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Combined Effect of Biochar and Microplastics on Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Meta-Analysis
Original title: Combined Effect of Biochar and Microplastics on Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Meta‐Analysis
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Microplastics in soil don't just pollute the ground—they also boost greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. This study found that biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive made from organic waste) can help counteract this effect, though how well it works depends on what the biochar is made from, like straw versus manure or sludge. While this research focuses on environmental impact rather than direct human health effects, it matters because climate change and soil health ultimately affect the food we grow and the air we breathe—and it's a reminder that not all "eco-friendly" soil products work the same way.
ABSTRACT Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in the soil environment and may contribute to increased soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biochar, a common soil amendment, exhibits notable carbon sequestration and emission reduction effects. However, research findings regarding the combined effects of MPs and biochar on soil GHG emissions remain inconsistent. This discrepancy limits a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy of biochar in mitigating GHG emissions from MPs‐contaminated soils. This study conducted a meta‐analysis to integrate published data to systematically elucidate the effects of MPs, biochar and their coexistence on soil CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O emissions, as well as global warming potential (GWP) and reveal the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that MPs increased CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O emissions and GWP, while biochar and combined treatments reduced them, with biochar showing a greater reduction than the combined treatment. This finding confirms that biochar can effectively mitigate the soil greenhouse effect caused by MPs. However, meta‐regression results indicate that the effects of biochar and MPs on soil nitrogen conversion, microbiological indicators and GHG emissions are highly dependent on the experimental environment, soil pH, MPs type and biochar feedstock. Among them, biochar feedstock type was the key to determine the direction of CH 4 and CO 2 emissions: straw biochar reduced CH 4 emissions, while sludge biochar increased CH 4 emissions; manure biochar increased CO 2 emissions, while sludge and straw biochar decreased CO 2 emissions. In addition, the effect direction on soil nitrogen was systematically reversed under laboratory incubation and field experiments, but this reversal was not reflected in N 2 O emissions, suggesting that the mechanisms of N 2 O mitigation differ under different experimental conditions. The above findings emphasize that when assessing the emission reduction potential of biochar, it is necessary to clarify its feedstock and extrapolate laboratory results to field conditions with caution.
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