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From Soil to Solution
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Plastic mulch films used in farming break down into microplastics that build up in soil—and eventually may end up in our food and water. This review summarizes research on certain soil bacteria (Bacillus species) that naturally produce enzymes capable of breaking down both regular and "biodegradable" plastics, offering a promising eco-friendly cleanup tool. While the approach is still developing and faces challenges like slow breakdown speeds, it points toward practical ways to reduce plastic pollution in the food we grow.
The widespread use of plastic mulch films in modern agriculture has led to significant plastic and microplastic (MP) pollution in soils. This chapter examines the potential of Bacillus species as biological agents for degrading conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable alternatives, including polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). It outlines the ecological impacts of plastic mulching and highlights traits of Bacillus , exploring their ecological resilience, enzyme abilities (including lipases, esterases, and cutinases), and adaptability in bioremediation. Environmental factors influencing degradation, such as soil pH, temperature, humidity, and additives, are examined. Strategies to enhance efficacy, such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and synthetic biology, are presented. The chapter also addresses challenges, including slow degradation rates, MP residues and regulatory gaps. Future directions involving the use of articifical intelligence (AI)-driven tools for microbial community design, metabolic modeling, and real-time soil monitoring for sustainable plastic waste management in agriculture are also discussed.
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The degradation of microplastic by microorganisms: A generous way to treat Plastic waste
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This review examines microbial biodegradation of microplastics in soil environments, finding that bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus gottheilii can degrade microplastics that accumulate from plastic mulching, sewage waste, and direct deposition, offering a biological pathway to reduce soil microplastic contamination.
Biodegradation of polyethylene with polyethylene-group-degrading enzyme delivered by the engineered Bacillus velezensis
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Researchers engineered a strain of the soil bacterium Bacillus velezensis to produce enzymes that break down polyethylene, the most common type of microplastic found in vegetable-growing soils. The engineered bacteria degraded about 23 percent of polyethylene microplastics over 20 days in laboratory tests. The study introduces a promising bioengineering approach to tackling the widespread problem of plastic pollution in agricultural soils.
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
Microplastics in Agricultural Soils: An Emerging Threat to Soil Health, Microbial Ecology, Crop Productivity, and Food Safety
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This review examines how microplastics accumulate in agricultural soils from sources like plastic mulch, sewage sludge, and atmospheric deposition. Researchers found that these particles can disrupt soil microbial communities, harm plant health, and potentially enter the human food chain. The study highlights the urgent need for mitigation strategies to address this growing but often overlooked form of pollution in farmland.
Isolation and mechanistic study of novel PLA-degrading bacteria from plastic manufacturing soil.
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Scientists discovered two new soil bacteria that can break down PLA, a "compostable" plastic used in food packaging and utensils that actually takes a very long time to decompose in nature. The researchers pinpointed the specific enzymes these bacteria use to digest the plastic, which could help engineers develop faster, more efficient ways to break down plastic waste. This matters because reducing how long plastics linger in the environment means less plastic breaking down into the microplastics that end up in our water, food, and bodies.
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