We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of different types of microplastics in soil on nitrogen absorption and metabolism of quinoa
Summary
Researchers grew quinoa in soils spiked with biodegradable (PLA, PBAT) and conventional (PE) microplastics at three concentrations, finding that all types reduced nitrogen-metabolizing enzyme activity and soil organic carbon decomposition, with biodegradable PBAT causing the greatest suppression of nitrogen absorption and moderate concentrations inducing the most severe oxidative stress.
To reveal the effects of different types of microplastics (particle size < 5 mm) on crop nitrogen absorption and metabolism, biodegradable microplastics made of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) andnonbiodegradable microplastics made ofpolyethylene (PE) were selected for plant pot experiments atthree mass fractions(0.5%, 1% and 3%, respectively). The responses of inorganic nitrogen content, crop growth, nitrogen absorption and nitrogen-metabolizing enzyme activity to soil microplastic pollution in the soil-Chenopodium quinoa system were studied. The results revealed that microplastics significantly limited the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC), reduced the accumulation of quinoa nitrate nitrogen (NO3- -N), and increased the soil C/N ratio. The total nitrogen (TN) content under the PE treatment was lower than that under the PLA and PBAT treatments by 0.03-0.60 g·kg-1 and 0.27-0.31 g·kg-1, respectively. The dry weight and cumulative nitrogen absorption of quinoa treated with PBAT were significantly lower than those of quinoa treated with PLA or PE (P < 0.05). The activities of antioxidant enzymes and nitrate reductase (NR) were the lowestin the 1% microplastic treatment, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was the highest; the activities of NR and the MDA content were 40.3-54.3% and 2.54-2.61 times greater in the 1% treatment than in the control, respectively. In terms of mechanism, nitrogen absorption inquinoa was significantly negatively correlated with soil SOC content (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the input of microplastics to the soil can reduce the activity of nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes in quinoa, and biodegradable PBAT significantly reducednitrogen absorption inquinoa. Oxidative damage in quinoa wasgreater when the degree of pollution wasmoderate.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Response of peanut plant and soil N-fixing bacterial communities to conventional and biodegradable microplastics
Researchers tested how conventional plastics (polyethylene and polystyrene) and a biodegradable plastic (polylactic acid) affect peanut plant growth and nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. They found that while none of the plastics reduced plant biomass, the biodegradable PLA at high doses dramatically altered soil nitrogen levels and bacterial community composition. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be as harmless to agricultural soil ecosystems as commonly assumed.
[Effects of Different Microplastics in Soil on Nitrogen Absorption and Metabolism in Lettuce （Lactuca sativa L.）].
Researchers conducted pot experiments comparing the effects of degradable (PLA and PBAT) and non-degradable (PE) microplastics on nitrogen absorption and metabolism in lettuce, finding that different polymer types exert distinct influences on plant nitrogen utilization pathways.
Soil C-N and microbial community were altered by polybutylene adipate terephthalate microplastics
Researchers investigated how biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) microplastics affect soil carbon, nitrogen, and microbial communities in soils planted with soybean and maize. The study found that PBAT microplastics significantly altered dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen levels, increased microbial biomass, and shifted bacterial and fungal community composition, suggesting that even biodegradable microplastics may disrupt soil nutrient cycling in plant-specific ways.
The effects of diverse microplastics on adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) growth and physiologic properties
Researchers tested the effects of three types of microplastics at different concentrations on adzuki bean growth and found that all types caused some damage, with biodegradable polylactic acid having the strongest negative impact on plant biomass. Higher microplastic concentrations significantly reduced chlorophyll content and triggered antioxidant stress responses. The study suggests that even supposedly eco-friendly biodegradable plastics can harm crop plants when they accumulate in soil.
LDPE and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastics differentially affect plant-soil nitrogen partitioning and dynamics in a Hordeum vulgare mesocosm
Researchers compared how conventional LDPE plastic and biodegradable PLA-PBAT plastic affect nitrogen cycling in soil where barley was growing. LDPE microplastics reduced the amount of fertilizer nitrogen taken up by plants and increased nitrogen lost through leaching, while biodegradable plastics boosted microbial activity in the soil. The study shows that different types of plastic pollution affect soil nutrient cycles in different ways, which could influence both crop nutrition and groundwater contamination.