Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • 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

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Nanjing Agricultural University
  • Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
  • Bangor University
  • University of Tübingen
  • Kunming Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number176273
Number of pages11
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume954
Early online date14 Sept 2024
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 14 Sept 2024

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.

Keywords

    Biogeochemical cycles, Carbon sequestration, Microbial community, Microplastics, Priming effect, Soil organic matter decomposition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming. / Zhou, Jie; Feng, Wenhao; Brown, Robert W. et al.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 954, 176273, 01.12.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Zhou, J, Feng, W, Brown, RW, Yang, H, Shao, G, Shi, L, Gui, H, Xu, J, Li, FM, Jones, DL & Zamanian, K 2024, 'Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 954, 176273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176273
Zhou, J., Feng, W., Brown, R. W., Yang, H., Shao, G., Shi, L., Gui, H., Xu, J., Li, F. M., Jones, D. L., & Zamanian, K. (2024). Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming. Science of the Total Environment, 954, Article 176273. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176273
Zhou J, Feng W, Brown RW, Yang H, Shao G, Shi L et al. Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming. Science of the Total Environment. 2024 Dec 1;954:176273. Epub 2024 Sept 14. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176273
Zhou, Jie ; Feng, Wenhao ; Brown, Robert W. et al. / Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming. In: Science of the Total Environment. 2024 ; Vol. 954.
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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.",
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AU - Zhou, Jie

AU - Feng, Wenhao

AU - Brown, Robert W.

AU - Yang, Haishui

AU - Shao, Guodong

AU - Shi, Lingling

AU - Gui, Heng

AU - Xu, Jianchu

AU - Li, Feng Min

AU - Jones, Davey L.

AU - Zamanian, Kazem

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024

PY - 2024/9/14

Y1 - 2024/9/14

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