The soil microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining soil health, plant productivity, and ecosystem services. Recent molecular studies have revealed that the soil microbiome has been significantly underestimated in terms of quantity. Metagenomic, metaproteomic, and metatranscriptomic studies are increasingly used to understand the functional role of the microbiome and plant-microbe interactions. Beneficial bacteria, known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), enhance plant growth by colonizing roots and promoting nutrient uptake, synthesizing compounds, and protecting plants from diseases. Understanding plant-microbe interactions in natural and agroecosystems is essential for sustainable agriculture and soil fertility management. The soil microbiome is composed of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, with a vast number of microbial cells present in soil. The rhizosphere, the soil region around plant roots, is a hotspot for microbial activity, with a higher microbial density than bulk soil. The diversity and abundance of microbes are influenced by land use, soil compartments, and environmental factors. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil. The diversity of the soil microbiome is influenced by factors such as pH, salinity, moisture, temperature, and nutrient content. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil. The diversity of the soil microbiome is influenced by factors such as pH, salinity, moisture, temperature, and nutrient content. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil.The soil microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining soil health, plant productivity, and ecosystem services. Recent molecular studies have revealed that the soil microbiome has been significantly underestimated in terms of quantity. Metagenomic, metaproteomic, and metatranscriptomic studies are increasingly used to understand the functional role of the microbiome and plant-microbe interactions. Beneficial bacteria, known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), enhance plant growth by colonizing roots and promoting nutrient uptake, synthesizing compounds, and protecting plants from diseases. Understanding plant-microbe interactions in natural and agroecosystems is essential for sustainable agriculture and soil fertility management. The soil microbiome is composed of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, with a vast number of microbial cells present in soil. The rhizosphere, the soil region around plant roots, is a hotspot for microbial activity, with a higher microbial density than bulk soil. The diversity and abundance of microbes are influenced by land use, soil compartments, and environmental factors. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil. The diversity of the soil microbiome is influenced by factors such as pH, salinity, moisture, temperature, and nutrient content. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil. The diversity of the soil microbiome is influenced by factors such as pH, salinity, moisture, temperature, and nutrient content. The rhizosphere microbiome is more diverse and contains a higher proportion of certain bacterial phyla compared to bulk soil. The spatial distribution of the soil microbiome is influenced by environmental factors and population processes, with the rhizosphere microbiome being shaped by the surrounding soil.