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The long-term uncertainty of biodegradable mulch film residues and associated microplastics pollution on plant-soil health

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022 190 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Robert W. Brown, Huadong Zang, Huadong Zang, Davey L. Jones Huadong Zang, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Rong Jia, Rong Jia, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Jie Zhou, Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Rong Jia, Huadong Zang, Rong Jia, 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 Huadong Zang, Yadong Yang, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Rong Jia, Davey L. Jones Yadong Yang, Zhaohai Zeng, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Huadong Zang, Zhaohai Zeng, Yadong Yang, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Yadong Yang, Robert W. Brown, Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Yadong Yang, Huadong Zang, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Jie Zhou, Davey L. Jones Zhaohai Zeng, Huadong Zang, Huadong Zang, Huadong Zang, Zhaohai Zeng, Yadong Yang, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Robert W. Brown, Zhaohai Zeng, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Huadong Zang, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Zhaohai Zeng, Zhaohai Zeng, Davey L. Jones Zhaohai Zeng, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Zhaohai Zeng, Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Huadong Zang, Zhaohai Zeng, Yadong Yang, 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 Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones Davey L. Jones

Summary

This study investigated the long-term effects of biodegradable mulch film residues and their associated microplastics on soil health and plant growth. Researchers found that as biodegradable films break down faster than conventional plastics, they may actually generate more microplastics in a shorter timeframe. The results raise concerns that biodegradable mulch films, often promoted as eco-friendly alternatives, could pose their own risks to agricultural soil ecosystems.

Biodegradable mulch film potentially offers an encouraging alternative to conventional (petroleum-based) plastic films. Since biodegradable films are more susceptible to rapid degradation, more microplastics (MPs) are likely to be generated than conventional films within the same time frame, probably leading to more severe MPs pollution and associated effects. However, the effect of biodegradable mulch film residues and associated MPs pollution on plant-soil health remains uncertainty. Here, we evaluated the potential effect of bio-MPs pollution on soil carbon (C) and nutrient (i.e., N and P) cycling, soil biology (microorganisms and mesofauna), and plant health, as these are crucial to agroecosystem functioning and the delivery of key ecosystem services. Unlike the inert (and therefore recalcitrant) C contained within petroleum-based MPs, at least 80% of the C from bio-MPs is converted to CO, with up to 20% immobilized in living microbial biomass (i.e., < 0.05 t C ha). Although biodegradable films are unlikely to be important in promoting soil C storage, they may accelerate microbial biomass turnover in the short term, as well as CO production. Compared to conventional MPs, bio-MPs degradation is more pronounced, thereby inducing greater alterations in microbial diversity and community composition. This may further alter NO and CH emissions, and ultimately resulting in unpredictable consequences for global climate warming. The extent to which this may occur, however, has yet to be shown in either laboratory or field studies. In addition, bio-MPs have a large chance of forming nanoplastics, potentially causing a stronger toxic effect on plants relative to conventional MPs. Consequently, this would influence plant health, crop productivity, and food safety, leading to potential health risks. It is unclear, however, if these are direct effects on key plant processes (e.g. signaling, cell expansion) or indirect effects (e.g. nutrient deficiency or acidification). Overall, the question as to whether biodegradable mulch films offer a promising alternative to solve the conventional plastic legacy in soil over the long term remains unclear.

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