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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Differential impacts of microplastics on carbon and nitrogen cycling in plant-soil systems: A meta-analysis
ClearEffect 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.
Effect of microplastics on soil greenhouse gas emissions: A global meta-analysis study
This global meta-analysis found that microplastic exposure in soil decreased nitrous oxide emissions by 28.5% and increased methane emissions by 28.6%, though neither change was statistically significant overall. Effects varied dramatically depending on microplastic shape, concentration, soil type, and pH, with fiber-shaped microplastics reducing CO2 emissions by 40% while microplastics in sandy soils increased CO2 by 21%.
Microplastics alter soil carbon cycling: Effects on carbon storage, CO 2 and CH 4 emission and microbial community
This systematic review examines how microplastics in soil affect carbon cycling, including greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage. The effects depend heavily on plastic type and size, with biodegradable plastics generally having a bigger impact. Understanding these soil-level changes matters because disrupted carbon cycles can worsen climate change, which in turn affects the food and water systems we all depend on.
Recent Insights into Microplastic Pollution and Its Effects on Soil Carbon: A Five-Year Ecosystem Review
This review of 46 studies examines how microplastics influence carbon cycling in different soil ecosystems. The majority of studies reported increased CO2 and methane emissions in soils containing microplastics, though some found opposite or neutral effects depending on soil type and the characteristics of the microplastics, highlighting the need for further research to understand these complex interactions.
Microplastic pollution promotes soil respiration: A global‐scale meta‐analysis
This global meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies and found that microplastic pollution in soil increased CO2 emissions by 25%. Microplastics boost certain soil microbes while reducing overall microbial diversity, changing how carbon cycles through the environment. While focused on soil health, this research shows how widespread microplastic pollution is reshaping ecosystems in ways that could ultimately affect climate and agriculture.
Microplastic effects on carbon cycling in terrestrial soil ecosystems: Storage, formation, mineralization, and microbial mechanisms
Microplastics in soil contribute to organic carbon storage through degradation and leaching, but also disrupt carbon cycling by altering plant growth, litter decomposition, and microbial activity. The net effect on soil CO2 and CH4 emissions varies depending on how microplastics reshape microbial community structure and enzyme activity.
Meta-analysis shows that microplastics affect ecosystem services in terrestrial environments
This meta-analysis of 128 studies found that microplastics reduce plant productivity by 14.5%, microbial biodiversity by 3.4%, and soil fertility by 8.2% in terrestrial ecosystems, while increasing soil carbon sequestration by 12.2%. Fiber- and fragment-shaped microplastics were particularly harmful to plant productivity, and plant productivity was inversely correlated with carbon sequestration, suggesting complex trade-offs.
Do Added Microplastics, Native Soil Properties, and Prevailing Climatic Conditions Have Consequences for Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Soil? A Global Data Synthesis of Pot and Greenhouse Studies
This meta-analysis examined how microplastics affect carbon and nitrogen levels in soil, which are key to soil fertility. The results show that certain types of plastics — especially smaller, fiber-shaped particles — can significantly alter soil chemistry, potentially affecting crop growth and soil health.
Microplastic effects on carbon cycling processes in soils
Researchers reviewed how microplastics affect carbon cycling processes in soils, including their influence on microbial activity, plant growth, and litter decomposition. Since microplastics are themselves carbon-based materials, they can directly alter soil carbon stocks while also indirectly shifting microbial communities. The study calls for a major research effort to understand the widespread effects of microplastics on soil functioning and terrestrial ecosystem health.
Evidence synthesis of soil carbon dynamics: A multi-scale meta-analysis integrating land-use change, conservation practices, and environmental stressors
This multi-scale meta-analysis found that microplastic contamination enhanced nitrogen-cycling enzyme activities by 7-8% and altered soil organic carbon dynamics in polymer-specific patterns, alongside findings that grassland restoration increases soil carbon by 16% and no-tillage with residue retention boosts it by 13%. The results highlight microplastics as an emerging environmental stressor that interacts with land management practices to shape soil carbon storage.
