Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Interactions of microplastics with pesticides and anthelminthics mediate undesirable effects on microbial nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils

This study examined how microplastics (LDPE, PBAT, and starch-based) interact with pesticides and veterinary medicines to affect soil microbiota. The co-exposure of MPs with these agricultural chemicals produced undesirable effects on microbial communities beyond those of each contaminant alone.

2025 Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics from polyvinyl chloride agricultural plastic films do not change nitrogenous gas emission but enhance denitrification potential

Researchers investigated whether microplastics from PVC and PE agricultural films affect nitrogen gas emissions from soil. They found that while PVC microplastics did not significantly change nitrogenous gas emissions under normal oxygen conditions, they enhanced the soil's denitrification potential under low-oxygen conditions. The study suggests that plastic film residues in farmland may subtly alter soil nitrogen cycling processes.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fibers affect dynamics and intensity of CO2 and N2O fluxes from soil differently

Researchers added plastic microfibers to agricultural soil and found that while the fibers increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by improving soil aeration, they simultaneously decreased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by suppressing the denitrification process. These opposing effects on two major greenhouse gases mean microplastic soil contamination has complex and competing consequences for climate change.

2021 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions of microplastics with pesticides and anthelminthics mediate undesirable effects on microbial nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils

Researchers investigated how three microplastic types (LDPE, PBAT, and starch-based) interact with the fungicide pyraclostrobin and the anthelmintic fenbendazole in agricultural soils, measuring effects on soil microbiota. Combined exposures often produced non-additive or antagonistic effects on microbial communities, complicating risk assessments of MPs in agricultural settings.

2025 FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Frontiers in Plant Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar-microplastics interaction modulates soil nitrous oxide emissions and microbial communities

Researchers examined how biochar interacts with conventional and biodegradable microplastics in soil to affect coriander growth, nitrous oxide emissions, and microbial communities. They found that biochar generally reduced soil nitrous oxide emissions, but this benefit was diminished or even reversed when certain microplastics were present. The study suggests that the combined use of biochar and plastic mulch in agricultural fields can produce unexpected effects on greenhouse gas emissions and soil microbiology.

2025 Biochar 6 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soil: Unveiling their role in shaping soil properties and driving greenhouse gas emissions

This review examines how microplastics in agricultural soils affect carbon and nitrogen cycles and alter greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers found that microplastics reduce soil water retention, decrease soil respiration, and increase emissions of carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The study reveals that microplastic contamination in farmland may have broader climate implications by disrupting the soil processes that regulate greenhouse gas fluxes.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on N2O production and reduction potential in crop soils of northern China

This study examined how polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at concentrations of 0.5 to 3% affect nitrous oxide production and reduction potential in crop soils from northern China. Results showed that microplastic contamination altered N2O fluxes in vegetable soils by disrupting denitrification pathways, with implications for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

2024 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Response of Soil Greenhouse Gases Emissionsto Microplastics Accompanied with Earthwormsand Biochar from a Sandy-Loam Soil

Researchers used a controlled soil experiment to test how PVC microplastics, biochar, and earthworms individually and together affect greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soil, finding that microplastics increased CO2 release while suppressing methane and nitrous oxide. The complex interactions between these factors underscore that microplastic contamination in farmland can have unintended effects on soil carbon and climate.

2025 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effect of microplastics on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle in farmland soil: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis of 102 studies found that microplastics in farmland soil increased soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial biomass nitrogen, but also elevated CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions through enhanced carbon mineralization and denitrification. Microplastic biodegradability, size, concentration, and soil properties all drove these effects, suggesting agricultural microplastic pollution may worsen greenhouse gas emissions from farmland.

2025 Environmental Pollution 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of the coexistence of polystyrene microplastics and pesticide imidacloprid on soil nitrogen transformations and microbial communities

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide imidacloprid on soil nitrogen cycling and microbial communities over 28 days. They found that both pollutants individually and together significantly altered nitrogen transformation processes and shifted microbial community composition. The study suggests that the co-presence of microplastics and pesticides in agricultural soils can create compounding disruptions to essential nutrient cycling.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and biochar interactively affect nitrous oxide emissions from tobacco planting soil

