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Effect of Biodegradable PLA-Based and Conventional LDPE Mulch Films on Pathogenic and Functional Soil Microbial Communities
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Even "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic mulch used in farming isn't necessarily better for soil health than regular plastic—researchers found that both types of plastic bits in soil got colonized by potentially harmful bacteria, and the biodegradable version actually disrupted helpful soil microbes more than the conventional plastic did. The good news: adding a beneficial bacteria treatment (Pseudomonas umsongensis) to the soil helped restore a healthier microbial balance, suggesting there may be ways to counteract plastic pollution's effects on the food-growing soil that eventually connects back to what we e
Plastics and microplastics are widespread in the environment, yet knowledge about their impact on agricultural soils, including their microbiological properties, remains limited. Therefore, this study addressed the research question regarding the impact of secondary microplastics, biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) mulch film, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film on the abundance, structure, and functions of soil bacteria, with particular emphasis on the presence of bacterial pathogens. PLA and LDPE were applied to the soil at a dose of 4 g kg−1 d.m. of soil. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of soil bioaugmentation with the Pseudomonas umsongensis strain and its biostimulation with humic acids in mitigating the negative effects of microplastics. The response of culturable bacteria revealed high sensitivity of organotrophic bacteria to both microplastics, with a stronger inhibitory effect from PLA, as well as stimulation of actinomycetes. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that the materials differentially influenced the bacterial response. PLA most strongly stimulated Actinobacteriota and favored the dominance of Bacillus and Limnochorda, whereas LDPE promoted the growth of Actinobacteriota and Chloroflexota as well as genera KD4-96 and 1921-2. Both microplastics were colonized by potential pathogens, including Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Ralstonia, and Cupriavidus. PLA additionally stimulated the proliferation of Leifsonia sp. and Curtobacterium sp., while both PLA and LDPE reduced the abundance of Enterobacter sp. and Herbaspirillum sp. Bioaugmentation using the Pseudomonas umsongensis strain was more effective in restoring the balance of the soil microbiome than biostimulation with humic acids. The results indicate that microbial preparations based on Pseudomonas umsongensis may serve as an important tool in restoring the balance of soil exposed to microplastics.
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Researchers compared the bacterial communities that colonize biodegradable and conventional plastic microplastics in farmland soil. They found that biodegradable plastics (PBAT/PLA) and conventional polyethylene each attracted distinct microbial communities with different functions, including bacteria that could degrade plastics or cycle nutrients. The results suggest that even biodegradable plastics create unique microbial environments in soil that may affect soil health and function in unexpected ways.
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Scientists compared how tiny pieces of regular plastics and "biodegradable" plastics affect helpful bacteria in soil after 6 months. They found that biodegradable plastics actually disrupted soil bacteria more than regular plastics, changing the microbes that help plants grow and cycle nutrients. This matters because these soil bacteria are crucial for growing healthy food, so switching to biodegradable plastics might not be the simple environmental solution we hoped for.
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A comparison of conventional low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics from mulch film found that LDPE consistently inhibited maize growth while low concentrations of PLA actually promoted it. Both plastic types entered maize root tissues but followed different pathways, and LDPE caused greater harm to soil bacterial communities, suggesting that switching from conventional to biodegradable mulch is genuinely beneficial for agricultural soil health.
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"Biodegradable" plastics are often marketed as the eco-friendly choice, but this study found that when they break down into microplastics in soil, they actually harm plant growth and soil health more than regular plastics like polyethylene do, by disrupting the soil bacteria that plants depend on for nutrients. This matters because these microplastics could end up in the crops we eat, and it suggests that switching to "biodegradable" plastics isn't automatically a safer bet for our food supply without more research into how they actually break down in real farm soil.
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Researchers compared bacterial diversity in soils mulched with biodegradable plastic films, conventional plastic films, and bare soil, finding that biodegradable films altered microbial community composition differently than conventional plastics. The results are relevant to evaluating whether biodegradable agricultural films truly reduce soil microbiome disruption compared to persistent plastic mulches.
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