Plants and microbes release tiny carbon-based gases called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the soil. These gases act like signals that help plants and microbes 'talk' to each other and can also influence how carbon moves and is stored in the soil. In this study, we explored how different types of sorghum plants in a semi-arid Arizona field release VOCs into the soil and how this affects underground life. Using advanced instruments, we measured these gases in the soil during the growing season. We found that the amount and type of VOCs varied depending on the root systems and not just how big the plants were aboveground. Some plants with medium growth produced more of certain gases and also supported more microbial life during key growing stages. The study also improved how we detect specific VOCs like methanol, which can be used by microbes that live with or without oxygen. These discoveries help us better understand how plants influence the soil environment through invisible gases and suggest we should include these gases in carbon cycling models that predict the climate feedback.