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Impact of polyethylene on soil physicochemical properties and characteristics of sweet potato growth and polyethylene absorption

Chemosphere 2022 48 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.

Liang Shi, Xiyang Zhang, Liang Shi, Liang Shi, Liang Shi, Zanming Chen, Xiyang Zhang, Yanan Hou, Yanan Hou, Yanan Hou, Liang Shi, Yanan Hou, Yanan Hou, Yanan Hou, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Yanan Hou, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Yanan Hou, Zanming Chen, Zanming Chen, Yuan Bu, Liang Shi, Yuan Bu, Yuan Bu, Yuan Bu, Yuan Bu, Yuan Bu, Yanan Hou, Yanan Hou, Zhenguo Shen, Xiyang Zhang, Xiyang Zhang, Xiyang Zhang, Yanan Hou, Zhenguo Shen, Zhenguo Shen, Zhenguo Shen, Yahua Chen Yahua Chen Yahua Chen Yahua Chen Xiyang Zhang, Zhenguo Shen, Liang Shi, Yahua Chen

Summary

Researchers studied the effects of original and weathered polyethylene microplastics on soil properties and sweet potato growth, finding that microplastics can alter soil characteristics and affect plant nutrient absorption. The study also found that sweet potato roots can absorb polyethylene particles, raising questions about food safety in agricultural areas contaminated with plastic film residues.

Polymers

Microplastic (MP) pollution problem is severe in China. As the main component of mulch film, whether polyethylene (PE) poses a threat to the safe production of sweet potato is unknown. In this study, micron-sized original or weathered PE was simulated as the field film particles, and pot, hydroponic experiment were conducted to explore the effects of original and weathered MPs on physicochemical properties in soil, growth and phosphorus (P), potassium (K) absorption in sweet potato; P and K adsorption in liquid environment, and also the distribution of original MPs in sweet potato tissues respectively. The results showed that 5 μm original PE MPs significantly reduced pH (5.6-7.9%) and increased EC (6.0-12.1%) of soil compared to weathered PE MPs. In addition, original PE MPs can also significantly improved the biomass growth rates (5.9-19.0%) of sweet potato compared with weathered PE MPs by adsorbing more Olsen-P and Olsen-K in soil, and increasing K concentration in stems compared with control (17.1-55.4%). Although there was no significant difference between original and weathered PE MPs on the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation in sweet potato leaves, the original PE MPs made sweet potato exhibit the stronger oxidative stress. The tissue distribution of PE MPs-fluorescent spheres were only observed in cortical tissues of roots and stems. Results from our study suggest that sweet potato were not significantly affected by a short term exposure to single PE MPs.

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