Effect of Multiyear Biodegradable Plastic Mulch on Soil Microbial Community, Assembly, and Functioning

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Soil science
• Bioremediation

Background:

• Biodegradable plastics like polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) are increasingly used in agriculture.
• Concerns exist regarding the long-term environmental effects of these materials on soil ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the multiyear effects of PBAT mulch on soil bacterial and fungal communities.
• To understand the assembly mechanisms and ecological functions of these microbial communities under PBAT treatment.
• To assess the implications for soil health and sustainable agricultural practices.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of microbial community diversity and composition over multiple years of PBAT application.
• Null model analysis to determine bacterial and fungal community assembly processes.
• Assessment of key soil microbial functions, including carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling.

Main Results:

• Multiyear PBAT mulch significantly altered microbial community diversity and composition.
• Enrichment of specific genera like *Pantoea* (bacteria) and *Cephaliophora*, *Stephanosporaceae* (fungi) observed.
• Bacterial assembly dominated by deterministic processes, while fungal assembly was more stochastic.
• PBAT enhanced aerobic bacterial biofilm formation, altered nutrient cycling functions, and increased saprotrophic fungi, but also potentially pathogenic fungi.

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable plastics induce significant multiyear ecological impacts on soil microbial communities.
• Microbial communities show adaptation to plastic degradation, altering essential ecological functions.
• Findings have implications for agricultural sustainability and the development of bioremediation strategies.