Matthias C. Rillig

82.7k total citations · 50 hit papers
543 papers, 52.4k citations indexed

About

Matthias C. Rillig is a scholar working on Plant Science, Soil Science and Insect Science. According to data from OpenAlex, Matthias C. Rillig has authored 543 papers receiving a total of 52.4k indexed citations (citations by other indexed papers that have themselves been cited), including 308 papers in Plant Science, 135 papers in Soil Science and 123 papers in Insect Science. Recurrent topics in Matthias C. Rillig's work include Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions (258 papers), Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies (118 papers) and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics (118 papers). Matthias C. Rillig is often cited by papers focused on Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions (258 papers), Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies (118 papers) and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics (118 papers). Matthias C. Rillig collaborates with scholars based in Germany, United States and China. Matthias C. Rillig's co-authors include Anika Lehmann, Johannes Lehmann, Anderson Abel de Souza Machado, Daniel L. Mummey, Stefan Hempel, Janice E. Thies, Stavros D. Veresoglou, Werner Kloas, William C. Hockaday and David E. Crowley and has published in prestigious journals such as Nature, Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In The Last Decade

Matthias C. Rillig

523 papers receiving 51.2k citations

Hit Papers

Biochar effects on soil biota – A review 2004 2026 2011 2018 2011 2017 2019 2018 2006 1000 2.0k 3.0k
What are hit papers?

Hit papers significantly outperform the citation benchmark for their cohort. A paper qualifies if it has ≥500 total citations, achieves ≥1.5× the top-1% citation threshold for papers in the same subfield and year (this is the minimum needed to enter the top 1%, not the average within it), or reaches the top citation threshold in at least one of its specific research topics.

