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Toxic Impact of Soil Microplastics (PVC) on Two Weeds: Changes in Growth, Phenology and Photosynthesis Efficiency
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Researchers found that PVC microplastics in soil negatively affected growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and phenological timing in two weed species, with effects varying by concentration and plant species, suggesting that soil microplastic contamination can alter plant community dynamics in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
Experimental evidence on the bio-ecological effects of microplastics on terrestrial plants is still lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that soil polluted with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles can negatively influence plant traits, photosynthetic efficiency and phenology of two weeds but with different strength in relation to the species’ life traits. Therefore, we conducted an experiment in a common garden growing the wild species Senecio inaequidens and Centaurea cyanus for about 60 days. The possible toxic effects of soil microplastics (1% of PVC in 100 g of soil medium) were investigated, coupling an analyses on plant traits with an evaluation of the microplastic-induced changes in terms of phenology and photosynthetic efficiency. Overall, results showed that plants in control pots were higher and larger than those in treated ones (C. cyanus plant width: p < 0.05; S. inaequidens—plant height: p < 0.05; plant width: p < 0.05). Moreover, for C. cyanus, photosynthetic efficiency (index Fv/Fm) was significantly lower in the treatment than that in control (p < 0.05). About phenology, the second leaf of S. inaequidens emerged earlier in control than that in treatments (day 12.2 ± 0.25 and 14.3 ± 0.3, respectively; p < 0.001). The obtained results highlight that PVC microparticles may have had negative effects on soil–plant system reducing the performance of plants. Since, up to now, research on the interaction between soil microplastics and terrestrial plants has mainly focused on agricultural plants, this work fills a gap of knowledge regarding wild species (weeds), highlighting the possible future impact of microplastics on biodiversity.
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Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana & Phaseolus vulgaris and their soil
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Researchers exposed the plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Phaseolus vulgaris to polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations and found effects on plant growth and soil microbial communities. The study contributes to a limited but growing body of evidence on how microplastic pollution in agricultural soils may affect crop plants and soil health.
Impact of PVC microplastics on soil chemical and microbiological parameters
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Researchers found that PVC microplastics altered soil chemical properties and significantly affected microbial community composition and enzymatic activities in agricultural soil, with effects varying over different incubation periods in microcosm experiments.
Toxicity of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on Brassica rapa
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Researchers exposed Brassica rapa plants to UV-weathered PVC microplastics and found significant growth inhibition, with stem length reduced by nearly 46% and root length by 35% after 30 days. The microplastic particles blocked leaf stomata and were observed entering the plant tissue, triggering stress responses including increased enzyme activity. The study suggests that microplastics in soil can physically and chemically interfere with normal plant development.
Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance
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Researchers tested six different types of microplastics in soil and found that they altered key soil properties including water-holding capacity, bulk density, and microbial activity. These changes in soil structure had cascading effects on plant growth, with some microplastic types reducing above-ground biomass. The study demonstrates that microplastics can fundamentally change how soil functions, with consequences for plant health and ecosystem stability.
Effects of Soil Microplastics on Plant Growth and Soil Health
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A greenhouse experiment found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at increasing concentrations reduced lettuce biomass, altered soil microbial activity, and changed soil structure and water retention, with effects more pronounced at higher MP concentrations.
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