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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming

The Science of The Total Environment 2024 16 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Davey L. Jones Jie Zhou, Robert W. Brown, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Lingling Shi, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Wenhao Feng, Robert W. Brown, Jianchu Xu, Jianchu Xu, Wenhao Feng, Robert W. Brown, Heng Gui, Jianchu Xu, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Lingling Shi, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Jianchu Xu, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Lingling Shi, Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Haishui Yang, Robert W. Brown, Lingling Shi, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Jianchu Xu, Haishui Yang, Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Lingling Shi, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Wenhao Feng, Guodong Shao, Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Lingling Shi, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Lingling Shi, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Heng Gui, Heng Gui, Kazem Zamanian, Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Kazem Zamanian, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Jie Zhou, Jianchu Xu, Fengmin Li, Jianchu Xu, Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, 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 Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Heng Gui, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Jianchu Xu, Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Fengmin Li, Kazem Zamanian, 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

Summary

Researchers studied how polyethylene and biodegradable PHBV microplastics affect the decomposition of soil organic matter through a process called the priming effect. They found that both types of microplastics accelerated soil carbon loss when fresh carbon was added, with biodegradable PHBV causing 72% more carbon release than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in soils could worsen carbon loss from terrestrial ecosystems, with biodegradable plastics potentially having a greater impact than conventional ones.

Polymers
PE

The priming effect, i.e., the changes in soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition following fresh organic carbon (C) inputs is known to influence C storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics (particle size <5 mm) are ubiquitous in soils due to the increasing use and often inadequate end-of-life management of plastics. Conventional polyethylene and bio-degradable (PHBV) plastics contain large amounts of C within their molecular structure, which can be assimilated by microorganisms. However, the extent and direction of the potential priming effect induced by microplastics is unclear. As such, we added C-labeled glucose to investigate how background polyethylene and PHBV microplastics (1 %, w/w) affect SOM decomposition and its potential microbial mechanisms in a short-term. The cumulative CO emission in soil contaminated with PHBV was 42-53 % higher than under Polyethylene contaminated soil after 60-day incubation. Addition of glucose increased SOM decomposition and induced a positive priming effect, as a consequence, caused a negative net soil C balance (-59 to -132 μg C g soil) regardless of microplastic types. K-strategists dominated in the PHBV-contaminated soils and induced 72 % higher positive priming effects as compared to Polyethylene-contaminated soils (160 vs. 92 μg C g soil). This was attributed to the enhanced decomposition of recalcitrant SOM to acquire nitrogen. The stronger priming effect associated in PHBVs can be attributed to cooperative decomposition among fungi and bacteria, which metabolize more recalcitrant C in PHBV. Moreover, comparatively higher calorespirometric ratios, lower substrate use efficiency, and larger enzyme activity but shorter turnover time of enzymes indicated that soil contaminated with PHBV release more energy, and have a more efficient microbial catabolism and are more efficient in SOM decomposition and nutrient resource uptake. Overall, microplastics, (especially bio-degradable microplastics) can alter biogeochemical cycles with significant negative consequences for C sequestration via increasing SOM decomposition in agricultural soils and for regional and global C budgets.

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