Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil
Abstract Microplastic (MP) pollution in agricultural soils, resulting from the use of plastic mulch, compost, and sewage sludge, jeopardizes the soil microbial populations. However, the effects of MPs on soil chemical properties and microbial communities remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42285-w |
| _version_ | 1797453164694208512 |
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| author | Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya Mee Kyung Sang Ali El-Naggar Liang Shi Scott X. Chang Jwakyung Sung Wei Zhang Yong Sik Ok |
| author_facet | Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya Mee Kyung Sang Ali El-Naggar Liang Shi Scott X. Chang Jwakyung Sung Wei Zhang Yong Sik Ok |
| author_sort | Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microplastic (MP) pollution in agricultural soils, resulting from the use of plastic mulch, compost, and sewage sludge, jeopardizes the soil microbial populations. However, the effects of MPs on soil chemical properties and microbial communities remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentration levels (0, 0.1, 1, 3, 5, and 7%; w:w) of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs on the chemical properties and bacterial communities of agricultural soil in an incubation study. The addition of LDPE MPs did not drastically change soil pH (ranging from 8.22 to 8.42). Electrical conductivity increased significantly when the LDPE MP concentrations were between 1 and 7%, whereas the total exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) decreased significantly at higher LDPE MP concentrations (3–7%). The highest available phosphorus content (2.13 mg kg−1) was observed in 0.1% LDPE MP. Bacterial richness (Chao1 and Ace indices) was the lowest at 0.1% LDPE MP, and diversity indices (Shannon and Invsimpson) were higher at 0 and 1% LDPE MP than at other concentrations. The effect of LDPE MP concentrations on bacterial phyla remained unchanged, but the bacterial abundance varied. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria (25.8–33.0%) was the highest in all treatments. The abundance of Acidobacteria (15.8–17.2%) was also high, particularly in the 0, 0.1, and 1% LDPE MPs. With the increase in LDPE MP concentration, the abundance of Actinobacteria gradually increased from 7.80 to 31.8%. Our findings suggest that different MP concentration levels considerably alter soil chemical properties and microbial composition, which may potentially change the ecological functions of soil ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:18:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce2d40fd46ee4ca8a2650a74cb6d4d16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:18:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce2d40fd46ee4ca8a2650a74cb6d4d162023-11-26T12:57:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-09-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-42285-wLow-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soilKumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya0Mee Kyung Sang1Ali El-Naggar2Liang Shi3Scott X. Chang4Jwakyung Sung5Wei Zhang6Yong Sik Ok7Korea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea UniversityDivision of Agricultural Microbiology, Rural Development Administration, National Institute of Agricultural ScienceDepartment of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of AlbertaDepartment of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, Life Science and Environmental Chemistry, Chungbuk National UniversityKorea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea UniversityKorea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea UniversityAbstract Microplastic (MP) pollution in agricultural soils, resulting from the use of plastic mulch, compost, and sewage sludge, jeopardizes the soil microbial populations. However, the effects of MPs on soil chemical properties and microbial communities remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentration levels (0, 0.1, 1, 3, 5, and 7%; w:w) of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs on the chemical properties and bacterial communities of agricultural soil in an incubation study. The addition of LDPE MPs did not drastically change soil pH (ranging from 8.22 to 8.42). Electrical conductivity increased significantly when the LDPE MP concentrations were between 1 and 7%, whereas the total exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) decreased significantly at higher LDPE MP concentrations (3–7%). The highest available phosphorus content (2.13 mg kg−1) was observed in 0.1% LDPE MP. Bacterial richness (Chao1 and Ace indices) was the lowest at 0.1% LDPE MP, and diversity indices (Shannon and Invsimpson) were higher at 0 and 1% LDPE MP than at other concentrations. The effect of LDPE MP concentrations on bacterial phyla remained unchanged, but the bacterial abundance varied. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria (25.8–33.0%) was the highest in all treatments. The abundance of Acidobacteria (15.8–17.2%) was also high, particularly in the 0, 0.1, and 1% LDPE MPs. With the increase in LDPE MP concentration, the abundance of Actinobacteria gradually increased from 7.80 to 31.8%. Our findings suggest that different MP concentration levels considerably alter soil chemical properties and microbial composition, which may potentially change the ecological functions of soil ecosystems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42285-w |
| spellingShingle | Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya Mee Kyung Sang Ali El-Naggar Liang Shi Scott X. Chang Jwakyung Sung Wei Zhang Yong Sik Ok Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil Scientific Reports |
| title | Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| title_full | Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| title_fullStr | Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| title_short | Low-density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| title_sort | low density polyethylene microplastics alter chemical properties and microbial communities in agricultural soil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42285-w |
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