This meta-analytical review examines the role of plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) in plant community assembly, succession, and invasion. The study found that PSFs generally have a medium negative effect size, indicating that most plants create soils that reduce the growth of conspecifics. Annual and early-successional species exhibited very large negative PSFs, supporting the hypothesis that PSFs accelerate species replacement and maintain diversity. Non-native plants did not benefit from PSFs in general, but in studies where both native and non-native PSFs were measured, non-natives did benefit from PSFs. Grasses demonstrated more negative PSFs than forbs, shrubs, and trees. The review also highlighted the impact of experimental methodologies on PSF effects, with controlled experiments using sterilized or inoculated soils exaggerating PSFs compared to field conditions. The findings underscore the importance of PSFs in plant community dynamics but emphasize the need for further research under field conditions.This meta-analytical review examines the role of plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) in plant community assembly, succession, and invasion. The study found that PSFs generally have a medium negative effect size, indicating that most plants create soils that reduce the growth of conspecifics. Annual and early-successional species exhibited very large negative PSFs, supporting the hypothesis that PSFs accelerate species replacement and maintain diversity. Non-native plants did not benefit from PSFs in general, but in studies where both native and non-native PSFs were measured, non-natives did benefit from PSFs. Grasses demonstrated more negative PSFs than forbs, shrubs, and trees. The review also highlighted the impact of experimental methodologies on PSF effects, with controlled experiments using sterilized or inoculated soils exaggerating PSFs compared to field conditions. The findings underscore the importance of PSFs in plant community dynamics but emphasize the need for further research under field conditions.