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New insights into effect of PBAT microplastics on latosol microbial metabolic functions
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"Biodegradable" plastic mulch films used in farming break down into microplastics that scientists tested on tropical soil, finding they initially boost soil microbes' activity but disrupt the balance of carbon and nitrogen processing—key nutrients cycles that keep soil healthy and productive. Over time, this disruption can backfire, actually slowing down microbial activity below normal levels, which raises questions about how these "eco-friendly" plastics might affect soil health and food-growing capacity as their use increases worldwide.
This study systematically investigated the underexplored effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) microplastics on latosol microbial metabolic fnctions by integrating a Biolog Eco microplate with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis. Our results revealed that the main phyla Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria presented a non-monotonic pattern with the PBAT dosage and functioned as keystone taxa in shaping the metabolic functions and pathways of the latosol microbial community. PBAT microplastics elevated the activity of soil C-cycling enzymes while suppressing most N-cycling enzymes activities (except for urease). In the early degradation stage, microbial carbon substrate utilization (AWCD) exhibited a positive dose-response to PBAT concentration, accompanied by an increase in the consumption of nitrogen-containing carbon sources. 2D-COS analysis indicated a preferential microbial utilization of labile carbon sources under PBAT treatment, in contrast to the dominant consumption of recalcitrant carbon sources in control treatment. However, in the later degradation stage, the AWCD values in the PBAT treatments decreased and were even lower than those in the control treatment. Compared to those in the PBAT treatment, the microorganisms in the control treatment used significantly more carbon sources containing N. The key factors affecting microbial metabolic activity and diversity included latosol properties (such as C/N, MBC, and MBN) and enzyme activities (such as ROL, PO, AMO, and UR). Our findings provided mechanistic insights for more accurately predicting alterations in soil carbon cycling and storage under the increasingly prevalent use of biodegradable films in the future.
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Effect of biodegradable PBAT microplastics on the C and N accumulation of functional organic pools in tropical latosol
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Researchers investigated how biodegradable PBAT microplastics affect carbon and nitrogen storage in tropical soil and found that they significantly increased carbon in all major soil organic pools. The largest increase occurred in particulate organic matter, where PBAT debris was incorporated into the soil carbon pool, boosting total carbon by 116-191%. The study suggests that while biodegradable microplastics add carbon to soil, this may create a misleading picture of soil health since the carbon comes from plastic contamination rather than natural organic sources.
Soil C-N and microbial community were altered by polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics
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Researchers investigated how biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) microplastics affect soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial communities in soils planted with soybean and maize. The study found that PBAT microplastics significantly altered dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen levels, increased microbial biomass, and shifted bacterial and fungal community composition, suggesting that even biodegradable microplastics may disrupt soil nutrient cycling in plant-specific ways.
PBAT biodegradable microplastics enhanced organic matter decomposition capacity and CO2 emission in soils with and without straw residue
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Researchers found that biodegradable PBAT microplastics, commonly used in agricultural films, significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions from soil over 120 days. Evidence indicates that as the microplastics broke down, they stimulated soil microbes to also decompose existing organic matter at a faster rate, suggesting that biodegradable plastics may accelerate carbon release from agricultural soils.
Soil Type Governs the Degradation Dynamics and Microbial Assimilation of Biodegradable Plastic Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate.
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"Biodegradable" plastic doesn't break down the same way everywhere, this study found that soil type (like its acidity and nitrogen levels) strongly affects how fast a common compostable plastic (PBAT) gets broken down by soil microbes. Notably, when this plastic breaks into tiny microplastic fragments, it disrupts soil microbial communities more than intact plastic film does, which matters because healthy soil microbes are essential for growing the food we eat and for naturally filtering out pollutants like microplastics before they spread further into the environment.
Dosages of Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Microplastics Affect Soil Microbial Community, Function, and Metabolome in Plant–Soil System
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Researchers examined how different concentrations of biodegradable PBAT microplastics affect soil microbial communities and lettuce growth. They found that while low concentrations had minimal impact, higher doses significantly altered soil microbial diversity, metabolic functions, and the chemical profile of the soil. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastic mulch residues can disrupt soil ecosystems when they accumulate at higher levels.
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