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Abiotic and Biotic Factors Influencing the Effect of Microplastic on Soil Aggregation
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This study examined how abiotic factors (plastic type, concentration) and biotic factors (earthworms, plants) influence microplastic effects on soil aggregation, finding that microplastics disrupted aggregate stability in ways dependent on soil biology.
Plastic is an anthropogenic, ubiquitous and persistent contaminant accumulating in our environment. The consequences of the presence of plastics for soils, including soil biota and the processes they drive, are largely unknown. This is particularly true for microplastic. There is only little data available on the effect of microplastics on key soil processes, including soil aggregation. Here, we investigated the consequences of polyester microfiber contamination on soil aggregation of a sandy soil under laboratory conditions. We aimed to test if the microfiber effects on soil aggregation were predominantly physical or biological. We found that soil biota addition (compared to sterile soil) had a significant positive effect on both the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates, as expected, while wet-dry cycles solely affected aggregate formation. Polyester microfiber contamination did not affect the formation and stability of aggregates. But in the presence of soil biota, microfibers reduced soil aggregate stability. Our results show that polyester microfibers have the potential to alter soil structure, and that these effects are at least partially mediated by soil biota.
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Microplastic Effects on Soil Aggregation in Sterilized and Non‐Sterilized Soils
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Researchers tested how microplastics affect soil aggregation in both sterilized and biologically active soils, finding that microplastic effects on aggregate stability were strongly mediated by the presence of soil microorganisms. Biologically active soils showed different responses than sterile soils, highlighting the role of the soil microbiome.
Microplastic effects on soil aggregation in sterilized and non-sterilized soils
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Researchers tested how microplastics affect soil aggregate stability in both sterilized and non-sterilized soils, finding that microbial activity mediates much of the structural impact and that plastic type influences aggregation differently depending on soil biology.
Influence of microplastics on soil aggregate formation: Insights into biological binding agents
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A laboratory experiment found that polyethylene microplastics in different shapes (granules, fibers, and films) and aging states significantly alter how soil particles clump together into aggregates, with effects depending on the plastic's shape and the soil's organic matter content. Disruption of soil aggregation by microplastics matters because aggregate structure controls water retention, aeration, and microbial habitat — all fundamental to healthy, productive soils.
The association of microplastics with water-stable aggregates formed under controlled conditions.
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Tiny plastic particles in soil can weaken the clumps of dirt that keep soil healthy and prevent erosion, with small biodegradable plastic bits (PLA) causing the most disruption. Most plastic pieces stuck to these soil clumps, meaning they could travel through soil and potentially into water supplies, crops, and eventually our food.
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