Non‐infecting rhizosphere micro‐organisms and the mineral nutrition of temperate cereals

It has been calculated from the data of several authors that the exudation rate from the roots of temperate cereals lies in the range 50 to 150 mg/g dry weight of roots/day. The relationship between non‐infecting rhizosphere micro‐organisms and cereals is discussed from the points of view of: competition for nutrients solubilisation of minerals effects of microbially‐produced substances on plant growth lysis of root cells. It is concluded that interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and cereals will predominantly be as a result of 3 and 4 above.