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From soil disruption to biodegradation: A comprehensive review of microplastic effects and microbial breakdown mechanisms in terrestrial ecosystems
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles in farm soil disrupt nutrients like phosphorus and harm the beneficial microbes plants need to grow, which can weaken crop health and soil fertility over time. Since these microplastics can also travel up the food chain into what we eat, this matters for human health, and the researchers point to promising fixes like using helpful soil microbes to break down plastics and restore soil balance.
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in the environment, posing a significant global environmental challenge. Agricultural ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to MP contamination due to the extensive use of plastics in farming practices. This issue is further aggravated by the application of organic fertilizers, sludge, and wastewater, which introduce additional MPs into the soil. These particles can alter the physiological and biochemical processes of plants, leading to impaired growth. In the current review, we explored the profound effects of MPs on soil health, P dynamics and microbial functionality, and highlighted microbiome-based strategies, including phosphate-solubilizing microbes and innovative remediation approaches, as promising solutions to mitigate MP impacts and restore soil health and agricultural sustainability. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases for peer-reviewed studies published up to November 2025. Eligible articles were systematically screened and synthesized using a thematic approach to assess the interactions among MPs, phosphorus dynamics, soil microbial communities, and microbial degradation in agricultural soils. As MPs migrate and disperse, they disrupt soil ecosystems and may ultimately threaten human health through their entry into the food chain, making the threat of MPs to agriculture an increasingly critical issue. MPs significantly impact phosphate dynamics by adsorbing phosphates onto their surfaces, reducing bioavailable phosphorus, and interfering with P-related enzymes such as acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and phytase, which are critical for P mineralization and cycling. Furthermore, MPs disrupt soil microbial communities, affecting phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi, compounding nutrient imbalances, and reducing soil fertility. These disruptions cascade through the agricultural ecosystem, undermining productivity and sustainability.