Understanding and mitigating microplastic effects on rhizosphere processes and interactions in agricultural soils
Microplastic (MP) pollution is present all over the globe, potentially affecting all ecosystems and biota of all trophic levels, accumulating in the gut of animals and humans, through complex food web structures. Terrestrial ecosystems may receive 4-23 times more MP than aquatic environments, with arable soils acting as major sinks due to plastic mulch and sewage sludge. The occurrence of microplastics in agroecosystems is a matter of increasing concern, as MP have been shown to disrupt the soil microbiome, affecting microbial activities like nutrient turnover, organic matter decomposition, and bacterial transport. In addition, MP create selective niches for bacteria and fungi, with bacterial biofilms altering their surface properties and affecting their bioavailability, degradability, and mobility. However, the impact of MP on the rhizosphere, crucial for crop growth, is still underexplored.
In the frame of a BMBF funded Project we want to fill this gap by investigating MP effects on rhizosphere interactions and processes in agricultural soils via controlled greenhouse experiments and field mesocosm studies. This research will help to develop targeted mitigation strategies to overcome any adverse effects of microplastics on environmental and human health. View project
Microplastic (MP) pollution is present all over the globe, potentially affecting all ecosystems and biota of all trophic levels, accumulating in the gut of animals and humans, through complex food web structures. Terrestrial ecosystems may receive 4-23 times more MP than aquatic environments, with arable soils acting as major sinks due to plastic mulch and sewage sludge. The occurrence of microplastics in agroecosystems is a matter of increasing concern, as MP have been shown to disrupt the soil microbiome, affecting microbial activities like nutrient turnover, organic matter decomposition, and bacterial transport. In addition, MP create selective niches for bacteria and fungi, with bacterial biofilms altering their surface properties and affecting their bioavailability, degradability, and mobility. However, the impact of MP on the rhizosphere, crucial for crop growth, is still underexplored.
In the frame of a BMBF funded Project we want to fill this gap by investigating MP effects on rhizosphere interactions and processes in agricultural soils via controlled greenhouse experiments and field mesocosm studies. This research will help to develop targeted mitigation strategies to overcome any adverse effects of microplastics on environmental and human health. View project
