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Field response of N2O emissions, microbial communities, soil biochemical processes and winter barley growth to the addition of conventional and biodegradable microplastics

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 2022 74 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Davey L. Jones, Martine Graf, Lucy M. Greenfield, Martine Graf, Gwion B. Williams, Martine Graf, Martine Graf, Martine Graf, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Rafael Bargiela, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Lucy M. Greenfield, David R. Chadwick Martine Graf, Lucy M. Greenfield, Lucy M. Greenfield, Lucy M. Greenfield, David R. Chadwick Martine Graf, Rafael Bargiela, Martine Graf, Martine Graf, Saravanan Rengaraj, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Saravanan Rengaraj, Martine Graf, Lucy M. Greenfield, Lucy M. Greenfield, Martine Graf, Martine Graf, Martine Graf, Rafael Bargiela, Rafael Bargiela, Rafael Bargiela, Davey L. Jones, Rafael Bargiela, Peter N. Golyshin, Rafael Bargiela, Davey L. Jones, Rafael Bargiela, Davey L. Jones, Rafael Bargiela, Rafael Bargiela, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Martine Graf, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Gwion B. Williams, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Gwion B. Williams, Peter N. Golyshin, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, Gwion B. Williams, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Rafael Bargiela, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Lucy M. Greenfield, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Peter N. Golyshin, Peter N. Golyshin, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick

Summary

Researchers conducted a field study comparing the effects of conventional polyethylene and biodegradable PLA microplastics on soil greenhouse gas emissions, microbial communities, and winter barley growth. They found that both types of microplastics altered soil nitrogen cycling and microbial community composition, though biodegradable plastics showed distinct degradation patterns. The study suggests that switching to biodegradable agricultural plastics does not necessarily eliminate the environmental impacts of microplastic contamination in farmland soils.

Polymers

Microplastic contamination in agroecosystems is becoming more prevalent due to the direct use of plastics in agriculture (e.g., mulch films) and via contamination of amendments (e.g., compost, biosolids application). Long-term use of agricultural plastics and microplastic pollution could lead to soil degradation and reduced crop health due to the slow degradation of conventional plastics creating legacy plastic. Biodegradable plastics are more commonly being used, both domestically and in agriculture, to minimise plastic pollution due to their biodegradable nature. However, the influence of a biodegradable plastics on soil function at the field scale is largely unknown. We investigated the effect of conventional (polyethylene) and biodegradable (PHBV) microplastics on N2O emissions and soil biochemical processes in a field trial of winter barley. Microplastic was added to the soil at realistic levels (100 kg ha-1) for both conventional and biodegradable treatments. N2O emissions were measured throughout the growing season alongside key soil quality indicators (microbial community composition, ammonium, nitrate, moisture content, pH and EC). Overall, microplastic addition had no observable effect on crop yield, microbial communities or soil biochemical properties. Yet, we found cumulative N2O emissions were reduced by two-thirds following conventional microplastic addition compared to the no-plastic and biodegradable microplastic treatments. We believe this response is due to the lower soil moisture levels over the winter in the conventional microplastic treatment. Overall, the response of key soil parameters to microplastic addition show fewer negative effects to those seen in high dose laboratory mesocosm experiments. Thus, it is imperative that long-term field experiments at realistic dose rates be undertaken to quantify the real risk that microplastics pose to agroecosystem health.

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