To investigate rhizosphere effects on the biodegradation of pyrene with the distance away from root surface in the rhizosphere of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), a glasshouse experiment was conducted using a multi-interlayer rhizobox where ryegrass were grown in a soil spiked with pyrene. The largest and most rapid dissipation of pyrene in planted soil appeared at 2 mm zone from the root zone. The pyrene degradation gradient followed the order: near-rhizosphere > root compartment > far-rhizosphere soil zones. In contrast, there was no difference in pyrene concentration with distance in the unplanted soil. Dynamic changes of soil microbial biomass carbon (C-mic) and the activities of both soil polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase were to some extent coincident with the degradation of pyrene with distance away from the root compartment in planted soils, which indicated the changes of soil microorganisms in different soil zones of rhizosphere were mainly responsible for the observed pyrene degradation. The largest C-mic and activities of both soil polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase also occurred in near-rhizosphere, especially in 2 mm zone from the root surface. The above results suggest that the effect of root proximity is important in the degradation of pyrene in ryegrass growing soil. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.