Do added microplastics, native soil properties, and prevailing climatic conditions have consequences for carbon and nitrogen contents in soil? a global data synthesis of pot and greenhouse studies

Shahid Iqbal, Jianchu Xu, Muhammad Saleem Arif, Fiona R. Worthy, Davey L. Jones, Sehroon Khan, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Ekaterina Filimonenko, Sadia Nadir, Dengpan Bu, Awais Shakoor, Heng Gui, Douglas Allen Schaefer, Yakov Kuzyakov

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    9 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Microplastics threaten soil ecosystems, strongly influencing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents. Interactions between microplastic properties and climatic and edaphic factors are poorly understood. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the interactive effects of microplastic properties (type, shape, size, and content), native soil properties (texture, pH, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) and climatic factors (precipitation and temperature) on C and N contents in soil. We found that low-density polyethylene reduced total nitrogen (TN) content, whereas biodegradable polylactic acid led to a decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC). Microplastic fragments especially depleted TN, reducing aggregate stability, increasing N-mineralization and leaching, and consequently increasing the soil C/N ratio. Microplastic size affected outcomes; those <200 μm reduced both TN and SOC contents. Mineralization-induced nutrient losses were greatest at microplastic contents between 1 and 2.5% of soil weight. Sandy soils suffered the highest microplastic contamination-induced nutrient depletion. Alkaline soils showed the greatest SOC depletion, suggesting high SOC degradability. In low-DOC soils, microplastic contamination caused 2-fold greater TN depletion than in soils with high DOC. Sites with high precipitation and temperature had greatest decrease in TN and SOC contents. In conclusion, there are complex interactions determining microplastic impacts on soil health. Microplastic contamination always risks soil C and N depletion, but the severity depends on microplastic characteristics, native soil properties, and climatic conditions, with potential exacerbation by greenhouse emission-induced climate change.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)8464-8479
    Number of pages16
    JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
    Volume58
    Issue number19
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 14 May 2024

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2024 American Chemical Society.

    Keywords

    • ecosystem response
    • emerging pollutant
    • nutrient cycling
    • soil health
    • soil organic matter

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