articleEnvironmental Science & TechnologyApr 25, 2019HYBRID OA

Microplastics Can Change Soil Properties and Affect Plant Performance

Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries · Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research · +4 more institutions

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Abstract

Microplastics can affect biophysical properties of the soil. However, little is known about the cascade of events in fundamental levels of terrestrial ecosystems, i.e., starting with the changes in soil abiotic properties and propagating across the various components of soil-plant interactions, including soil microbial communities and plant traits. We investigated here the effects of six different microplastics (polyester fibers, polyamide beads, and four fragment types: polyethylene, polyester terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene) on a broad suite of proxies for soil health and performance of spring onion ( Allium fistulosum). Significant changes were observed in plant biomass, tissue elemental…

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