Researchers examined how different types of microplastics from agricultural mulch interact with rice biochar to affect nitrous oxide emissions from tobacco-growing soil in China. They found that the combined effects of microplastics and biochar on soil emissions differed depending on the plastic polymer type, with some combinations reducing emissions while others did not. The study reveals the complex interplay between plastic residues and soil amendments in agricultural greenhouse gas dynamics.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of flumetsulam alone and coexistence with polyethylene microplastics on soil microbial carbon and nitrogen cycles: Elucidation of bacterial community structure, functional gene expression, and enzyme activity

Researchers tested how the herbicide flumetsulam interacts with polyethylene microplastics in soil and found that both individually and together they reduced bacteria and fungi populations. When microplastics were present alongside the herbicide, the soil bacterial community shifted more dramatically, though carbon and nitrogen cycling remained largely unchanged. The study suggests that the combined presence of herbicides and microplastics in agricultural soil creates distinct effects on microbial life compared to either contaminant alone.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Disentangling microplastics effects on soil structure, microbial activity and greenhouse gas emissions

Researchers studied how microplastics affect soil structure, microbial activity, and greenhouse gas emissions, finding complex interactions that depend on microplastic type and concentration. The presence of microplastics in soils can alter the biological processes that regulate carbon storage and nutrient cycling.

2022 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence that co-existing cadmium and microplastics have an antagonistic effect on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy field soils

This study examined how the co-presence of microplastics and cadmium affects greenhouse gas emissions from paddy field soils. Researchers found that polylactic acid and polyethylene microplastics had an antagonistic interaction with cadmium, meaning their combined effect on greenhouse gas emissions was less than expected from either pollutant alone.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on soil C and N cycling with or without interactions with soil amendments or soil fauna

A meta-analysis of soil experiments found that microplastics significantly disrupt carbon and nitrogen cycling — the fundamental processes that keep soils fertile and regulate greenhouse gas emissions — especially when microplastics interact with fertilizers, heavy metals, or soil animals like earthworms. The type of plastic and the presence of other stressors compounded the effects, with some combinations causing substantially greater disruption than either factor alone. This matters because agricultural soils are heavily contaminated with microplastics from mulch films and other sources, threatening both food production and climate regulation.

2023 European Journal of Soil Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose effect of polyethylene microplastics on nitrous oxide emissions from paddy soils cultivated for different periods

Researchers found that high doses of polyethylene microplastics (0.5% or more) significantly increased nitrous oxide emissions from paddy soils by promoting nitrifier and denitrifier activity, while low doses had negligible effects.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of mulch film-derived microplastics and pesticides on soil microbial communities and element cycling

Researchers studied how microplastics from agricultural plastic mulch film interact with commonly used pesticides in cotton field soil. When present together, the pesticides had a stronger impact on soil bacteria than the microplastics alone, and the combination disrupted important nutrient cycling processes for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This matters because farmland contaminated with both microplastics and pesticides may experience compounding damage to soil health, ultimately affecting food production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil denitrification stimulated by macroplastics in maize cultivation

Researchers investigated how macroplastics (plastic debris >2 cm) affect soil nitrogen cycling in maize cultivation through a controlled experiment. Macroplastics stimulated soil denitrification, potentially increasing nitrous oxide emissions and reducing nitrogen availability for crops.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Insights into soil autotrophic ammonium oxidization under microplastics stress: Crossroads of nitrification, comammox, anammox and Feammox

This study found that microplastics in soil disrupted key nitrogen cycling processes carried out by bacteria, including nitrification and other pathways essential for soil fertility. Different types of microplastics had varying effects on the microbial communities responsible for converting nitrogen into forms plants can use. Since nitrogen availability directly affects crop growth, microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could subtly undermine food production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar and Microplastics Affect Microbial Necromass Accumulation and CO2 and N2O Emissions from Soil

Researchers investigated how biochar and polyethylene microplastics interact in soil and found that both reduced CO2 and N2O greenhouse gas emissions, though through different mechanisms. Microplastics decreased emissions primarily by reducing dissolved organic matter and bacterial biomass, while biochar suppressed nitrogen-cycling genes. When combined, microplastics in biochar-treated soil unexpectedly increased microbial necromass carbon by disrupting soil aggregates, revealing complex interactions between these two soil amendments.

2023 ACS ES&T Engineering 31 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 102 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on soil properties, greenhouse gas emission, and element cycling-related genes: Roles of soil bacterial communities and correlation analysis

Researchers investigated how PVC microplastics of different shapes and concentrations affect soil properties, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient cycling. They found that microplastic particles significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions and altered bacterial communities involved in element cycling. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could disrupt important environmental processes including carbon and nitrogen cycling.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 21 citations