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Divergent mechanisms of labile phosphorus accumulation in paddy soils under TPU microplastics versus manure-derived hydrochar: roles of dissolved organic matter and bacterial communities
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles and a charcoal-like material called hydrochar can increase the amount of phosphorus available to rice plants in soil by 14-21%. Both materials work by changing the soil's chemistry and the helpful bacteria that live in it, but they do it in different ways. This matters because phosphorus is essential for growing healthy crops, and understanding how plastic pollution affects soil could help farmers maintain productive rice fields.
Abstract The availability of phosphorus (P) in paddy soils is essential for sustainable agriculture and labile P (LP) content is influenced by soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms by which anthropogenic carbon sources such as hydrochar (HC) and microplastics (MPs) regulate P fraction transformation remain poorly understood. Results showed that HC and MPs increased soil LP content by 21.1% and 14.2%, respectively, and raised soil DOM content by 21.3% and 27.9%. Bacterial communities emerged as the key drivers of these processes, with significant correlations observed between soil DOM features and LP dynamics ( p < 0.05). HC enhanced interspecific competition by increasing carbon bioavailability, which was reflected in the accelerated turnover of bacterial communities ( v = 0.217) and the dominance of copiotrophic bacteria. MPs, on the other hand, boosted microbial network complexity by promoting the secretion of protein-like soil DOM, fostering more interconnected microbial communities. These changes facilitated the conversion of soil LP. These findings highlight the distinct mechanisms by which HC and MPs regulate soil P cycling, emphasizing the importance of soil DOM-microbe interactions for sustainable P management in agriculture. Graphical Abstract
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