Light scatterometry combined with chemometrics can be a practical approach for the analysis of size and concentration of microplastics in water.
Inappropriate disposal of the plastic mulching debris could create macroplastics (MaPs) and microplastics (MiPs) pollution in agricultural soil.
MethodsTo study the effects of farming systems on accumulation and distribution of agricultural plastic debris, research was carried out on two farming systems in Northwest China. Farming in Wutong Village (S1) is characterized by small plots and low-intensity machine tillage while farming in Shihezi (S2) is characterized by large plots and high-intensity machine tillage. In September 2017, we selected six fields in S1, three fields with 6\uffe2\uff80\uff938 years of continuous plastic mulching (CM) as well as three fields with over 30 years of intermittent mulching (IM). In S2, we selected five cotton fields with 6, 7, 8, 15 and 18 years of continuous mulching. In both regions, MaPs and MiPs from soil surface to 30 cm depth (0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330 cm) were sampled.
ResultsThe results showed that in S1, MaPs mass in fields with 6\uffe2\uff80\uff938 years CM (i.e., 97.4kg\uffc2\uffb7ha \uffe2\uff88\uff921 ) were significantly higher than in fields with 30 years IM (i.e., 53.7 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha \uffe2\uff88\uff921 ). MaPs in size category of 10\uffe2\uff80\uff9350 cm 2 accounted for 46.9% in fields of CM and 44.5% in fields of IM of total collected MaPs number. In S2, MaPs mass ranged from 43.5 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha \uffe2\uff88\uff921 to 148 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha \uffe2\uff88\uff921 . MaPs in size category of 2\uffe2\uff80\uff9310 cm 2 account for 41.1% of total collected MaPs number while 0.25\uffe2\uff80\uff932 cm 2 accounted for 40.6%. MiPs in S1 were mainly detected in fields with over 30 years of intermittent mulching (up to 2,200 particles\uffc2\uffb7kg \uffe2\uff88\uff921 soil), whereas in S2 were detected in all fields (up to 900 particles\uffc2\uffb7kg \uffe2\uff88\uff921 soil). The results indicated farming systems could substantially affect the accumulation and distribution of agricultural plastic debris. Continuous plastic mulching could accumulate higher amount of MaPs than intermittent plastic mulching. High-intensity machine tillage could lead to higher fragmentation of MaPs and more severe MiPs pollution. These results suggest that agricultural plastic regulations are needed.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Plastic film mulching", "13. Climate action", "Microplastics", "Soil pollution", "Farming systems", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Low-density polyethylene", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Agricultural Science", "01 natural sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/PMC7718786"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PeerJ", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "PMC7718786", "name": "item", "description": "PMC7718786", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PMC7718786"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:15:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-05-13", "title": "Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene", "description": "Pollution by plastic and microplastic impacts the environment globally. Knowledge on the ageing mechanisms of plastics in natural settings is needed to understand their environmental fate and interaction with biota. The study of physicochemical and biological ageing is gaining focus in the context of the environmental sciences. However experimental research has typically assessed individual ageing processes, isolating them from a more realistic and complex environmental context where multiple factors are simultaneously at play. An over-simplistic approach can limit the comprehension of the phenomenon and prevent ranking the prevalent processes. In this study we propose a multi-tiered approach to study the environmental ageing of polyethylene plastic fragments focusing on the combined assessment of physical and biological processes, in sequence. The ageing protocol included Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in air and in a range of water solutions, followed by a biofouling test. Changes in surface characteristics were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. UV irradiation both in air and water caused a significant increase in the density of oxidized groups on plastic surface, whereby water solution chemistry influenced the process both by modulating surface oxidation and morphology. Biofouling too, was a strong determinant of surface alterations, regardless the prior irradiation treatments. This suggests that biological-driven alterations are not affected by the level of chemical-physical ageing and may represent, in real settings, a main driver of alteration of both weathered and pristine plastics. This work highlights the potential pivotal role of biofouling as a main process of plastic ageing, providing useful technical insights for future experimental works. These results also confirms that a multi-tiered experimental approach is necessary for a complete characterization of the environmental ageing of plastics.
