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Differential effects of field-aged versus new LDPE and PLA/PBAT plastic film fragments on soil quality and crop productivity
Journal of Hazardous Materials2025
5 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 53
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Robert W. Brown,
Perrine Florent,
Robert W. Brown,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Robert W. Brown,
Martine Graf,
David R. Chadwick
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Robert W. Brown,
Martine Graf,
Davey L. Jones,
Perrine Florent,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Robert W. Brown,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Michaela K. Reay,
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Martine Graf,
Perrine Florent,
Robert W. Brown,
Michaela K. Reay,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Martine Graf,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Michaela K. Reay,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
Robert W. Brown,
Perrine Florent,
Perrine Florent,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
Davey L. Jones,
Robert W. Brown,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
David R. Chadwick
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
Davey L. Jones,
David R. Chadwick
Summary
Researchers compared the effects of new versus field-weathered conventional and biodegradable plastic film fragments on soil quality and radish crop growth at various concentrations. They found that degradation state played a crucial role, with aged films increasing soil respiration similarly to organic matter, and aged biodegradable films positively affecting plant nitrogen uptake and biomass. The study emphasizes that research using only new, uniform microplastics may misrepresent how weathered plastic fragments actually behave in agricultural soils.
Whilst complex interactions of plastic type, size, shape, and concentration have been established, most research to date has focused on new, uniform microplastics that fail to represent the heterogeneous mixture of weathered fragments resulting from natural aging of PMF in agricultural fields. To address this, we investigated the concentration-dependent effects (0.05 %, 0.5 %, 1.5 % w/w) of realistic size mixtures (1:1:1 w/w/w macro-, meso-, microplastic) of both conventional (LDPE) and biodegradable (PLA/PBAT) PMFs in their new and field-weathered forms on radish (Raphanus sativus L.) growth, soil physio-chemical properties, N fertiliser partitioning, NO emissions, and microbial activity. We showed that degradation plays a crucial role in how PMFs affect soil and crop functioning, emphasising the importance of utilising size mixtures and field-weathered materials when assessing plastic impacts in agricultural settings. Soil bulk density and moisture reduced with increasing PMF concentration regardless of PMF type or degradation, and aged PMFs increased cumulative CO respiration similarly to organic straw amendment compared to new PMF. Additionally, biodegradable PMF, especially in its aged form, positively affected N plant uptake and plant biomass compared to conventional PMF. This study highlights that using uniform, new microplastics may misrepresent the complex effects on soil and plant properties under realistic conditions.