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Bacterial-charged biochar enhances plant growth and mitigates microplastic toxicity by altering microbial communities and soil metabolism
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Researchers tested whether adding bacteria and biochar (a charcoal-like material) to microplastic-contaminated paddy soil could help rice plants recover, finding that the combined treatment increased shoot weight by over 100% and dramatically improved nutrient uptake genes. The treatment also enriched beneficial soil microbes and reduced oxidative stress in rice, offering a promising strategy for restoring agricultural soils polluted with microplastics.
• BBM enhanced P and N availability, and plant biomass • BBM upregulated the expression of nitrogen transporter genes ( OsNTR1.1 and OsNTR1.2 ) and phosphorus-related genes ( OsPT1 and OsPT8 ) • BBM treatment enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacterial and fungal phyla such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Ascomycota , and Basidomycota. • Key metabolites such as acetylcysteine, metoclopramide, and bovinic acid, which are associated with nutrient cycling and stress tolerance were high in BBM Microplastic (MP) contamination in agricultural soils is an emerging global concern, with levels in China’s paddy soils ranging from 1,300 to over 15,000 particles kg −1 , and up to 40,000 particles kg −1 in farmland. This pollution threatens sustainable agriculture by impairing plant growth and disrupting plant-microbe interactions. This study evaluated the remediation potential of bacteria with MPs (Bac_MP), biochar with MPs (Bcr_MP), and bacteria plus biochar with MPs (BBM) in paddy soils, assessing their effects on rice ( Oryza sativa L.) physiology, soil biochemistry, rhizosphere microbiome, and metabolome. Using qPCR, high-throughput sequencing, and untargeted metabolomics, we examined gene expression, microbial diversity, and metabolomic profiles. BBM significantly enhanced plant growth, increasing shoot fresh and dry weights by 115% and 161%, respectively, and raised protein content to 39 nmol g⁻¹ fresh weight. It mitigated oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde levels and moderately increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. Soil phosphorus availability increased 2.41-fold, with significant improvements in nitrification ( p ≤ 0.05). BBM upregulated nitrogen transporter genes OsNTR1.1 and OsNTR1.2 by 13- and 10.5-fold, and phosphorus transporter genes OsPT1 and OsPT8 by 12- and 9-fold. Microbiome and metabolome analyses revealed enrichment of beneficial bacterial and fungal phyla, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Ascomycota , and Basidiomycota , along with key metabolites linked to nutrient cycling and stress tolerance. The bacterial genus Bacillus increased in all treatments, with Kaistobacter, Anaerolinea , and Flavisolibacter enriched under BBM. Notably, the fungal genus Humicola increased 41-fold. These findings highlight BBM as a promising strategy for remediating MP-contaminated soils, improving soil fertility, and supporting sustainable agriculture.
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Scientists found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like material made from plant waste) to soil contaminated with microplastics helped restore healthy microbial communities and nutrient cycling. The biochar reversed negative effects that microplastics had on soil chemistry, including nitrogen and phosphorus availability. This suggests biochar could be a practical tool for repairing farmland damaged by microplastic pollution.
Biochar-mediated remediation of low-density polyethylene microplastic-polluted soil-plant systems: Role of phosphorus and protist community responses
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Researchers found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive) to soil contaminated with microplastics helped improve plant growth by restoring phosphorus cycling. The microplastics disrupted soil microbe communities, but biochar treatment shifted these communities in beneficial ways. This suggests biochar could be a practical tool for farming in soils contaminated with plastic pollution.
Influence of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic and biochar co-existence on paddy soil bacterial community structure and greenhouse gas emission
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Researchers studied how polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and biochar, both common in agricultural soils, affect soil bacteria and greenhouse gas emissions during rice cultivation. They found that microplastics alone reduced bacterial diversity, but adding biochar alongside the microplastics partially restored microbial communities and altered gas emissions. The study suggests that biochar may help mitigate some of the negative soil health effects of microplastic contamination in paddy fields.
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[Effects of Biochar on the Growth of Chrysanthemum morifolium and the Structure and Function of Soil Bacterial Communities under Microplastic Pollution].
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This study found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive made from organic waste) to soil contaminated with microplastics helped chrysanthemum plants grow better and boosted the health of beneficial soil bacteria. This matters because microplastics are increasingly polluting farmland soil, and finding low-cost ways to counteract their harmful effects could help protect the food crops we eventually eat and the soil ecosystems that support them.
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