Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass

Martine Graf; Lucy M. Greenfield; Michaela K. Reay; Rafael Bargiela; Gwion B. Williams; Charles Onyije; Charlotte E.M. Lloyd; Ian D. Bull; Richard P. Evershed; Peter N. Golyshin; David R. Chadwick; Davey L. Jones

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131932

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Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass

Martine Graf, Lucy M. Greenfield, Michaela K. Reay, Rafael Bargiela, Gwion B. Williams, Charles Onyije, Charlotte E.M. Lloyd, Ian D. Bull, Richard P. Evershed, Peter N. Golyshin, …

Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.458, 131932

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131932

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Abstract

Enzyme activity

Microbial diversity

Nutrient use efficiency

Plastic pollution

PLFAs

Over the last 50 years, the intense use of agricultural plastic in the form of mulch films has led to an accumulation of plastic in soil, creating a legacy of plastic in agricultural fields. Plastic often contains additives, however it is still largely unknown how these compounds affect soil properties, potentially influencing or masking effects of the plastic itself. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pure plastics of varying sizes and concentrations, to improve our understanding of plastic-only interactions within soil-plant mesocosms. Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown over eight weeks following the addition of micro and macro low-density polyethylene and polypropylene at increasing concentrations (equivalent to 1, 10, 25, and 50 years mulch film use) and the effects of plastic on key soil and plant properties were measured. We found the effect of both macro and microplastic on soil and plant health is negligible in the short-term (1 to <10 years). However, ≥ 10 years of plastic application for both plastic types and sizes resulted in a clear negative effect on plant growth and microbial biomass. This study provides vital insight into the effect of both macro and microplastics on soil and plant properties. [Display omitted]

Details

Title: Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass
Authors/Creators: Martine Graf - Bangor University
Lucy M. Greenfield - Bangor University
Michaela K. Reay - University of Bristol
Rafael Bargiela - Bangor University
Gwion B. Williams - Bangor University
Charles Onyije - University of Bristol
Charlotte E.M. Lloyd - University of Bristol
Ian D. Bull - University of Bristol
Richard P. Evershed - University of Bristol
Peter N. Golyshin - Bangor University
David R. Chadwick - Bangor University
Davey L. Jones - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Publication Details: Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.458, 131932
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Identifiers: 991005593769407891
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s).
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning; 3.60.2078 Microplastics
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Engineering