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Effect of Multiyear Biodegradable Plastic Mulch on Soil Microbial Community, Assembly, and Functioning
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This study examined how using biodegradable plastic mulch (PBAT) on farmland for multiple years affected soil microbes. The mulch changed the types of bacteria and fungi in the soil, including encouraging bacteria that may help break down plastic but also disrupting natural nutrient cycling. The findings raise questions about whether biodegradable plastic alternatives are truly safe for long-term agricultural use, since they still alter soil ecosystems as they break down into microplastics.
The increasing use of biodegradable plastic mulch like polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) has raised concerns about its long-term environmental impact. In this study, we investigated the effects of multiyear PBAT mulch application on bacterial and fungal communities, assembly mechanisms, and key ecological functions. The microbial community diversity and composition were significantly altered after multiyear biodegradable plastic mulching. We observed that PBAT treatment enriched specific bacterial genera, such as Pantoea, potentially involved in plastic degradation, and fungal genera like Cephaliophora and Stephanosporaceae, which may play a role in organic matter decomposition. A null model analysis revealed that bacterial community assembly was largely shaped by deterministic processes, with stronger environmental selection pressures in PBAT-treated soils, while fungal communities were more influenced by stochastic processes. In addition, multiyear PBAT mulch application also impacted the functionality of the soil microbial communities. PBAT exposure enhanced biofilm formation in aerobic bacteria, promoting aerobic degradation processes while also reducing the abundance of stress-tolerant bacteria. Additionally, PBAT altered key microbial functions related to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling. Notably, the fungal communities exhibited functional shifts, with an increase in saprotrophic fungi being beneficial for nutrient cycling, alongside a potential rise in plant pathogenic fungi. These findings underscore the multiyear ecological impacts of biodegradable plastics, suggesting microbial adaptation to plastic degradation and changes in key ecological functions, with implications for agricultural sustainability and bioremediation strategies.
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The Succession of Bacterial Community Attached on Biodegradable Plastic Mulches During the Degradation in Soil
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Researchers studied how bacterial communities colonize and change over time on biodegradable plastic mulches buried in soil for five months. The study found that plastic composition and incubation time significantly shaped microbial communities, and notably, potential pathogens were detected at higher levels on biodegradable plastics compared to conventional polyethylene mulch.
Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions
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This review examines how biodegradable plastic mulch films affect soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions compared to conventional polyethylene mulches. Researchers found that while biodegradable films avoid the problem of permanent plastic accumulation, their breakdown products can still alter soil microbiomes and carbon cycling in ways that are not yet fully understood. The study highlights the need for long-term field research to determine whether biodegradable mulches are truly a sustainable alternative for agriculture.
Effect of Long-Term Biodegradable Film Mulch on Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties
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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.
The plastisphere of biodegradable and conventional microplastics from residues exhibit distinct microbial structure, network and function in plastic-mulching farmland
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Researchers compared the bacterial communities that colonize biodegradable and conventional plastic microplastics in farmland soil. They found that biodegradable plastics (PBAT/PLA) and conventional polyethylene each attracted distinct microbial communities with different functions, including bacteria that could degrade plastics or cycle nutrients. The results suggest that even biodegradable plastics create unique microbial environments in soil that may affect soil health and function in unexpected ways.
Effects of Biodegradable Film Mulching on Bacterial Diversity in Soils
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Researchers compared bacterial diversity in soils mulched with biodegradable plastic films, conventional plastic films, and bare soil, finding that biodegradable films altered microbial community composition differently than conventional plastics. The results are relevant to evaluating whether biodegradable agricultural films truly reduce soil microbiome disruption compared to persistent plastic mulches.
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