Microplastics pollution in soil increases dramatically with long-term application of organic composts in a wheat–maize rotation

Zhang, Jiajia; Wang, Xuexia; Xue, Wentao; Xu, Li; Ding, Wencheng; Zhao, Meng; Liu, Shanjiang; Zou, Guoyuan; Chen, Yanhua

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131889

Cited by 61 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…PS-NPs also influenced the content of photosynthetic pigments in lettuce (Lian et al, 2021a , b ; Yu et al, 2020 ). Similar effects of NPs exposure were observed in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa L.) and Arabidopsis plants (Sun et al, 2020a , b ; Zhang et al, 2022a , b , c , d ). Additionally, the presence of MPs/NPs on the leaf surface may impede photosynthesis activities (due to obstruction of the pore of leaf stomata) as well as other cellular activities in plants.…”

Section: Physiologicalsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…MPs/NPs can interfere with plant growth through morphological alterations in plants. For example, exposure to MPs/NPs of varying sizes altered root morphology in corn (Zhang et al, 2022a , b , c , d ). Because of the presence of MPs/NPs, plant growth parameters such as fresh and dry weights of leaves, roots, and the number of leaves are gradually decreasing (Gao et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Morphologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, the effects of MPs/NPs on plant photosynthesis can be identified by analyzing photosynthetic pigments (Gao et al, 2021a , b ; Huang et al, 2019a , b ). Studies on different crops have revealed a decrease in photosynthesis activities due to MPs/NPs exposure (Tables 1 and 2 ), for example, when PS-based NPs were exposed to corn ( Zea mays ) (Zhang et al, 2022a , b , c , d ) where the chlorophyll content of the plants decreased, indicating that NPs interfered with overall plant health. Furthermore, MPs/NPs influence cucumber mineral elements and alter biochemical or physiological metabolism and mineral contents and act as electron transporters or enzyme activators (Li, Li et al, 2020a , b , c , d , e , f , g ; Lian et al, 2021a , b ).…”

Section: Physiologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

Roy

Dey

Jamal

2022

Environ Monit Assess

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The toxic impact of microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) in plants and the food chain has recently become a top priority. Several research articles highlighted the impact of MPs/NPs on the aquatic food chain; however, very little has been done in the terrestrial ecosystem. A number of studies revealed that MPs/NPs uptake and subsequent translocation in plants alter plant morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic properties to varying degrees. However, there is a research gap regarding MPs/NPs entry into plants, associated factors influencing phytotoxicity levels, and potential remediation plans in terms of food safety and security. To address these issues, all sources of MPs/NPs intrusion in agroecosystems should be revised to avoid these hazardous materials with special consideration as preventive measures. Furthermore, this review focuses on the routes of accumulation and transmission of MPs/NPs into plant tissues, related aspects influencing the intensity of plant stress, and potential solutions to improve food quality and quantity. This paper also concludes by providing an outlook approach of applying exogenous melatonin and introducing engineered plants that would enhance stress tolerance against MPs/NPs. In addition, an overview of inoculation of beneficial microorganisms and encapsulated enzymes in soil has been addressed, which would make the degradation of MPs/NPs faster. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Physiologicalsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Morphologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Physiologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

Roy

Dey

Jamal

2022

Environ Monit Assess

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“…For example, 50,000 particles kg −1 have been detected in sludge applied to agricultural land in Valencia, compared with 900 particles kg −1 recorded in Guilin, China (van den Berg et al, 2020; Zhang, Cai, et al, 2022). Likewise, chicken manure has been observed to contain 14,720–129,800 particles kg −1 (Zhang, Wang, et al, 2022), a commonly used field amendment. Contributions from non‐agricultural inputs such as littering, fluvial sources and atmospheric deposition, as well as indirect plastic applications such as wastewater, farmyard manure, inorganic fertiliser, compost harvesting crates and pesticide containers, amongst others, may also contribute to microplastic concentrations in agricultural systems (Zhang, Wang, et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A nationwide assessment of microplastic abundance in agricultural soils: The influence of plastic crop covers within the United Kingdom

