We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Crumb Rubber Microplastics Alter Soil Water Dynamics and Plant Biomass Allocation in Soybeans
AI summary Read the abstract
Recycled tire crumbs (used in artificial turf and sometimes mixed into soil) don't stunt soybean plants on the surface, but they change what's happening underground: plants grew more roots, held onto soil moisture differently, and absorbed noticeably more zinc into their leaves — enough to exceed normal healthy levels. Since soybeans and other crops can take up these metals from contaminated soil, this raises questions about whether recycled tire materials near farmland or gardens could quietly work their way into the food we eat, even when plants look perfectly normal above ground.
Crumb rubber, a recycled tire product used in artificial turf fields, alters soil physical properties and releases chemical contaminants, but few studies have examined its effects on plant physiology and resource allocation. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the responses of soybeans (Glycine max) grown in soils containing increasing proportions of crumb rubber (0%, 16.6%, 33.3%, and 50% by weight). Germination, plant growth, chlorophyll content, soil respiration, biomass production, water loss, root allocation, and elemental composition of soils and plant tissues were measured over a 21-day period. Most indicators of plant performance (germination, plant height, chlorophyll content, soil respiration, and total biomass) were not significantly affected by crumb rubber additions. However, crumb rubber significantly reduced cumulative water loss and increased both root biomass and root-to-shoot ratios at moderate and high concentrations. Soil and plant tissue analyses revealed substantial increases in zinc concentrations across the crumb rubber gradient, with leaf zinc concentrations exceeding sufficiency ranges at higher treatments. These results demonstrate that crumb rubber contamination can alter soil water dynamics, plant resource allocation, and trace metal accumulation even when aboveground growth responses remain limited.
More Papers Like This
Data for Crumb rubber microplastics alter soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation in soybeans
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists grew soybeans in soil mixed with crumb rubber (the black recycled tire bits used on artificial turf and playgrounds) to see how it affects plants and soil. They found that more crumb rubber changed how water moved through soil, altered plant growth patterns, and increased zinc levels in both soil and plant tissue. Since zinc and other chemicals from tire rubber can build up in crops grown in contaminated soil, this raises questions about whether widespread crumb rubber use could affect food safety and soil health over time.
Data for Crumb rubber microplastics alter soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation in soybeans
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists grew soybeans in soil mixed with different amounts of crumb rubber (the tiny black bits from recycled tires used in artificial turf) to see how it affects plant growth and soil health. They found that more crumb rubber changed how soil holds water and how plants grow, and it also led to more zinc—a metal that's toxic in high amounts—building up in the soil and plants. This matters because as crumb rubber breaks down and spreads into soil and water, it could affect food crops and introduce metals into the food chain, though more research is needed to know exactly how this impacts human health.
Crumb rubber microplastics alter soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation in soybeans
AI summary Read the abstract
A greenhouse experiment found that crumb rubber microplastics in soil altered water dynamics and biomass allocation in soybean plants over a 21-day growth period. These results demonstrate that tire-derived microplastic contamination of agricultural soils can impair crop physiology, with implications for food security and the broader ecological impact of road-related plastic pollution.
Crumb rubber microplastics alter soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation in soybeans
AI summary Read the abstract
A greenhouse experiment found that crumb rubber microplastics in soybean-growing soils altered soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation over a 21-day growth period. The study measured germination, chlorophyll content, root allocation, and elemental composition to quantify how tire-derived microplastics affect agricultural plant physiology.
Long term crumb rubber leachate reduces symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism in Medicago sativa L.
AI summary Read the abstract
Chemicals leaching from tire crumb rubber, like those used in playgrounds and turf, can seep into soil and harm plants, this study found that alfalfa exposed to tire leachate grew weaker roots and struggled to convert nitrogen into nutrients. Since alfalfa is a key livestock feed crop, this raises concerns about how tire pollution might affect soil health, food crops, and ultimately the food supply.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.