Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi 712100, China.
J Hazard Mater. 2024 Jan 5;461:132619. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132619. Epub 2023 Sep 23.
Agricultural plastic mulch is a major microplastics (MPs) source in terrestrial ecosystems. However, knowledge about the aging characteristics of mulch-derived MPs entering natural and agricultural soils and their effects on phthalate esters (PAEs) and organic carbon fractions is still limited. Black (contains black masterbatches) and white polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable (Bio, Poly propylene carbonate and Polybutylene adipate terephthalate synthetic material (PPC+PBAT)) mulch-derived MPs, at 0.3% (w/w) dose, were added to grassland and farmland soils for eight-week incubation. Microplastic (MP) aging degree was explored by quantifying the carbonyl index (CI). The soil PAEs and organic carbon fractions were also analyzed. After incubation, black and white PE-MP aged greater in farmland than in grassland. PAEs accumulated highest in PE-MP treatment (5.27-6.41 mg kg) followed by Bio-MP (1.88-2.38 mg kg). Soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were reduced by 5.3%-8.2%, 31.8%-41.6%, and 39.7%-63.0%, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was increased by 10.1%-27.6% in grassland containing MP compared to control. MPs' aging degree promoted PAEs content or altered nutrients, then regulated soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity directly or indirectly, ultimately affecting SOC. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Microplastics are persistent environmental pollutants that gradually undergo surface aging in response to extracellular enzymes secreted by microorganisms. As microplastics age, their surface roughness and functional groups change; thus, organochemical contaminants gradually leach out. Therefore, this study analyzed the aging of mulch film-derived microplastics under the action of diverse microorganisms in farmland and grassland soils and the effect on plasticizer and organic carbon fractions. The results proved that polyethylene microplastic aging degree was highest in farmland soil. Besides, biodegradable microplastic caused lower contamination of phthalate esters than polyethylene, but they affected soil carbon balance in grassland and farmland soils. STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: This study highlights that MPs affect organic carbon fractions by influencing the PAEs, available nutrients, and extracellular enzyme activity.
农业塑料地膜是陆地生态系统中主要的微塑料(MPs)来源。然而,关于进入自然和农业土壤的地膜衍生 MPs 的老化特征及其对邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)和有机碳组分的影响的知识仍然有限。黑色(含黑色母粒)和白色聚乙烯(PE)以及可生物降解(生物,聚碳酸丙二醇酯和聚对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯合成材料(PPC+PBAT))地膜衍生 MPs,以 0.3%(w/w)的剂量添加到草原和农田土壤中进行 8 周的孵育。通过量化羰基指数(CI)来探索微塑料(MP)的老化程度。还分析了土壤 PAEs 和有机碳组分。孵育后,农田中黑色和白色 PE-MP 的老化程度大于草原。PE-MP 处理中 PAEs 积累最高(5.27-6.41 mg kg),其次是生物-MP(1.88-2.38 mg kg)。与对照相比,含有 MP 的草原土壤中土壤有机碳(SOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)和微生物生物量碳(MBC)分别减少了 5.3%-8.2%、31.8%-41.6%和 39.7%-63.0%,溶解有机碳(DOC)增加了 10.1%-27.6%。MP 的老化程度促进了 PAEs 含量或改变了养分,然后直接或间接调节土壤微生物生物量和胞外酶活性,最终影响 SOC。环境影响:微塑料是持久性环境污染物,它们会逐渐发生表面老化,以响应微生物分泌的细胞外酶。随着微塑料老化,其表面粗糙度和官能团发生变化;因此,有机化学污染物逐渐浸出。因此,本研究分析了农田和草原土壤中不同微生物作用下地膜衍生微塑料的老化及其对增塑剂和有机碳组分的影响。结果证明,聚乙烯微塑料在农田土壤中的老化程度最高。此外,可生物降解微塑料对邻苯二甲酸酯的污染低于聚乙烯,但它们影响了草原和农田土壤的碳平衡。环境影响说明:本研究表明, MPs 通过影响 PAEs、有效养分和胞外酶活性来影响有机碳组分。