Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 116566 |
Journal | GEODERMA |
Volume | 437 |
Early online date | 16 Jun 2023 |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2023 |
Abstract
Environmental contamination with microplastics (MP, 0.1 µm – 5 mm diameter) potentially threatens various soil functions and agricultural production. In this study we evaluated the effects of MP on physical soil parameters (saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention and water repellency) at MP concentrations (0.5 to 2 % w/w) that have been reported for farmland soils. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) of three sizes ranging between 0.5 and 3 mm diameter, were mixed with loess topsoil material from an agriculturally used Luvisol. Results show that increasing MP concentration decreased the saturated hydraulic conductivity (ksat) compared to the control soil (without MP), irrespective of MP type. The highest reduction of ksat was found for the highest concentration (2 %) and the largest size MP (approx. 3 mm diameter). Compared to the control, MP addition significantly decreased soil water retention with increasing concentration. In contrast, air capacity was increased with MP addition where strongest effect was found for largest PET particles at the highest concentration. Soil water repellency (measured as Wilhelmy Plate contact angles) was increased at a concentration of 2 % and for MP sizes > 1 mm, while no effect was observed for lower concentrations and smaller MP. In conclusion, MP type, size, and concentration did affect key soil physical parameters, likely to negatively influence plant growth in contaminated soils.
Keywords
- Hydraulic conductivity, Hydrophobicity, Luvisol, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polystyrene, Soil water retention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: GEODERMA, Vol. 437, 116566, 09.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Microplastics effects on wettability, pore sizes and saturated hydraulic conductivity of a loess topsoil
AU - Shafea, Leila
AU - Felde, Vincent J.M.N.L.
AU - Woche, Susanne Karoline
AU - Bachmann, Jörg
AU - Peth, Stephan
N1 - Funding Information: We appreciate the helpful laboratory assistance from the Institute of Materials Engineering, Plastics Technology of Kassel University and Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Heim, the head of that institute, for their support in microplastic preparation for our experiment.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Environmental contamination with microplastics (MP, 0.1 µm – 5 mm diameter) potentially threatens various soil functions and agricultural production. In this study we evaluated the effects of MP on physical soil parameters (saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention and water repellency) at MP concentrations (0.5 to 2 % w/w) that have been reported for farmland soils. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) of three sizes ranging between 0.5 and 3 mm diameter, were mixed with loess topsoil material from an agriculturally used Luvisol. Results show that increasing MP concentration decreased the saturated hydraulic conductivity (ksat) compared to the control soil (without MP), irrespective of MP type. The highest reduction of ksat was found for the highest concentration (2 %) and the largest size MP (approx. 3 mm diameter). Compared to the control, MP addition significantly decreased soil water retention with increasing concentration. In contrast, air capacity was increased with MP addition where strongest effect was found for largest PET particles at the highest concentration. Soil water repellency (measured as Wilhelmy Plate contact angles) was increased at a concentration of 2 % and for MP sizes > 1 mm, while no effect was observed for lower concentrations and smaller MP. In conclusion, MP type, size, and concentration did affect key soil physical parameters, likely to negatively influence plant growth in contaminated soils.
AB - Environmental contamination with microplastics (MP, 0.1 µm – 5 mm diameter) potentially threatens various soil functions and agricultural production. In this study we evaluated the effects of MP on physical soil parameters (saturated hydraulic conductivity, water retention and water repellency) at MP concentrations (0.5 to 2 % w/w) that have been reported for farmland soils. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) of three sizes ranging between 0.5 and 3 mm diameter, were mixed with loess topsoil material from an agriculturally used Luvisol. Results show that increasing MP concentration decreased the saturated hydraulic conductivity (ksat) compared to the control soil (without MP), irrespective of MP type. The highest reduction of ksat was found for the highest concentration (2 %) and the largest size MP (approx. 3 mm diameter). Compared to the control, MP addition significantly decreased soil water retention with increasing concentration. In contrast, air capacity was increased with MP addition where strongest effect was found for largest PET particles at the highest concentration. Soil water repellency (measured as Wilhelmy Plate contact angles) was increased at a concentration of 2 % and for MP sizes > 1 mm, while no effect was observed for lower concentrations and smaller MP. In conclusion, MP type, size, and concentration did affect key soil physical parameters, likely to negatively influence plant growth in contaminated soils.
KW - Hydraulic conductivity
KW - Hydrophobicity
KW - Luvisol
KW - Polyethylene terephthalate
KW - Polystyrene
KW - Soil water retention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162148392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116566
DO - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116566
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85162148392
VL - 437
JO - GEODERMA
JF - GEODERMA
SN - 0016-7061
M1 - 116566
ER -