Rhizodeposition
Rhizodeposition refers to the chemical process that happens in the rhizosphere, a small area of the soil that is directly changed by the release of plant root products and the microbiome. Rhizodeposition refers to the process that happens in small gaps within the soil that can contain many types of bacteria, fungi and nematodes (worm-like parasites) that can feed off the products released by the plant roots. Products released from the plant roots can be elements such as Nitrogen, Carbon, and other different proteins and sugars, these feed the plant root's microbiome. This is a form of symbiosis (mutualism) between the microorganisms and the plant that benefits from products produced by the microbes in the soil. An example of this is antibiotics that will kill harmful bacteria in the plant. The microorganisms will also provide the plant with enzymes, plant hormones and phosphates as well.