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Unveiling the Ameliorative Potential of Organic Amendments on Microplastic-Induced Shifts in Soil Carbon and Microbiome
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A study of greenhouse farm soils found higher microplastic levels than regular farmland, mainly from plastic film use. Microplastics changed soil carbon levels and reduced beneficial soil microbes and enzyme activity. Adding rice straw or decomposed aquatic weeds to the soil increased carbon storage and improved microbial diversity, lessening these negative effects.
This study investigated microplastic (MP) pollution characteristics in facility agriculture soils, compared the effects of fresh polyethylene (FPE) and aged polyethylene (APE) on soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and microbial communities, and evaluated the regulatory role of organic amendments. The results demonstrated that MP abundance was significantly higher in facility agriculture soils than that in non-facility agriculture soils, primarily due to plastic film use. MP residues increased SOC (from 4.29 g/kg to 5.01–5.21 g/kg) and recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC, from 2.61 g/kg to 3.46–3.61 g/kg) but significantly inhibited active organic carbon (AOC, from 1.68 g/kg to 1.55–1.61 g/kg). FPE exerted a stronger effect on dissolved organic carbon (DOC), whereas APE showed greater ROC accumulation. Soil enzyme activities (β-glucosidase (BG) and cellobiohydrolase (CBH)) were also significantly inhibited. Microbial community analysis revealed that MP residues reduced bacteria and fungi α-diversity, suppressed Acidobacteria and Basidiomycota, and significantly altered microbial community structure, with effects more pronounced under APE than FPE. Organic amendments (rice straw and decomposed aquatic weed) increased SOC from 5.01–5.21 g/kg to 5.97–7.62 g/kg, raised ROC, AOC, DOC, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC), enhanced enzyme activities, and improved microbial richness and diversity, effectively mitigating the negative impacts of MP pollution. Rice straw showed greater potential for enhancing soil carbon sequestration, providing technical support for the sustainable development of facility agriculture.
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This review summarizes how microplastic pollution in agricultural soils affects carbon and nitrogen cycling by altering soil properties, microbial communities, and enzymatic activity. Evidence indicates that microplastics can change organic matter degradation rates and nutrient cycling processes, with implications for soil health and agricultural productivity.
Microplastics shape microbial communities affecting soil organic matter decomposition in paddy soil
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Researchers found that microplastics shape soil microbial communities in paddy soils in ways that affect organic matter decomposition, revealing how bacterial succession and carbon cycling are altered by microplastic presence in agricultural systems.
Effects of microplastics on soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in the context of straw incorporation: A comparison with different types of soil
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