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Effects of microplastics derived from biodegradable mulch film on different plant species growth and soil properties
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Researchers studied how microplastics from biodegradable mulch film affect the growth of five different crop species in soil. They found that cabbages and strawberries were most sensitive, with reduced growth at higher microplastic concentrations, while other crops showed little effect. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastics can break down into microplastics that may harm certain agricultural crops.
Biodegradable mulch residues contribute significantly to the presence of microplastics in soil ecosystems. The environmental impact of microplastics, especially biodegradable microplastics (bio-MPs), on soil and plants is of increasing concern. In this study, the responses of five crop species potted in soil treated with different mass concentrations of bio-MPs were assessed for one month. The shoot and root biomasses of cabbages and strawberries were inhibited by bio-MPs treatment. There was little variation in the growth indicators of identical plants with the addition of different mass concentrations of bio-MPs; however, a significant difference was observed among different plants with the addition of the same concentration of bio-MPs. The detrimental effects of bio-MPs were more pronounced in strawberries and cabbages than in the other plant species. Moreover, bio-MPs can affect the availability of soil nutrients and enzyme activities. Structural equation modeling showed that changes in soil properties may indirectly affect plant growth and nutrient uptake when exposed to bio-MPs. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the ecological effects of biodegradable mulch films.
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Comparing the impact of microplastics derived from a biodegradable and a conventional plastic mulch on plant performance
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Researchers directly compared how microplastics from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films affect plant growth and found that biodegradable plastic particles actually reduced plant biomass more than conventional plastic particles in some cases. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for agriculture, since their breakdown products may still harm crops that end up in the human food supply.
Biodegradable Microplastics from Agricultural Mulch Films: Implications for Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Plant’s Oxidative Stress
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This study tested how microplastics from biodegradable agricultural mulch films affect beneficial soil bacteria and plant growth. The biodegradable microplastics inhibited most helpful bacteria and caused oxidative stress in plants, reducing their growth. However, some bacteria showed tolerance to the microplastics and helped protect plants from the damage, suggesting that biodegradable plastics are not harmless to soil ecosystems as often assumed.
Impact of traditional and biodegradable mulching films on plant performance and substrate microbial communities in a small-scale strawberry cultivation
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Researchers compared traditional plastic mulch (the plastic sheeting farmers use to cover soil) with newer biodegradable versions to see how they affect strawberry plants and the helpful microbes living in the soil. This matters because regular plastic mulch breaks down into microplastics that can build up in soil and potentially make their way into our food, so finding a mulch that grows strawberries just as well without leaving lasting plastic waste behind could mean cleaner farmland and fewer microplastics in the food we eat.
Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch-Derived Microplastics and Their Effects on Bacterial Communities and Radish Growth in Three Vegetable-Cultivated Purple Soils
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Biodegradable mulch films are increasingly used in agriculture as a "greener" alternative to conventional plastic, but their breakdown products — biodegradable microplastics — still have significant effects on soil and crops. A pot experiment across three soil types found that both conventional and biodegradable microplastics altered soil bacteria communities, with biodegradable plastics notably promoting the growth of specific plastic-degrading bacteria. Importantly, the effects on soil chemistry and radish growth varied substantially depending on soil type, suggesting that blanket recommendations about biodegradable mulch safety are premature without site-specific assessment.
Microplastics from agricultural mulch films: a threat to growth promoting abilities of bacteria?
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Researchers tested how microplastics shed from agricultural plastic mulch films affect soil bacteria that promote plant growth, finding that mulch-derived microplastics reduced the abundance and activity of key plant growth-promoting bacteria. The results suggest agricultural plastic use could undermine soil health and crop productivity.
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