Microplastics in plant-soil ecosystems: A meta-analysis
This first formal meta-analysis of microplastics in plant-soil systems found that microplastics made soils more porous and water-retentive but decreased aggregate stability and microbial diversity, suggesting plastics occupy physical space without integrating into the soil biophysical matrix. Maize was more sensitive than rice or wheat, and microplastics enhanced soil CO2 flux and evapotranspiration while reducing N2O flux.
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.
Microplastics and Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Critical Reflection on Meta-Analyses
This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to assess whether microplastics in agricultural soil affect greenhouse gas emissions. The findings reveal that the environmental impact of microplastics extends beyond direct toxicity, as they may alter soil microbial activity in ways that contribute to climate change.
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.
Can microplastics mediate soil properties, plant growth and carbon/nitrogen turnover in the terrestrial ecosystem?
This review assessed evidence for microplastic effects on soil properties, plant growth, and carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics were found to alter soil structure, water retention, microbial activity, and nutrient cycling, with cascading effects on plant growth and soil organic matter turnover.
Micro/nanoplastics pollution poses a potential threat to soil health
This large meta-analysis of over 5,000 observations found that micro- and nanoplastics in soil harm crop growth, soil organisms, and microbial communities while increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The findings suggest that plastic pollution poses a broad threat to soil health, which could ultimately affect food production and human well-being.
Effects of microplastics on soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in the context of straw incorporation: A comparison with different types of soil
Researchers combined microplastic treatments with straw incorporation in different soil types and measured effects on soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, finding that microplastics altered carbon cycling and in some soils increased CO2 and N2O emissions.
Effects of plastic residues and microplastics on soil ecosystems: A global meta-analysis
Global meta-analysis of 6,223 observations found that plastic residues and microplastics decreased soil water movement by 14%, dissolved organic carbon by 10%, and total nitrogen by 7%, while reducing plant height by 13% and root biomass by 14%. Soil animal body mass and reproduction decreased by 5% and 11% respectively, though soil enzyme activity increased by 7-441%.
Microplastics andSoil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: ACritical Reflection on Meta-Analyses
This meta-analysis found that different types of microplastics in agricultural soil affect greenhouse gas emissions in varying ways, with some plastics increasing methane and carbon dioxide output. While focused on environmental impact rather than direct health effects, the findings highlight how microplastic contamination of farmland can have far-reaching consequences for both climate and food production.
Could soil microplastic pollution exacerbate climate change? A meta-analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming potential
The first meta-analysis linking soil microplastic pollution to greenhouse gas emissions found that microplastics increased overall emissions, with the strongest effect being a 60% increase in methane. Polyethylene caused the highest methane emissions, phenol-formaldehyde had the greatest global warming potential via nitrous oxide, and greenhouse gas emissions rose sharply when soil microplastic content exceeded 0.5%.
Microplastics andSoil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: ACritical Reflection on Meta-Analyses
This meta-analysis examines whether microplastics in agricultural soil affect greenhouse gas emissions. While focused on environmental impact rather than direct human health, it matters because microplastics in farm soil can enter the food supply and contribute to broader climate and health concerns.
A Double‐Edged Sword of Biodegradable Microplastics on the Soil Microbial Carbon Pump
Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics in soil had a double-edged effect: they increased carbon dioxide emissions (contributing to greenhouse gases) but also boosted the efficiency of soil microbes at storing carbon in stable forms. This suggests microplastic pollution in farmland has complex environmental consequences that go beyond simple contamination, potentially affecting both climate change and long-term soil health.
The impacts of microplastics on the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in terrestrial soil ecosystems: Progress and prospects
This review examines how microplastics in soil affect the cycling of carbon and nitrogen, two elements essential for plant growth and soil health. Microplastics alter soil microbial communities and enzyme activity in ways that change greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient availability, which could ultimately affect crop production and the food supply.
Global Responses of Soil Carbon Dynamics to Microplastic Exposure: A Data Synthesis of Laboratory Studies
This meta-analysis combined data from 110 studies to understand how microplastics change the way carbon moves through soil. The findings suggest that plastic pollution can disrupt natural soil processes, which may affect soil health and the planet's ability to store carbon.