Soil temperature dynamics and their implications for soil health and crop productivity: A critical review

Soil temperature is a pivotal factor regulating physical, chemical and biological processes within terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in the rhizosphere where plant–soil interactions are most active. Fluctuations in soil temperature influence texture, structure, aeration and moisture retention, thereby altering nutrient mobility and availability. Temperature also affects key soil chemical properties such as pH, cation exchange capacity and the cycling of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Equally, microbial activity, which is central to decomposition, enzymatic reactions and nutrient mineralization is highly temperature-sensitive, with implications for soil fertility and ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, plant physiological functions including root development, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis are strongly modulated by soil thermal conditions. Extreme temperatures can impair crop performance, destabilize microbial processes and threaten food security. Unlike earlier reviews that examine these processes in isolation, this paper offers an integrated synthesis of how soil temperature governs multifaceted interactions across soil–plant systems. This review identifies critical research gaps, including the long-term impacts of thermal fluctuations on soil structure and productivity, the adaptability of microbial communities to sustained warming and the temperature sensitivity of nutrient transformations. It also underscores the need for precision monitoring of soil thermal regimes. Addressing these gaps is essential for developing adaptive, temperature-informed soil and crop management strategies. Ultimately, the review advances a systems-based understanding of soil temperature dynamics to support sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.