Plastisphere denitrification dynamics shaped by soil acidification: Microbial Community and activity responses
Yu-Chen Li1, Sha Zhao2, Hu Li2
1State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|April 7, 2026
Summary
Soil acidification and plastic type influence nitrogen cycling. Polylactic acid (PLA) plastispheres enhance denitrification more than polyethylene (PE) under acidic conditions, impacting nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Soil Science
- Agroecosystem Ecology
Background:
- Soil acidification impairs agroecosystem health.
- Plastic residues in soil create unique microbial habitats (plastispheres).
- The role of plastisphere microbes in nitrogen transformations under acidification is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how plastisphere microbial communities mediate denitrification under soil acidification.
- To compare the effects of polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) on nitrogen cycling.
- To understand the influence of soil pH on nitrous oxide (N2O) production pathways.
Main Methods:
- Microcosm experiments across a soil pH gradient (4.17-7.82).
- Acetylene inhibition, N2O isotopocule analysis, and single-cell Raman D2O probing.
- Bacterial (16S rRNA) and eukaryotic (18S rRNA) gene sequencing.
Main Results:
- Both PE and PLA plastispheres increased denitrification and N2O emissions compared to bulk soil.
- PLA plastispheres showed stronger denitrification enhancement under acidic conditions.
- The N2O production pathway shifted from fungal to bacterial denitrification as soil pH decreased.
- PLA plastispheres maintained higher microbial activity under low pH stress.
- Acidification reduced microbial diversity but PLA plastispheres resisted these changes better.
Conclusions:
- Soil pH and plastic type are key factors regulating plastisphere microbial communities and function.
- Plastisphere microbes, particularly under PLA, play a significant role in nitrogen cycling in acidifying soils.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for managing agroecosystems affected by plastic pollution and acidification.
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