Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming

authored by: Jie Zhou, Wenhao Feng, Robert W. Brown, Haishui Yang, Guodong Shao, Lingling Shi, Heng Gui, Jianchu Xu, Feng Min Li, Davey L. Jones, Kazem Zamanian
Abstract: The priming effect, i.e., the changes in soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition following fresh organic carbon (C) inputs is known to influence C storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics (particle size <5 mm) are ubiquitous in soils due to the increasing use and often inadequate end-of-life management of plastics. Conventional polyethylene and bio-degradable (PHBV) plastics contain large amounts of C within their molecular structure, which can be assimilated by microorganisms. However, the extent and direction of the potential priming effect induced by microplastics is unclear. As such, we added ¹⁴C-labeled glucose to investigate how background polyethylene and PHBV microplastics (1 %, w/w) affect SOM decomposition and its potential microbial mechanisms in a short-term. The cumulative CO₂ emission in soil contaminated with PHBV was 42–53 % higher than under Polyethylene contaminated soil after 60-day incubation. Addition of glucose increased SOM decomposition and induced a positive priming effect, as a consequence, caused a negative net soil C balance (−59 to −132 μg C g⁻¹ soil) regardless of microplastic types. K-strategists dominated in the PHBV-contaminated soils and induced 72 % higher positive priming effects as compared to Polyethylene-contaminated soils (160 vs. 92 μg C g⁻¹ soil). This was attributed to the enhanced decomposition of recalcitrant SOM to acquire nitrogen. The stronger priming effect associated in PHBVs can be attributed to cooperative decomposition among fungi and bacteria, which metabolize more recalcitrant C in PHBV. Moreover, comparatively higher calorespirometric ratios, lower substrate use efficiency, and larger enzyme activity but shorter turnover time of enzymes indicated that soil contaminated with PHBV release more energy, and have a more efficient microbial catabolism and are more efficient in SOM decomposition and nutrient resource uptake. Overall, microplastics, (especially bio-degradable microplastics) can alter biogeochemical cycles with significant negative consequences for C sequestration via increasing SOM decomposition in agricultural soils and for regional and global C budgets.
Organisation(s): Institute of Soil Science
External Organisation(s): Nanjing Agricultural University
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bangor University
University of Tübingen
Kunming Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences
Type: Article
Journal: Science of the Total Environment
Volume: 954
No. of pages: 11
ISSN: 0048-9697
Publication date: 14.09.2024
Publication status: E-pub ahead of print
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Waste Management and Disposal, Pollution
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 15 - Life on Land
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176273 (Access: Closed)