We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Data for Crumb rubber microplastics alter soil water dynamics and plant biomass allocation in soybeans
Summary
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.
This dataset supports a greenhouse experiment examining the effects of crumb rubber, a recycled tire product commonly used in artificial turf fields, on soil and plant function. Soybeans (Glycine max) were grown in soils containing increasing proportions of crumb rubber (0%, 16.6%, 33.3%, and 50% by weight). Measured variables include germination, plant height, chlorophyll content, soil respiration, biomass production, water loss, root allocation, and elemental composition of soils and plant tissues over a 21-day growth period. The dataset also includes zinc concentrations in soils and plant tissues across the crumb rubber gradient. These data were used to assess how crumb rubber influences plant performance, soil function, water dynamics, and trace metal accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems.