Effects of biodegradable microplastics and straw addition on soil greenhouse gas emissions

Large pieces of plastic are transformed into microplastic particles through weathering, abrasion, and ultraviolet radiation, significantly impacting the soil ecosystem. However, studies on biodegradable microplastics replacing traditional microplastics as agricultural mulching films to drive the biogeochemical processes influenced by GHG are still in their initial stages, with limited relevant reports available. This study sought to investigate the effects of microplastic and straw addition on CO and NO emissions in different soils. Herein, yellow-brown soil (S1) and fluvo-aquic soil (S2) were utilized, each treated with three different concentrations of PLA (polylactic acid) microplastics (0.25%, 2%, and 7% w/w) at 25 °C for 35 days, with and without straw addition. The results showed that straw (1% w/w) significantly increased soil CO by 4.1-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively, and NO by 1.8-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively, in cumulative emissions in S1 and S2 compared with the control. PLA microplastics significantly increased CO emissions by 71.5% and 99.0% and decreased NO emissions by 30.1% and 24.7% at a high concentration (7% w/w, PLA3) in S1 and S2 compared with the control, respectively. The same trend was observed with the addition of straw and microplastics together. Structural equation modeling and redundancy analysis confirmed that soil physiochemical parameters, enzyme and microbial activities are key factors regulating CO and NO emissions. The addition of microplastics is equivalent to the addition of carbon sources, which can significantly affect DOC, MBC, SOC and the abundance of carbon-associated bacteria (CbbL), thereby increasing soil CO emissions. The addition of microplastics alone inhibited the activity of nitrogen cycling enzymes (urease activity), increasing the abundance of denitrifying microbes. However, adding a high amount of microplastics and straw together released plastic additives, inhibiting microbial abundance and reducing the nitrogen cycle. These effects decreased NH-N and increased NO-N, resulting in decreased NO emissions. This study indicates that biodegradable microplastics could reduce soil plastic residue pollution through degradation. However, their use could also increase CO emissions and decrease NO emissions. Consequently, this research lays the groundwork for further investigation into the implications of utilizing biodegradable microplastics as agricultural mulch, particularly concerning soil geochemistry and GHG emissions.