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Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming.

Jie Zhou1, Wenhao Feng2, Robert W Brown3

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Summary

Biodegradable microplastics significantly increase soil organic matter decomposition, negatively impacting carbon storage. This effect, especially with PHBV plastics, enhances carbon release and alters soil microbial activity, posing risks to agricultural soils and global carbon budgets.

Keywords:
Biogeochemical cyclesCarbon sequestrationMicrobial communityMicroplasticsPriming effectSoil organic matter decomposition

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Soil Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • The priming effect, changes in soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition after organic carbon (C) input, influences terrestrial C storage.
  • Microplastics (<5 mm particle size) are pervasive in soils, with conventional and biodegradable plastics containing substantial C.
  • The impact of microplastics on the soil priming effect and associated microbial mechanisms remains largely unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the short-term effects of polyethylene and PHBV microplastics on SOM decomposition and the priming effect.
  • To elucidate the microbial mechanisms driving changes in SOM decomposition induced by microplastic contamination.

Main Methods:

  • Addition of 14C-labeled glucose to soil microcosms containing 1% (w/w) polyethylene or PHBV microplastics.
  • Measurement of cumulative CO2 emissions over a 60-day incubation period.
  • Analysis of microbial community structure (K-strategists) and soil enzyme activities.

Main Results:

  • PHBV-contaminated soil showed 42-53% higher cumulative CO2 emissions compared to polyethylene-contaminated soil.
  • Glucose addition induced a positive priming effect, resulting in a negative net soil C balance regardless of microplastic type.
  • PHBV soils exhibited significantly higher positive priming effects (160 vs. 92 μg C g-1 soil), linked to K-strategist dominance and enhanced recalcitrant SOM decomposition for nitrogen acquisition.

Conclusions:

  • Microplastics, particularly biodegradable PHBV, significantly increase SOM decomposition and alter soil microbial metabolism, leading to reduced C sequestration.
  • The enhanced priming effect in PHBV-soils is attributed to cooperative microbial decomposition of recalcitrant C, driven by nutrient acquisition.
  • Microplastic contamination, especially biodegradable types, poses a threat to agricultural soil carbon budgets and global C cycles due to increased SOM decomposition.