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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics affect the nitrogen nutrition status of soybean by altering the nitrogen cycle in the rhizosphere soil
ClearSub-micron microplastics affect nitrogen cycling by altering microbial abundance and activities in a soil-legume system
Researchers found that very small (sub-micron) polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in soil significantly altered nitrogen cycling by changing the abundance and activity of bacteria around soybean roots. While the microplastics did not affect plant growth directly, they increased nitrogen uptake and shifted the balance of nitrogen-processing bacteria. These hidden changes to soil chemistry could have long-term effects on agricultural productivity and the nutritional quality of crops.
Microplastics affect soybean rhizosphere microbial composition and function during vegetative and reproductive stages
Researchers conducted a 70-day greenhouse experiment to evaluate how four types of microplastics affect soybean rhizosphere bacterial communities in two soil types. The study found that polyamide microplastics consistently altered bacterial diversity and nitrogen cycling functions, while other plastic types had shorter-term effects, suggesting that different microplastics pose varying risks to agricultural soil microbial ecosystems.
Effects of microplastic contamination on soil nitrogen and its bioavailability in soybean-maize rotation system
Researchers conducting a field experiment found that microplastics in agricultural soil disrupt the nitrogen cycle in a soybean-maize rotation system, inhibiting the natural nitrogen fixation that legumes provide and increasing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate — a form more prone to leaching away — raising concerns for long-term soil fertility.
Macroplastics in soybean cultivation: Neutral on plant growth but disruptive to nitrogen-fixing microbiome
Researchers studied how larger plastic debris (over 2 centimeters) in agricultural soil affects soybean growth and the nitrogen cycle over a 71-day experiment. While the macroplastics did not visibly affect plant growth, they significantly disrupted nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities and altered soil nitrogen chemistry. The study suggests that even when crop yields appear unaffected, plastic contamination in farmland may be quietly undermining the beneficial soil microorganisms that plants depend on.
Polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics promote soil nitrification and alter the composition of key nitrogen functional bacterial groups
Researchers found that polyethylene and PVC microplastics in soil increased nitrification (a key step in the nitrogen cycle) and changed the composition of nitrogen-processing bacteria. These changes could affect soil fertility and the availability of nutrients for crops. The study highlights how microplastic contamination in agricultural soil may have hidden effects on food production by altering fundamental soil processes.
Differential impacts of polyethylene microplastic and additives on soil nitrogen cycling: A deeper dive into microbial interactions and transformation mechanisms
This study tested how polyethylene microplastics, their base resin, and plastic additives each affect nitrogen cycling in soil -- a process essential for plant growth. All three altered the soil's nitrogen balance and microbial communities in different ways, with microplastics increasing certain nitrogen transformation rates the most. These findings matter because disrupted nitrogen cycling in farmland could affect crop nutrition and ultimately the quality of food humans eat.
Responses of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings growth and physiological traits triggered by polyvinyl chloride microplastics is dominated by soil available nitrogen
Researchers found that PVC microplastics in soil reduced maize seedling growth primarily by depleting available nitrogen, a nutrient essential for plant development. The microplastics altered soil bacteria, enzymes, and nutrient levels, with nitrogen availability explaining nearly 88% of the changes in plant growth. This suggests that microplastic pollution in agricultural soil could reduce crop yields by starving plants of essential nutrients.
Polyethylene microplastic and soil nitrogen dynamics: Unraveling the links between functional genes, microbial communities, and transformation processes
Researchers conducted a six-month experiment to understand how polyethylene microplastics in soil affect nitrogen cycling, a process critical for soil fertility and plant nutrition. They found that while total nitrogen levels stayed stable, microplastics significantly altered the forms of nitrogen present by increasing ammonium and nitrate while decreasing dissolved organic nitrogen. The study suggests that microplastics reshape soil microbial communities and their nitrogen-processing activities, potentially disrupting the natural nutrient balance in agricultural soils.
Assessing the combined impacts of microplastics and nickel oxide nanomaterials on soybean growth and nitrogen fixation potential
This study tested how polystyrene microplastics and nickel oxide nanoparticles affect soybean growth and nitrogen fixation in soil. Microplastics alone reduced photosynthesis, plant hormones, and the beneficial root bacteria that help plants capture nitrogen from the air. While this is a plant and soil study, it demonstrates how microplastics can disrupt agricultural ecosystems that humans depend on for food production.
Microplastic effects on soil nitrogen storage, nitrogen emissions, and ammonia volatilization in relation to soil health and crop productivity: mechanism and future consideration
This review examines how microplastics made from polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene affect nitrogen cycling and ammonia release in agricultural soils. Researchers found that these plastic particles can alter soil structure, shift microbial community composition, and disrupt the processes that store and release nitrogen. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in farmland may have cascading effects on soil fertility and crop productivity.
Microplastics in agricultural soil: Polystyrene fragments inhibit soil microbial and enzymatic activities but promote nutrient concentration of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
This study examined how polystyrene microplastic fragments in agricultural soil affect both soil health and cowpea plant growth. Researchers found that while microplastics significantly reduced beneficial soil microbial activity and enzyme function, the cowpea plants surprisingly showed increased nutrient concentrations. The findings highlight the complex and sometimes contradictory ways microplastics can influence agricultural ecosystems.
