Open AccessPolyester microplastic fibers in soil increase nitrogen loss via leaching and decrease plant biomass production and N uptake
Author(s) -
Rosolino Ingraffia,
Gaetano Amato,
Massimo Iovino,
Matthias C. Rillig,
Dario Giambalvo,
Alfonso Salvatore Frenda
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/ac652d
Subject(s) - agroecosystem , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , nitrogen , contamination , nutrient , agronomy , environmental chemistry , agriculture , soil science , soil water , chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
Microplastic contamination, like other global change factors, can induce effects on ecosystem functions and processes, affecting various soil biophysical properties. However, effects of such contaminants on nutrient cycles in agroecosystems are still poorly understood. We here performed two pot experiments to investigate the effect of polyester microplastic fibers on soil physical properties, nitrogen cycle, and plant performance in a maize-based agroecosystem. Moreover, we followed the N loss via leaching in soil contaminated or not with polyester microplastic fibers by simulating heavy rainfall events that mimic a future scenario of climate change. Our results show that soil contaminated with polyester microplastic fibers (at a concentration of 0.5% w/w) can jeopardize agroecosystem sustainability by affecting soil physical properties and in particular soil macro- and microporosity, the nitrogen cycle, and plant performance. In particular, we found that soil polyester microplastic fiber contamination limited crop growth and N uptake by circa 30%, and consequently increased N loss via leaching. Overall, our findings show that soil contamination with polyester microplastic fibers may pose problems to future agricultural challenges like food security and environmental protection.