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Updated: Sep 18, 2025

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Microplastic composition-dependent effects on N2O emissions driven by changes in soil N process and microbial

Ziheng Zou1, Qidong Yu2, Jinyang Wang2

  • 1Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.

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|June 25, 2025
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Summary

Biodegradable and conventional microplastics (MPs) impact soil microbes and nitrogen cycling. While MPs reduce nitrous oxide emissions in plant-soil systems, their effects vary by plastic type and concentration, influencing sustainable agriculture practices.

Keywords:
AgroecosystemBiodegradable plasticsMicrobial community structurePlastisphereSafe and sustainable agricultureSoil nitrogen cycling

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Soil Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Agricultural plastic pollution is a growing concern, with biodegradable microplastics (MPs) proposed as alternatives.
  • The impact of biodegradable MPs on soil microbial functions and nitrogen cycling remains largely unknown.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing the environmental safety of biodegradable plastics in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of biodegradable (polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate; PLA and PBAT) and conventional (polyethylene; PE) MPs on plant growth, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and soil microbial communities.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which different MPs influence nitrogen cycling processes.
  • To compare MP effects in a plant-soil system with findings from plant-free studies and conduct a meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

  • A 80-day microcosm experiment using coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) with varying types and concentrations of MPs (PLA, PBAT, PE).
  • Analysis of soil microbial diversity (α diversity) and functional structure (plastisphere vs. bulk soil).
  • Measurement of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and quantification of key functional genes involved in nitrification and denitrification (nosZ, nirK/S, amoA).
  • A meta-analysis of 14 existing plant-soil studies on MP impacts on N2O emissions.

Main Results:

  • MP composition significantly altered microbial communities, with PBAT causing the most pronounced changes, affecting enzyme activity and ammonium availability, thereby increasing plant biomass.
  • All tested MPs (0.05% w/w) significantly reduced N2O emissions, with PE, PLA, and PBAT showing reductions of 31.5%, 19.1%, and 16.5%, respectively.
  • Mechanisms of N2O reduction varied: PE promoted complete denitrification by increasing nosZ, PLA suppressed N2O via nirK inhibition (dose-dependent), and PBAT inhibited nitrification and denitrification potential by reducing amoA and nirK/S genes.
  • Contrary to plant-free studies, this plant-soil system exhibited suppressed nitrification and substrate-limited denitrification.
  • Meta-analysis confirmed a significant average reduction of 21.9% in N2O emissions in vegetated systems due to MPs.

Conclusions:

  • Microplastic type and concentration exert composition- and dose-dependent effects on soil microbial nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas fluxes.
  • Biodegradable MPs, while reducing N2O emissions, can alter soil microbial functions in complex ways, necessitating careful design and application in agriculture.
  • Findings underscore the importance of considering plant-microbe-plastic interactions for sustainable agricultural practices and the development of environmentally safe plastics.