  1. Biochar effects on soil biota – A review
    2011 3.8k citations Johannes Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  2. Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems
    2017 1.6k citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. Global Change Biology profile →
  3. Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance
    2019 1.5k citations Joana Bergmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  4. Impacts of Microplastics on the Soil Biophysical Environment
    2018 1.3k citations Anika Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  5. Mycorrhizas and soil structure
    2006 1.2k citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  6. Microplastic in Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Soil?
    2012 1.2k citations Matthias C. Rillig profile →
  7. Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts and mechanisms
    2007 935 citations Johannes Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  8. The concept and future prospects of soil health
    2020 924 citations Johannes Lehmann, Ingrid Kögel‐Knabner et al. profile →
  9. Where less may be more: how the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings
    2017 905 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden et al. profile →
  10. Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems
    2020 784 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Anika Lehmann profile →
  11. Global ecosystem thresholds driven by aridity
    2020 771 citations Anika Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  12. Choosing and using diversity indices: insights for ecological applications from the German Biodiversity Exploratories
    2014 747 citations Tancredi Caruso, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  13. Arbuscular mycorrhizae, glomalin, and soil aggregation
    2004 709 citations Matthias C. Rillig profile →
  14. Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms
    2017 650 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  15. The interplay between microbial communities and soil properties
    2023 632 citations Laurent Philippot, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  16. Microplastic effects on plants
    2019 599 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Anika Lehmann et al. profile →
  17. Soil aggregation and carbon sequestration are tightly correlated with the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: results from long‐term field experiments
    2009 597 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. Ecology Letters profile →
  18. Rooting theories of plant community ecology in microbial interactions
    2010 594 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  19. The role of multiple global change factors in driving soil functions and microbial biodiversity
    2019 566 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Anika Lehmann et al. profile →
  20. The fungal collaboration gradient dominates the root economics space in plants
    2020 564 citations Joana Bergmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  21. Microplastic Incorporation into Soil in Agroecosystems
    2017 515 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  22. Soil microbes drive the classic plant diversity–productivity pattern
    2010 456 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  23. Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Concentration Affect Soil Properties and Plant Biomass
    2021 424 citations Yudi M. Lozano, Anika Lehmann et al. profile →
  24. Microplastic effects on carbon cycling processes in soils
    2021 389 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Johannes Lehmann et al. profile →
  25. Priming and memory of stress responses in organisms lacking a nervous system
    2015 389 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  26. Effects of Microplastic Fibers and Drought on Plant Communities
    2020 340 citations Yudi M. Lozano, Matthias C. Rillig profile →
  27. Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ecosystem function
    2018 340 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  28. Nutrient limitation of soil microbial processes in tropical forests
    2017 319 citations Tessa Camenzind, Anika Lehmann et al. profile →
  29. Microplastics Increase Soil pH and Decrease Microbial Activities as a Function of Microplastic Shape, Polymer Type, and Exposure Time
    2021 304 citations Yudi M. Lozano, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  30. Soil biota contributions to soil aggregation
    2017 299 citations Anika Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  31. Soil plastispheres as hotspots of antibiotic resistance genes and potential pathogens
    2021 294 citations Dong Zhu, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  32. Formation of necromass-derived soil organic carbon determined by microbial death pathways
    2023 216 citations Tessa Camenzind, Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  33. The soil plastisphere
    2023 189 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Shin Woong Kim et al. profile →
  34. Crop cover is more important than rotational diversity for soil multifunctionality and cereal yields in European cropping systems
    2021 183 citations Gina Garland, Anna Edlinger et al. profile →
  35. Estuarine plastisphere as an overlooked source of N2O production
    2022 164 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Yong‐Guan Zhu et al. Nature Communications profile →
  36. Nitrogen increases soil organic carbon accrual and alters its functionality
    2023 153 citations Bo Tang, Katherine S. Rocci et al. Global Change Biology profile →
  37. Risks and Benefits of Large Language Models for the Environment
    2023 135 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  38. Plastics can be used more sustainably in agriculture
    2023 130 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  39. Agricultural management and pesticide use reduce the functioning of beneficial plant symbionts
    2022 110 citations Anna Edlinger, Gina Garland et al. profile →
  40. Increasing the number of stressors reduces soil ecosystem services worldwide
    2023 93 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden et al. profile →
  41. Microplastics alter soil structure and microbial community composition
    2024 91 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →
  42. Microplastic diversity increases the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil
    2024 83 citations Yanjie Liu, Yanmei Fu et al. Nature Communications profile →
  43. Soil organic matter dynamics mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi – an updated conceptual framework
    2023 75 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Yong‐Guan Zhu et al. profile →
  44. The “Microplastome” – A Holistic Perspective to Capture the Real-World Ecology of Microplastics
    2024 74 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Dong Zhu et al. profile →
  45. Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies
    2024 70 citations Matthias C. Rillig, Josep Peñuelas et al. profile →
  46. Soil viral–host interactions regulate microplastic-dependent carbon storage
    2024 39 citations Lu Wang, Da Lin et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences profile →
  47. Increasing pesticide diversity impairs soil microbial functions
    2025 38 citations Da Lin, Yanjie Liu et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences profile →
  48. Biotic homogenization, lower soil fungal diversity and fewer rare taxa in arable soils across Europe
    2024 38 citations Samiran Banerjee, Cheng Zhao et al. Nature Communications profile →
  49. A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution
    2025 23 citations Zhaoying Zhang, Huan Zhong et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences profile →
  50. Legume-rice rotations increase rice yields and carbon sequestration potential globally
    2025 16 citations Matthias C. Rillig et al. profile →

Peers

Matthias C. Rillig
Comparison fields: 5 of 207
  • Plant Science 21.6k
  • Pollution 16.3k
  • Soil Science 14.2k
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering 9.5k
  • Ecology 7.8k
Replace Davey L. Jones with:
Davey L. Jones United Kingdom
Johannes Lehmann United States
Yakov Kuzyakov Germany
Philip C. Brookes China
Peter Christie China
Fusuo Zhang China
Jizhong Zhou United States
Josep Peñuelas Spain
Rattan Lal United States
Johan Six United States
Davey L. Jones United Kingdom View profile →
Citations per field, relative to Matthias C. Rillig
Matthias C. Rillig · 1×
Citations per year, relative to Matthias C. Rillig
Matthias C. Rillig · 1×

Countries citing papers authored by Matthias C. Rillig

Since Specialization
Citations

This map shows the geographic impact of Matthias C. Rillig's research. It shows the number of citations coming from papers published by authors working in each country. You can also color the map by specialization and compare the number of citations received by Matthias C. Rillig with the expected number of citations based on a country's size and research output (numbers larger than one mean the country cites Matthias C. Rillig more than expected).