", "keywords": ["Polyethylene", "13. Climate action", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "Water", "02 engineering and technology", "Plastics", "01 natural sciences", "Ecosystem", "Water Pollutants", " Chemical", "Research Article", "Environmental Monitoring", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Science%20and%20Pollution%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2022-05-13T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104649", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:16:13Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-08-30", "title": "Effects of microplastics on common bean rhizosphere bacterial communities", "description": "Microplastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems is a growing concern due to its potential influences on soil properties and crop growth. Little is known about the effects of microplastics on the microbiome in the rhizosphere. Here, we studied the effects of two types of microplastics (MPs), low density polyethylene (LDPE-MPs) and biodegradable microplastic (Bio-MPs) of poly-butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) mixed with polylactic acid (PLA), on rhizosphere bacterial communities of Phaseolus vulgaris at doses of 0.5 %, 1.0 % and 2.5 % (w/w, dry weight ratio between MPs and soil). Bio-MPs and LDPE-MPs showed significant higher \u03b1-diversity (Chao 1, ACE, Shannon and Simpson) than control. For each type of microplastic material, 2.5 % of LDPE-MPs and Bio-MPs showed lowest \u03b1-diversity as compared to doses of 0.5 % and 1.0 %, indicating 2.5 % dose of MPs might pose selective effect on rhizosphere bacterial communities. \u03b2-Diversity of 1.0 % and 2.5 % Bio-MPs were distinctive from the control and other treatments. Microplastics also affected the relative abundance at family level, i.e. as compared to control, Comamonadaceae was higher in all the MPs treatments, Rhizobiaceae was highest in 2.5 % LDPE-MPs and lowest in 2.5 % Bio-MPs. LefSe results showed, as compared to control, Bio-MPs induced more indictive taxa than LDPE-MPs. Our findings evidenced that LDPE-MPs and Bio-MPs exerted profound effects on rhizosphere bacterial communities, and these effects might have far-reaching effects on soil nutrient cycling and plant health in agroecosystems.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0301 basic medicine", "03 medical and health sciences", "Low density polyethylene plastic", "13. Climate action", "Microplastics", "16S rRNA", "15. Life on land", "Biodegradable plastic", "Rhizosphere bacterial community", "01 natural sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104649"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Applied%20Soil%20Ecology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104649", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104649", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104649"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.044", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:16:38Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-11-22", "title": "Biogenic transport of glyphosate in the presence of LDPE microplastics: A mesocosm experiment", "description": "The accumulation of plastic debris and herbicide residues has become a huge challenge and poses many potential risks to environmental health and soil quality. In the present study, we investigated the transport of glyphosate and its main metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) via earthworms in the presence of different concentrations of light density polyethylene microplastics in the litter layer during a 14-day mesocosm experiment. The results showed earthworm gallery weight was negatively affected by the combination of glyphosate and microplastics. Glyphosate and AMPA concentrated in the first centimetre of the top soil layer and the downward transport of glyphosate and AMPA was only detected in the earthworm burrows, ranging from 0.04 to 4.25\u202f\u03bcg\u202fg-1 for glyphosate and from 0.01 (less than limit of detection) to 0.76\u202f\u03bcg\u202fg-1 for AMPA. The transport rate of glyphosate (including AMPA) from the litter layer into earthworm burrows ranged from 6.6\u202f\u00b1\u202f4.6% to 18.3\u202f\u00b1\u202f2.4%, depending on synergetic effects of microplastics and glyphosate application. The findings imply that earthworm activities strongly influence pollutant movement into the soil, which potentially affects soil ecosystems. Further studies focused on the fate of pollutants in the microenvironment of earthworm burrows are needed.", "keywords": ["Earthworm burrows", "2. Zero hunger", "Glyphosate", "Herbicides", "Microplastics", "Glycine", "Tetrazoles", "Isoxazoles", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Glyphosate transport", "Soil", "Polyethylene", "13. Climate action", "Animals", "Soil Pollutants", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Oligochaeta", "Soil ecosystem", "Plastics", "Ecosystem", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.044"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Pollution", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.044", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.044", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.044"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-02-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120513", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:16:39Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-10-29", "title": "Microplastic