We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
White clover growth responses to soil microplastics derived from conventional and biodegradable agricultural mulch films
Summary
Scientists tested how white clover plants grow in soil mixed with tiny plastic bits from farm mulch films—both regular plastic and "biodegradable" plastic—to see if either type harms crops. This matters because clover and similar plants are widely used to naturally fertilize farm soil, and if microplastics disrupt plant health or their partnership with soil bacteria, it could affect food production and soil quality that our agriculture depends on. Notably, the study suggests biodegradable plastics aren't automatically a safe swap, since they can leave microplastic residue too.
This dataset contains information about the responses of three white clover (Trifolium repens) cultivars (Aber Ace, Aber Hera & Aber Swan) when exposed to microplastic particles made from agricultural mulch films. Newly germinated seedlings were grown in soils containing field-relevant concentrations (0.1% & 0.2%) from either conventional (polyethylene) and biodegradable (polylactic acid /polybutylene adipate terephthalate blend) mulches for three months in an unheated greenhouse. Clover performance was assessed by measuring photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), stolon number, rhizobia nodule density, and root and shoot dry weight biomass. The work was part of the Natural Environment Research Council funded 'BIO-PLASTIC-RISK' (NE/V007556/1) project and specifically the aims of WP 4 to establish the potential toxicity of bioplastic fragments in the marine and agricultural environment.