A groundbreaking study led by Mingzhen Lu reveals that plants possess far deeper and more complex root systems than previously understood, with many species forming a “bimodal” network extending over a meter below the surface—often with a second peak in root density deep underground aligned with nutrient or moisture deposits—challenging the long-held assumption that root activity simply diminishes with depth. This discovery, made possible by deep soil core data (down to 2 meters) from the NEON network across diverse U.S. ecosystems, suggests plants are actively accessing resources in these overlooked layers, potentially storing significant amounts of climate-warming carbon more securely due to harsher conditions slowing microbial decomposition. Consequently, the findings necessitate revising Earth system models and climate policies that underestimate deep soil processes, as deeper roots could enhance ecosystem resilience and carbon storage capacity, impacting fields like agriculture, forestry, conservation, and climate mitigation strategies which must now account for this hidden underground activity to fully understand plants’ role in the carbon cycle.

Source: Earth.Com