appraisal of soil, water, ditch sediment and airborne dust: The case of agricultural systems", "description": "Although microplastic pollution jeopardizes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the movement of plastic particles through terrestrial environments is still poorly understood. Agricultural soils exposed to different managements are important sites of storage and dispersal of microplastics. This study aimed to identify the abundance, distribution, and type of microplastics present in agricultural soils, water, airborne dust, and ditch sediments. Soil health was also assessed using soil macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Sixteen fields were evaluated, 6 of which had been exposed to more than 5 years of compost application, 5 were exposed to at least 5 years of plastic mulch use, and 5 were not exposed to any specific management (controls) within the last 5 years. We also evaluated the spread of microplastics from the farms into nearby water bodies and airborne dust. We found 11 types of microplastics in soil, among which Light Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Light Density Polyethylene covered with pro-oxidant additives (PAC) were the most abundant. The highest concentrations of plastics were found in soils exposed to plastic mulch management (128.7\u00a0\u00b1\u00a0320\u00a0MPs.g-1 soil and 224.84\u00a0\u00b1\u00a0488\u00a0MPs.g-1 soil, respectively) and the particles measured from 50 to 150\u00a0\u03bcm. Nine types of microplastics were found in water, with the highest concentrations observed in systems exposed to compost. Farms applying compost had higher LDPE and PAC concentrations in ditch sediments as compared to control and mulch systems; a significant correlation between soil polypropylene (PP) microplastics with ditch sediment microplastics (r2 0.7 p\u00a0<\u00a00.05) was found. LDPE, PAC, PE (Polyethylene), and PP were the most abundant microplastics in airborne dust. Soil invertebrates were scarce in the systems using plastic mulch. A cocktail of microplastics was found in all assessed matrices.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "ddc:550", "Microplastics", "Water", "Dust", "15. Life on land", "Polypropylenes", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Soil", "Polyethylene", "13. Climate action", "Life Science", "Soil Pollutants", "Plastics", "Ecosystem", "Water Pollutants", " Chemical", "Environmental Monitoring", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120513"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Pollution", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120513", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120513", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120513"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:10Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-11-17", "title": "Effects of plastic mulch film residues on wheat rhizosphere and soil properties", "description": "Plastic residues could accumulate in soils as a consequence of using plastic mulching, which results in a serious environmental concern for agroecosystems. As an alternative, biodegradable plastic films stand as promising products to minimize plastic debris accumulation and reduce soil pollution. However, the effects of residues from traditional and biodegradable plastic films on the soil-plant system are not well studied. In this study, we used a controlled pot experiment to investigate the effects of macro- and micro- sized residues of low-density polyethylene and biodegradable plastic mulch films on the rhizosphere bacterial communities, rhizosphere volatile profiles and soil chemical properties. Interestingly, we identified significant effects of biodegradable plastic residues on the rhizosphere bacterial communities and on the blend of volatiles emitted in the rhizosphere. For example, in treatments with biodegradable plastics, bacteria genera like Bacillus and Variovorax were present in higher relative abundances and volatile compounds like dodecanal were exclusively produced in treatment with biodegradable microplastics. Furthermore, significant differences in soil pH, electrical conductivity and C:N ratio were observed across treatments. Our study provides evidence for both biotic and abiotic impacts of plastic residues on the soil-plant system, suggesting the urgent need for more research examining their environmental impacts on agroecosystems.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Volatile Organic Compounds", "Bacteria", "Microplastics", "national", "Plan_S-Compliant_NO", "Biodegradable Plastics", "Biodegradable plastics", "01 natural sciences", "Rhizosphere microbiome", "Soil", "Polyethylene", "13. Climate action", "Rhizosphere", "Soil Pollutants", "Soil properties", "Volatile organic compounds", "Biomass", "Triticum", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Hazardous%20Materials", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121711"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-04-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121909", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:10Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-12-18", "title": "Pyrolysed waste materials show potential for remediation of trichloroethylene-contaminated water", "description": "Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an