Fields of papers citing papers by Matthias C. Rillig

Since Specialization
Physical SciencesHealth SciencesLife SciencesSocial Sciences

This network shows the impact of papers produced by Matthias C. Rillig. Nodes represent research fields, and links connect fields that are likely to share authors. Colored nodes show fields that tend to cite the papers produced by Matthias C. Rillig. The network helps show where Matthias C. Rillig may publish in the future.

Co-authorship network of co-authors of Matthias C. Rillig

This figure shows the co-authorship network connecting the top 25 collaborators of Matthias C. Rillig. A scholar is included among the top collaborators of Matthias C. Rillig based on the total number of citations received by their joint publications. Widths of edges represent the number of papers authors have co-authored together. Node borders signify the number of papers an author published with Matthias C. Rillig. Matthias C. Rillig is excluded from the visualization to improve readability, since they are connected to all nodes in the network.

All Works

20 of 20 papers shown
# Work Indexed citations
1
Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics: effects on soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient
2025 ·Environmental Pollution ·(unknown), Helena Soinne, Shin Woong Kim, (unknown), Raffaella Meffe, Paula E. Redondo‐Hasselerharm, Melanie Braun, Matthias C. Rillig, Hannu Fritze, Bartosz Adamczyk, (unknown), Janne Kaseva, (unknown), Wulf Amelung, Rachel Hurley, Jakub Hofman, Luca Nizzetto, Salla Selonen, Sannakajsa Velmala
0
2
The dissimilarity between multiple management practices drives the impact on soil properties and functions
2025 ·Soil Ecology Letters ·Huiying Li, Bo Tang, Anika Lehmann, (unknown), Yanjie Zhu, Matthias C. Rillig
3
3
A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution breakdown →
2025 ·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ·(unknown), Zhaoying Zhang, (unknown), Huan Zhong, Feng Zhou, Xiao Zhang, (unknown), Yingnan Huang, Yuan Yuan, Yujun Wang, (unknown), Huahong Shi, Matthias C. Rillig, Fei Dang, Hongqiang Ren, Yongguang Zhang, Baoshan Xing
23
4
Biotic homogenization, lower soil fungal diversity and fewer rare taxa in arable soils across Europe breakdown →
2024 ·Nature Communications ·Samiran Banerjee, Cheng Zhao, Gina Garland, Anna Edlinger, Pablo García‐Palacios, Sana Romdhane, Florine Degrune, David S. Pescador, Chantal Herzog, (unknown), Jordi Bascompte, Sara Hallin, Laurent Philippot, Fernando T. Maestre, Matthias C. Rillig, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden
38
5
The Positive Effects of Soil Organic Carbon on European Cereal Yields Level Off at 1.4%
2024 ·SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología ·(unknown), Enrique Valencia, César Plaza, Gina Garland, Anna Edlinger, Chantal Herzog, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden, Samiran Banerjee, Matthias C. Rillig, Sara Hallin, Aurélien Saghaï, (unknown), David S. Pescador, Laurent Philippot, Aymé Spor, Sana Romdhane, Pablo García‐Palacios
0
6
Increased methane production associated with community shifts towards Methanocella in paddy soils with the presence of nanoplastics
2024 ·Microbiome ·Zhibin He, Yong Hou, Ying Li, Qicheng Bei, Xin Li, (unknown), Werner Liesack, Matthias C. Rillig, Jingjing Peng
5
7
Soil viral–host interactions regulate microplastic-dependent carbon storage breakdown →
