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Smallest microplastics intensify maize yield decline, soil processes and consequent global warming potential

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2024 22 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Shahid Iqbal, Davey L. Jones Shahid Iqbal, Davey L. Jones Yunju Li, Heng Gui, Jianchu Xu, Shahid Iqbal, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Jianchu Xu, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Jianchu Xu, Dengpan Bu, Davey L. Jones Fiona Ruth Worthy, Fiona Ruth Worthy, Dengpan Bu, Fiona Ruth Worthy, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Fiona Ruth Worthy, Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Turki Kh. Faraj, Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Turki Kh. Faraj, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Dengpan Bu, Jianchu Xu, Dengpan Bu, Dengpan Bu, Dengpan Bu, Davey L. Jones Dengpan Bu, Dengpan Bu, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Dengpan Bu, Heng Gui, Dengpan Bu, Davey L. Jones Jianchu Xu, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones

Summary

Researchers conducted a field experiment adding different sizes of polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics to maize-growing soil and found that the smallest particles caused the most damage. The 75-micrometer polyethylene microplastics roughly doubled greenhouse gas emissions from the soil and caused the greatest decline in maize crop yields, with scanning electron microscopy showing plastic particles taken up by plant roots and transported to stems and leaves. The findings raise serious concerns about how microplastic pollution in agricultural soils could simultaneously reduce food production and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Polymers

PE PS

Microplastic pollution seriously affects global agroecosystems, strongly influencing soil processes and crop growth. Microplastics impact could be size-dependent, yet relevant field experiments are scarce. We conducted a field experiment in a soil-maize agroecosystem to assess interactions between microplastic types and sizes. Microplastics were added to soils used for maize cultivation: either polyethylene or polystyrene, of 75, 150, or 300 µm size. Overall, we found that microplastic contamination led to increased soil carbon, nitrogen and biogeochemical cycling. Polyethylene contamination was generally more detrimental than polystyrene. Smallest polyethylene microplastics (75 µm) were associated with two-fold raised CO and NO emissions - hypothetically via raised microbial metabolic rates. Increased net greenhouse gases emissions were calculated to raise soil global warming potential of soils. We infer that MPs-associated emissions arose from altered soil processes. Polyethylene of 75 µm size caused the greatest reduction in soil carbon and nitrogen pools (1-1.5 %), with lesser impacts of larger microplastics. These smallest polyethylene microplastics caused the greatest declines in maize productivity (∼ 2-fold), but had no significant impact on harvest index. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that microplastics were taken up by the roots of maize plants, then also translocated to stems and leaves. These results raise serious concerns for the impact of microplastics pollution on future soil bio-geochemical cycling, food security and climate change. As microplastics will progressively degrade to smaller sizes, the environmental and agricultural impacts of current microplastics contamination of soils could increase over time; exacerbating potential planetary boundary threats.

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