%–21.6% for bamboo biomass, 12%–13% for jojoba biomass, and 8.4%–9.4% for rice root activity—underscoring the potential benefits of targeted oxygen enrichment in the 10–30 cm soil zone. These findings offer a scientific basis for optimizing soil oxygen management to enhance crop productivity under variable agronomic conditions.