Plant Physiological and Mechanistic Responses to Saline–Alkaline Soils

Saline–alkaline soil management is a rapidly evolving domain within plant physiology, land degradation, and ecosystem restoration. The accumulation of soluble salts and alkaline compounds challenge both agricultural and natural systems worldwide by altering soil structure, diminishing fertility, and restricting the bioavailability of essential nutrients. These adverse soil conditions can impede root growth, disrupt water and ion uptake, and negatively impact key physiological functions in plants such as photosynthesis, osmotic balance, and hormonal regulation. As these deteriorative effects ripple through agroecosystems and natural landscapes, they not only constrain crop yields but also weaken critical ecosystem services. Expanding saline–alkaline land, driven by climate change, suboptimal irrigation, and unsustainable land management, has drawn urgent attention to the physiological, biochemical, and ecological processes that determine plant survival in these harsh environments. While studies reveal the complex interplay between ions, signaling molecules, and plant–microbe interactions, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding how plant physiological mechanisms—such as ion compartmentalization, osmoprotectant synthesis, root exudation, and stress-responsive gene networks—can be harnessed or enhanced for soil remediation and productivity restoration.

This Research Topic aims to integrate fundamental and applied plant physiology into the study and management of saline–alkaline soils, focusing on plant–soil–microbe interactions. The goal is to uncover the molecular, physiological, microbiological, and ecological pathways that mediate plant responses to salinity and alkalinity, and to illuminate the mechanisms by which plants influence and are influenced by soil environments. By encouraging interdisciplinary research, this Topic seeks to identify physiological traits and adaptive strategies that confer stress tolerance, improve rhizosphere functions, and facilitate mutualistic relationships with soil microbiota. Ultimately, the objective is to translate mechanistic insights into actionable interventions that foster resilient plant communities, enhance soil health, and ensure sustainable food and environmental systems in vulnerable landscapes.

This Research Topic encompasses advances in understanding and managing saline–alkaline soil multifunctionality through plant-physiology-driven plant–soil relationships. Its primary scope centers on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of plants in these environments, while also considering the feedback between plants, soils, and microbial communities. To gather further insights into these areas, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Plant physiological adaptations, such as ion transport, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense in saline–alkaline soils
• Mechanistic studies on plant–root–microbe interactions shaping soil health, nutrient cycling, and plant stress tolerance
• Influence of organic and inorganic amendments on plant physiological performance and soil remediation
• Plant-driven improvements in ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water use efficiency, and nutrient fluxes
• Identification and genetic improvement of stress-resilient plant species for use in reclamation and agriculture on saline–alkaline soils
• Novel analytical, molecular, or imaging tools to assess plant physiological status and predict outcomes in these challenging soils

We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers aligned with the aims of this Research Topic.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: plant–soil interactions, ecosystem multifunctionality, plant productivity, soil microbial communities, nutrient cycling, saline-alkaline land, Plant–soil–microbe interactions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.