Microplastics Can Alter Plant Parameters Without Affecting the Soil Enzymatic Activity in White Lupine

Carla Sobarzo-Palma, María Dolores López-Belchí, Felipe Andrés Noriega, Raúl Zornoza, Gonzalo Tortella () and Mauricio Schoebitz ()
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Carla Sobarzo-Palma: Department of Soil and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
María Dolores López-Belchí: Department of Vegetal Production Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070409, Chile
Felipe Andrés Noriega: Department of Vegetal Production Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070409, Chile
Raúl Zornoza: Sustainable Use, Management and Reclamation of Soil and Water Research Group, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos (ETSIA), Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII, 30202 Cartagena, Spain
Gonzalo Tortella: Centro de Excelencia en Investigación Biotecnológica Aplicada al Medio Ambiente (CIBAMA), Facultad de Ing. y Ciencias, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
Mauricio Schoebitz: Department of Soil and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils raises concerns regarding their impact on crop health and productivity, particularly in legumes, which are known to have soil-enhancing properties. This study investigated the effects of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyamide (PA) MPs on white lupine ( Lupinus albus L.). Plants were cultivated for 110 days in glass pots containing 700 g of volcanic soil mixed with 2% w / w MPs, with four treatments (control, LDPE, PP, and PA) and five replicates each. The results indicated that PP increased soil ammonium and available nitrogen by 71% and 60%, respectively, compared to the control. LDPE increased root length by 3% and decreased chlorophyll content by 2.7%, whereas PA increased chlorophyll levels by 3.5%. Oxidative stress markers were significantly elevated in the LDPE and PA treatments, with 12% and 5.4% increases, respectively, compared with the control. However, no significant differences were observed in enzyme activity or basal soil respiration. These findings contribute to the understanding of how short-term exposure to MPs affects agricultural soils and emphasize the necessity for long-term studies to elucidate their potential effects.

Keywords: Andisol; enzyme; roots; agroecosystem; microbial activity; abiotic stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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