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
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c10247Altmetric score:
Dimensions Citation Count:
Publication year
2024
Authors
Iqbal, S.; Xu, J.; Arif, M.S.; Worthy, F.R.; Jones, D.L.; Khan, S.; Alharbi, S.A.; Filimonenko, E.; Nadir, S.; Bu, D.; Shakoor, A.; Gui, H.; Schaefer, D.A.; Kuzyakov, Y.
Language
English
Keywords
soil properties, soil organic carbon, nutrient cycling, soil analysis, soil ecosystems, microplastics
