We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Macroplastics on Soil-Plant System: Inhibiting Effects of Macroplastics on the Growth of Green Amaranth (Amaranthus viridis)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested how mixed plastic waste — polyethylene and disposable plastic cups — affects the growth of green amaranth plants in Bangladesh. They found that even low doses of plastic contamination inhibited plant growth, with higher doses causing progressively greater stunting, highlighting the threat of soil plastic pollution to agriculture.
In recent time Bangladesh faces a serious problem of soil pollution due to plastic contamination. However, the degree of the extent to which the effects of plastics on plant growth occur is not properly identified. An experiment was conducted to measure the effects of mixed plastic (polyethylene and disposable plastic glass) on the growth of Amaranthus viridis. Different doses of mixed plastics (T0, T1, T2, and T3) were applied with a fixed amount of soil for each of the treatments e.g., T0 (control), T1 (10 gm mixed plastics/3kg soil), T2 (15 gm mixed plastics/3kg soil) and T3 (20 gm mixed plastic/3kg soil), and the growth response of Amaranthus viridis against plastic was observed for six consecutive weeks. The growth was measured in terms of plant height and girth diameter. The results showed that the presence of mixed plastic had a significant effect on the growth of Amaranthus viridis and particularly in treatment T3 (3 kg soil/20gm mixed plastic), the plants showed a slower growth response compared to control and the rest of the treatments applied in case of both plant height as well as girth diameter. The statistical analysis (one-way Analysis of Variance) also proved the significance of the treatments (p-values < 0.05) for six consecutive weeks. The experiment was successfully able to set an index on which plastics had their effects on the growth of green amaranth. In addition, the obtained data will be helpful in future research of the study in determining the possible effects of plastic on plant growth viz. green amaranth.
More Papers Like This
Polyethylene Microplastic-Induced Changes in Soil Properties Mediate Nutrient Accumulation and Growth of Amaranthus tricolor L.
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that microplastic pollution in soil can stunt the growth of Amaranth (a leafy green vegetable), reduce its nutrient content, and harm beneficial soil bacteria — even at fairly low plastic concentrations. This matters because as plastic waste keeps building up in farmland, it could quietly shrink harvests and lower the nutritional quality of the vegetables we eat, making microplastic pollution a food security issue, not just an environmental one.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana & Phaseolus vulgaris and their soil
AI summary Read the abstract
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 Microplastics on Germination Index and Proline Content of Crop Plants
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits from pollution are seeping into farm soil, and this study found they can slow seed sprouting and stunt early growth in crops like peas and amaranth—with peas struggling more than amaranth. Since these crops end up on our plates, this research is an early warning sign that plastic pollution could eventually affect food supply and quality, reinforcing why cutting down on plastic waste matters for both the environment and what we eat.
Influence of polyethylene microplastics on Brassica rapa: Toxicity mechanism investigation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed the fast-growing plant Brassica rapa (related to turnip and cabbage) to polyethylene microplastics that had been degraded by sunlight, finding that the plastics stunted plant growth by up to 51% and triggered cellular stress responses. Genetic analysis revealed the microplastics disrupted the plant's immune and growth pathways, providing insight into how plastic pollution in agricultural soil could affect food crops.
Three typical microplastics affect the germination and growth of amaranth (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) seedlings
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed amaranth seeds to three types of microplastics -- polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene -- and found that the effects on germination and growth varied by plastic type, concentration, and particle size. Polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics inhibited shoot growth, while polypropylene caused the most root damage through reactive oxygen species accumulation. The study provides evidence that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may pose risks to crop development.
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.