LDPE microplastics affect soil microbial communities and nitrogen cycling
Researchers found that adding polyethylene microplastics to soil changed the bacterial communities and disrupted the nitrogen cycle, which is essential for soil fertility and plant growth. Microplastics increased the activity of certain nitrogen-processing genes while decreasing others, shifting the balance of nutrient cycling. These changes in soil function could ultimately affect crop health and the quality of food grown in microplastic-contaminated agricultural land.
Simulation of the effects of microplastics on the microbial community structure and nitrogen cycle of paddy soil
Researchers tested how three types of microplastics affect microbial communities and nitrogen cycling in paddy soil. They found that polylactic acid microplastics significantly altered soil bacterial diversity and shifted community structure, while PET and PVC had less pronounced effects. The study suggests that different types of microplastics may influence soil health and nutrient cycling in distinct ways, which matters for agricultural sustainability.
Effect of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the soil-soybean system: A perspective on rhizosphere microbial community and soil element cycling
This study compared how conventional polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable alternatives (PBAT and PLA) affect soil bacteria and nutrient cycling in soybean fields. The biodegradable microplastics actually caused more harm to soybean growth than conventional ones, reducing shoot biomass by up to 34% and disrupting nitrogen availability in soil. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always better for the environment and raises questions about their impact on agricultural productivity and food security.
The effects of biosolid microplastics on rhizosphere respiration of root exudates in Glycine max
This study examined how microplastics from agricultural biosolids affect the activity of soil microbes around soybean roots. Researchers found that both polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics increased baseline microbial respiration rates, and high concentrations of polypropylene fragments significantly altered how soil microbes consumed amino acid-based root compounds. The findings suggest that microplastics in agricultural soil can change the way root-zone microbial communities process plant nutrients.
Inhibition of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth, Development, and Promotion of Root Nodulation Including Plant Nitrogen Uptake Triggered by Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics
Researchers investigated the impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics at four dosages (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5%) on the growth, development, root nodulation, and nitrogen uptake of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants. They found that PVC microplastics inhibited plant growth and development while paradoxically promoting root nodulation, suggesting complex soil-plant-microbiome interactions that could have implications for nitrogen cycling and food security in contaminated agricultural soils.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings performance mainly affected by soil nitrate nitrogen under the stress of polyvinyl chloride microplastics
Researchers evaluated the effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on wheat seedling growth and soil properties. They found that microplastics significantly reduced shoot biomass and soil nitrate nitrogen levels, suggesting that disrupted nitrogen availability may be the primary mechanism affecting plant growth. The study indicates that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could impair crop development by altering soil nutrient dynamics.
Effects of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics on plant growth and bacterial community in the soil
Researchers compared the effects of regular polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics on soybean growth and soil bacteria. Surprisingly, the biodegradable microplastics caused more harm than conventional ones, significantly reducing root growth and altering soil bacterial communities important for nitrogen fixation. This finding challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment and raises questions about their impact on food crops.
Microplastic Pollution in Andisol: Effects on Soil Microbiology, Nitrogen Cycling, and Raphanus sativus L. Growth
Researchers assessed how polyamide, LDPE, and polypropylene microplastics affect Andisol soil properties and radish growth, finding microplastics reduced soil nitrogen cycling, disrupted microbial communities, and induced oxidative stress in plants — with effects varying by polymer type.
Illuminating the nexus between non-biodegradable microplastics and soil nitrogen dynamics: A modulation through plant-derived organic matter
This research examined how different vegetation types (shrub, grassland, and bare soil) influence the impact of polystyrene microplastics on nitrogen cycling in soil. Microplastics disrupted nitrogen processes across all vegetation types, but shrub soils showed greater resistance, while grassland soils were most vulnerable to disruption of nitrogen-fixing microbial communities. Since nitrogen cycling is fundamental to soil fertility and plant growth, this finding has implications for agricultural lands where microplastic contamination from plastic mulch films is increasingly common.
Key factors and mechanisms of microplastics’ effects on soil nitrogen transformation: A review
This review systematically analyzed how microplastics affect nitrogen transformation processes in soil. Researchers found that the size, shape, concentration, and polymer type of microplastics all influence soil nitrogen cycling through changes to microbial communities, soil structure, and enzyme activity. The study identifies key knowledge gaps and recommends standardized research approaches to better predict how microplastic pollution will alter soil nutrient dynamics.
Microplastics reduce nitrogen uptake in peanut plants by damaging root cells and impairing soil nitrogen cycling
Researchers found that microplastics reduce nitrogen uptake in peanut plants by damaging root cells and impairing soil nitrogen cycling, with polypropylene and rubber crumb particles at high concentrations inhibiting plant growth and disrupting the soil-plant nitrogen system.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics and cadmium co-contamination on the soybean-soil system: Integrated metabolic and rhizosphere microbial mechanisms
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics and cadmium interact in soybean-soil systems and found that specific microplastic concentrations enhanced cadmium accumulation in roots under moderate contamination. Higher microplastic levels reduced beneficial soil bacteria like Sphingomonas and Bradyrhizobium and suppressed nitrogen-cycling functions. The study demonstrates that microplastics fundamentally alter heavy metal behavior through interconnected plant-metabolite-microbe interactions in agricultural soils.
Short-term effects of polyethene and polypropylene microplastics on soil phosphorus and nitrogen availability
Researchers examined the short-term effects of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on soil nutrient cycling, finding that these particles can alter the availability of phosphorus and nitrogen depending on microplastic size and fertilization conditions.