2024 ·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ·Lu Wang, Da Lin, Ke‐Qing Xiao, Lijuan Ma, Yanmei Fu, Yan Huo, Yanjie Liu, Mao Ye, Mingming Sun, Dong Zhu, Matthias C. Rillig, Yong‐Guan Zhu
39
8
Microplastics promote the invasiveness of invasive alien species under fluctuating water regime
2024 ·Journal of Applied Ecology ·Ruifeng Zhang, (unknown), (unknown), Tingting Zhao, Guanlin Li, Zhaogui Yan, Yong‐Jian Wang, Matthias C. Rillig
5
9
Short-term effects of subsoil management by strip-wise loosening and incorporation of organic material
2023 ·Soil and Tillage Research ·Sara L. Bauke, Sabine J. Seidel, Miriam Athmann, Anne E. Berns, Melanie Braun, Martina Gocke, Julien Guigue, Timo Kautz, Ingrid Kögel‐Knabner, (unknown), Matthias C. Rillig, Michael Schloter, Oliver Schmittmann, Stefanie Schulz, David Uhlig, Andrea Schnepf, Wulf Amelung
8
10
Nitrogen increases soil organic carbon accrual and alters its functionality breakdown →
2023 ·Global Change Biology ·Bo Tang, Katherine S. Rocci, Anika Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig
153
11
Mind the gap: forest soils as a hidden hub for global micro- and nanoplastic pollution
2023 ·SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología ·Collin J. Weber, Matthias C. Rillig, Moritz Bigalke
14
12
Consequences of Microplastics on Global Ecosystem Structure and Function
2023 ·Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ·Yaqi Wang, Junhong Bai, Zhe Liu, (unknown), Guangliang Zhang, Guozhu Chen, Jiangbao Xia, Baoshan Cui, Matthias C. Rillig
11
13
Ecosystem Microbiome Science
2023 ·SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología ·Yong‐Guan Zhu, Dong Zhu, Matthias C. Rillig, Yunfeng Yang, Haiyan Chu, Qing‐Lin Chen, Josep Peñuelas, Huiling Cui, Michael R. Gillings
25
14
Fluctuating ecological networks: A synthesis of maximum‐entropy approaches for pattern detection and process inference
2022 ·Methods in Ecology and Evolution ·Tancredi Caruso, (unknown), Matthias C. Rillig, Diego Garlaschelli
8
15
Effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on soil structure and function
2022 ·Soil Ecology Letters ·Baile Xu, Gaowen Yang, Anika Lehmann, Sebastian Riedel, Matthias C. Rillig
36
16
Soil conditions drive below‐ground trait space in temperate agricultural grasslands
2022 ·Journal of Ecology ·(unknown), Joana Bergmann, Norbert Hölzel, Valentin H. Klaus, Till Kleinebecker, Matthias C. Rillig, Mark van Kleunen
12
17
Microplastic fibers affect dynamics and intensity of CO2 and N2O fluxes from soil differently
2021 ·Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin) ·Matthias C. Rillig, Mathias Hoffmann, Anika Lehmann, Yun Liang, (unknown), Jürgen Augustin
98
18
Root trait responses to drought are more heterogeneous than leaf trait responses
2020 ·Functional Ecology ·Yudi M. Lozano, Carlos A. Aguilar‐Trigueros, (unknown), Matthias C. Rillig
111
19
Soil fungal mycelia have unexpectedly flexible stoichiometric C:N and C:P ratios
2020 ·Ecology Letters ·Tessa Camenzind, (unknown), Johannes Lehmann, Matthias C. Rillig
61
20
Effects of hydrochar application on the dynamics of soluble nitrogen in soils and on plant availability
2013 ·Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science ·Inge Bargmann, Matthias C. Rillig, Andrea Kruse, Jörg‐Michael Greef, Martin Kücke
142

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