Integrative Strategies for Promoting Plant Salt Tolerance: Root Interactions, Microbial Inoculants, and Biostimulants

Soil salinity is one of the most limiting factors for global agriculture, threatening crop productivity and food security. This chapter synthesizes current knowledge on the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to salt stress and proposes integrative biological strategies to enhance crop salt tolerance. Particular emphasis is placed on root interactions and rhizosphere processes, beneficial microbial inoculants, and the use of biostimulants and exogenous signaling compounds. By evaluating these strategies collectively, the chapter highlights their synergistic potential to provide sustainable and ecosystem-based solutions for salinity management. The chapter begins with root-mediated mechanisms that regulate ion transport, water balance, and rhizosphere modifications. It then addresses the role of beneficial microorganisms in promoting plant salt resilience through nutrient mobilization, hormone regulation, and stress alleviation. The potential of biostimulants and small molecules as external modulators of stress responses is also explored. Finally, this chapter integrates these approaches into a holistic framework, emphasizing the importance of ecological synergy and cross-disciplinary collaboration in developing scalable solutions. By bridging insights from plant physiology, soil microbiology, and agricultural practices, and incorporating the application of big data and large-scale models for optimizing salt tolerance alongside precision management in smart agriculture, this chapter provides a roadmap for advancing green and integrative strategies to enhance crop adaptation and performance in saline environments.