We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluating the Impact of Traditional and Biodegradable Mulch Film Residues on Heavy Metal Dynamics and Maize Productivity: Insights from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Community Analysis
Summary
Researchers compared the long-term effects of traditional polyethylene and biodegradable mulch film residues on soil properties, heavy metal uptake in maize, and beneficial soil fungi communities. Traditional mulch residues increased the accumulation of arsenic and cadmium in maize roots while altering soil chemistry, whereas biodegradable mulch residues also affected fungal communities but in different ways. The study suggests that neither type of mulch film is without environmental consequence, and that their residues can influence both crop safety and soil microbial health.
Microplastics and heavy metals (HMs) in soil pose significant environmental and health risks, yet the interactions between mulch film residues and HMs, and their effects on maize productivity, remain poorly understood. This study examined the impacts of long-term traditional polyethylene mulch film (TMF) and biodegradable mulch film (BMF) residues on soil properties, maize root accumulation of HMs, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, and maize productivity under open field conditions. TMF residues significantly increased the soil total carbon (TC), C/N ratio, and bioaccumulation coefficients (BACs) of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) while lowering soil pH and water content. These changes altered AMF colonization and enriched the Paraglomus genus, leading to enhanced maize leaf antioxidant activity and reduced chlorophyll content, although maize growth was not statistically affected. In contrast, they improved soil nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), increased TC and the C/N ratio, and reduced soil pH. Notably, BMF residues decreased the BACs of As and Cd, reduced AMF spore density without altering community structure, and ultimately enhanced maize biomass. These effects were associated with BMF’s ability to lower pH and chelate HMs, thereby mitigating their bioavailability and promoting plant growth. Furthermore, the enriched abundance of AMF species, particularly from the Claroideoglomus genus, facilitated heavy metal chelation and reduced HM accumulation in plants. The findings underscore the potential of BMF and AMF for co-remediation of microplastics and HMs, highlighting the importance of mulching strategies for sustainable agriculture.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The Ecological Trap: Biodegradable Mulch Film Residue Undermines Soil Fungal Network Stability
Researchers compared microplastic accumulation, soil fungal communities, and ecological network stability under conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PLA+PBAT mulch film residues in a maize field. Both film types disrupted fungal network stability, but biodegradable films produced smaller MP particles that penetrated soil more deeply and altered fungal diversity differently.
Microplastics in agroecosystem – effects of plastic mulch film residues on soil-plant system
This review examines how residues from both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable plastic mulch films accumulate in agricultural soils and affect plant growth and soil health. Both types of mulch film residues are found to have negative effects on the soil-plant system, raising questions about the environmental safety of biodegradable plastic alternatives.
Interactions of microplastics and cadmium on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in an agricultural soil
Researchers studied how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics interact with cadmium contamination to affect maize growth and beneficial soil fungi in agricultural soil. While polyethylene showed minimal direct plant toxicity, high doses of polylactic acid significantly reduced maize biomass, and both plastic types altered the communities of root-associated fungi. The study suggests that co-contamination of microplastics and heavy metals in farmland can jointly disrupt plant health and soil ecosystems.
Effect of Long-Term Biodegradable Film Mulch on Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties
Long-term use of biodegradable mulch film was compared to conventional plastic and no-mulch controls in terms of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties, with results showing that biodegradable mulch altered soil structure and microbial diversity in ways differing from both conventional plastic and bare soil. The findings raise questions about the cumulative effects of biodegradable plastic residues on agricultural soil health.
Consequences of 33 Years of Plastic Film Mulching and Nitrogen Fertilization on Maize Growth and Soil Quality
Researchers found that after 33 years of continuous plastic film mulching, residual microplastics in soil persisted even after mulching stopped, though soil moisture and crop yields were still influenced by the legacy effects of long-term mulch use and nitrogen fertilization.