The study looked at how the bacteria in the soil around maize plants change as the plants grow. They found that the soil properties, like nitrogen and moisture levels, had a bigger impact on the bacteria than the chemicals released by the plant roots. The plant root chemicals did affect the bacteria in the soil near the roots more than in the rest of the soil. The researchers also saw that the bacteria were more active when the maize plants were at a certain stage of growth. Understanding how these changes happen can help farmers manage their crops better throughout the growing season.