Cusworth,

Davies,

McAinsh

et al. 2023

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementAgricultural soils are substantial receptors of plastic pollution. Plastic crop covers, a facet of agriplastics, may represent an important contribution to microplastic load in agricultural soils. The authors present a nationwide study of agricultural soils in the United Kingdom, comparing microplastic load between sites where plastic crop covers are and are not used for carrot and potato production. Sites where plastic crop covers were used received a higher microplastic load compared with sites where no plastic crop cover was used. The effects of microplastic pollution are largely unknown, requiring further research to determine the impact on soil, crop and human health.Summary Agricultural soils are substantial receptors of plastic pollution, with agriplastics potentially making an important contribution to the overall microplastic load to agricultural soils. The intensive use and mismanagement of plastic crop covers, particularly plastic mulch films, nets and fleeces, represent a pollution pathway. In this study, we have analysed the microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils in 324 samples from 108 sites across the United Kingdom, where carrots or potatoes were grown, using a combined digestion and density separation method. Microplastics were stained with Nile Red and quantified using fluorescence microscopy. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 1320 to 8190 particles kg−1, with a mean of 3680 ± 129.1 particles kg−1. Where no plastic crop covers were used for potato and carrot production, a mean of 2667 ± 84.1 particles kg−1 were detected. At sites where plastic crop covers were used in the past 10 years, a mean of 4689 ± 147.1 particles kg−1 were recorded. There was a significant difference in microplastic abundance between sites where plastic crop covers were and were not used (p ≤ 0.001), confirming that plastic crop covers are an important source of microplastics to agricultural soils. Further studies are needed to investigate microplastic occurrence in the environment to better understand their impact on soil, crops and human health.

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“…Pollution by microplastics is currently a serious environmental problem that receives increasing attention worldwide ( Corradini et al., 2019 ; Roy et al., 2022 ; Zhang et al., 2022 ). Studies have shown that microplastics in soils can have profound impacts on survival, growth, morphology and physiology of individual plants ( de Souza Machado et al., 2018a ; Rillig et al., 2019 ; Pignattelli et al., 2020 ), likely via their effects on soil physico-chemical properties and soil microbial communities ( de Souza Machado et al., 2018b ; Wan et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics influences productivity and species composition of plant communities

Zhang

Cao²,

He³

et al. 2022

Front. Plant Sci.

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Contamination of soils by microplastics can have profound ecological impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and has received increasing attention. However, few studies have considered the impacts of soil microplastics on plant communities and none has tested the impacts of spatial heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics in the soil on plant communities. We grew experimental plant communities in soils with either a homogeneous or a heterogeneous distribution of each of six common microplastics, i.e., polystyrene foam (EPS), polyethylene fiber (PET), polyethylene bead (HDPE), polypropylene fiber (PP), polylactic bead (PLA) and polyamide bead (PA6). The heterogeneous treatment consisted of two soil patches without microplastics and two with a higher (0.2%) concentration of microplastics, and the homogeneous treatment consisted of four patches all with a lower (0.1%) concentration of microplastics. Thus, the total amounts of microplastics in the soils were exactly the same in the two treatments. Total and root biomass of the plant communities were significantly higher in the homogeneous than in the heterogeneous treatment when the microplastic was PET and PP, smaller when it was PLA, but not different when it was EPS, HDPE or PA6. In the heterogeneous treatment, total and root biomass were significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was EPS, but greater when the microplastic was PET or PP. Additionally, in the heterogeneous treatment, root biomass was significantly smaller in the patches with than without microplastics when the microplastic was HDPE, and shoot biomass was also significantly smaller when the microplastic was EPS or PET. The heterogeneous distribution of EPS in the soil significantly decreased community evenness, but the heterogeneous distribution of PET increased it. We conclude that soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics can influence productivity and species composition of plant communities, but such an effect varies depending on microplastic chemical composition (types) and morphology (shapes).

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Microplastics pollution in soil increases dramatically with long-term application of organic composts in a wheat–maize rotation

Cited by 61 publications

References 59 publications

Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

Microplastic/nanoplastic toxicity in plants: an imminent concern

A nationwide assessment of microplastic abundance in agricultural soils: The influence of plastic crop covers within the United Kingdom

Soil heterogeneity in the horizontal distribution of microplastics influences productivity and species composition of plant communities

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