We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Organic amendment in climate change mitigation: Challenges in an era of micro- and nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics found in organic amendments like compost, manure, and sewage sludge may undermine their effectiveness as climate change mitigation tools. Researchers found that plastic contamination in these materials can alter soil carbon cycling, potentially reducing the carbon sequestration benefits of adding organic matter to soils. The study highlights a tension between using organic waste for soil health and inadvertently introducing plastic pollution.
As a global strategy for mitigating climate change, organic amendments play critical roles in restoring stocks in carbon (C) depleted soils, preserving existing stocks to prevent further soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, and enhancing C sequestration. However, recent emerging evidence of a significant proportion of micro- and nanoplastics (M/NPs) occurrence in most organic substrates (e.g., compost manure, farmyard manure, and sewage sludge) compromises its role in climate change mitigation. Given the predicted surge of soil M/NPs proliferation in the coming years, we argued whether organic amendment remains a reliable climate change mitigation strategy. Toxicity effects of M/NPs influx within the soil matrix disrupt plants and their associated key microbial taxa responsible for crucial biogeochemical processes and restructuring of SOC, leading to increasing emissions of potent greenhouse gases (GHGs, e.g., CO, CH, and NO) that feedback to aggravate the rapidly changing climate. Here, we summarize evidence based on literature that the discovery of M/NPs in organic substrates compromises its role in the climate change mitigation strategy. We briefly discuss the overview of synthetic fertilizers and their impact on SOC and atmospheric emissions. We discuss the role of organic amends in climate change mitigation and the emergence of M/NPs in it. We discuss M/NPs-induced damages to SOC and subsequent emissions of GHGs. We briefly highlight management approaches to clean organic substrates of M/NPs to improve their use in agrosystems and provide recommendations for future research studies. We found that organic amendment plays pivotal role in modulating the biotic and abiotic drivers responsible for climate mitigation. However, M/NPs in organic amendments weaken the regulatory mechanisms of organic amendments in plant-soil systems. We conclude that organic amendments of soils are critical for restoring SOC and mitigating the rapidly changing climate; yet, the discovery of M/NPs in organic substrates put their usage in a dilemma.
More Papers Like This
How Valuable Are Organic Amendments as Tools for the Phytomanagement of Degraded Soils? The Knowns, Known Unknowns, and Unknowns
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates organic soil amendments — including sewage sludge, compost, and manure — as tools for restoring degraded soils, noting both benefits for soil health and risks from contaminant introduction. The discussion is relevant to microplastic research because many organic amendments are known vectors for microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
Microplastic pollution of organic waste products used for soil amendment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in various organic waste products intended for use as soil amendments, including composts, green waste, manure, and sewage sludge. All materials tested contained microplastics, with types and concentrations varying by source. The findings highlight a significant pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils through the use of organic fertilizers and soil conditioners.
Organic matter and microplastics nexus: A comprehensive understanding of the synergistic impact on soil health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics and organic matter interact in soil, finding that common soil additions like compost and sewage sludge are significant sources of microplastic contamination. The interplay between these substances can disrupt nutrient cycling, soil biology, and carbon storage, which ultimately affects the quality of food grown in contaminated soil.
Unveiling the Ameliorative Potential of Organic Amendments on Microplastic-Induced Shifts in Soil Carbon and Microbiome
AI summary Read the abstract
A study of greenhouse farm soils found higher microplastic levels than regular farmland, mainly from plastic film use. Microplastics changed soil carbon levels and reduced beneficial soil microbes and enzyme activity. Adding rice straw or decomposed aquatic weeds to the soil increased carbon storage and improved microbial diversity, lessening these negative effects.
Microplastic pollution of organic waste products used for soil amendment
AI summary Read the abstract
Organic materials used as soil amendments — including compost, green waste, manure, and sewage sludge — were analyzed and found to contain microplastics, identifying organic fertilizers as a primary source of agricultural soil contamination. The study quantified microplastic concentrations in different amendment types to improve understanding of the scale of this contamination pathway. The findings support calls for better quality controls on organic waste products used in agriculture to limit microplastic spread through the food production system.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.