Environmental Protection Agency priority pollutant associated with cancer in humans. With numerous industrial applications and regular landfill disposal, TCE is a common landfill leachate pollutant. In situ treatment barriers use costly fill materials such as granular activated carbon (GAC). Here, we show that while a range of untreated waste materials had little ability to adsorb TCE, waste-derived biochar showed excellent capacity for TCE adsorption. TCE removal efficiencies by spruce and oak-derived biochars were > 99.5 %, outperforming GAC (95 %) and herbal pomace biochar (93 %). A contact time of at least 32 h was required to reach equilibrium for all of these media. Assessment of pollution swapping potential revealed release of phosphate by all biochars. Analysis of media surface characteristics by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) predicted that GAC should have the highest ability to adsorb TCE, followed by Oak Biochar, Herbal Pomace Biochar 1, and Spruce Biochar 2, which was not in agreement with the experimental adsorption data. These data demonstrate the potential for pyrolysed waste material to be used as an alternative fill material for in situ remediation applications, thereby also addressing the European Circular Economy Strategy.", "keywords": ["Waste Products", "circular economy", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "02 engineering and technology", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Water Purification", "Trichloroethylene", "12. Responsible consumption", "3. Good health", "Quercus", "Waste Disposal Facilities", "kinetic study", "adsorption", "13. Climate action", "Charcoal", "biochar", "Adsorption", "Picea", "Pyrolysis", "Water Pollutants", " Chemical", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121909"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Hazardous%20Materials", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121909", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121909", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121909"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123676", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:11Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-08-14", "title": "Simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation of trichloroethylene occurs in a biochar packed column treating contaminated landfill leachate", "description": "Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a human carcinogen that is commonly found in landfill leachate as a result of anthropogenic activities. Contaminated leachate plumes may be intercepted prior to reaching groundwater and treated in situ using permeable reactive barriers (PRB). This study used a packed column system containing herbal pomace and spruce biochar, previously shown to have TCE adsorptive capabilities, to investigate the feasibility of using pyrolysed waste as a fill material in a PRB. Influent containing raw or autoclaved landfill leachate was used to investigate the potential for environmental micro-organisms to establish a TCE-dechlorinating biofilm on the biochar, in order to prolong the operational life span of the system. TCE removal \u2265 99.7 was observed by both spruce and herbal pomace based biochars. No dichloroethylene (DCE) isomers were present in the column effluents, but cis-1,2 DCE was adsorbed to the biochar treating raw landfill leachate, indicating that dechlorination was occurring biologically in these columns. Known microbial species that are individually capable of complete dechlorination of TCE to ethene were not detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, but several species capable of partial TCE dechlorination (Desulfitobacterium spp., Sulfurospirillium spp. and Desulfuromonas spp) were present in the biofilms of the columns treating raw landfill leachate. These data demonstrate that biochar from waste material may be capable of supporting a dechlorinating biofilm to promote bioremediation of TCE.", "keywords": ["Permeable Reactive Barrier", "Waste reuse", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Trichloroethylene", "12. Responsible consumption", "3. Good health", "Biochar", "Biodegradation", " Environmental", "13. Climate action", "Charcoal", "RNA", " Ribosomal", " 16S", "Humans", "Adsorption", "Water Pollutants", " Chemical", "Bioremediation", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123676"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Hazardous%20Materials", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123676", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123676", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123676"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-02-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130765", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:11Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-01-09", "title": "Fragmentation and depolymerization of microplastics in the earthworm gut: A potential for microplastic bioremediation?", "description": "The accumulation of microplastics poses potential risks to soil health. Here, we did a preliminary exploration on the potential of Lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta) to reduce low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) microplastic (20-648\u00a0\u00b5m) contamination in soils. The ingestion of microplastics-contaminated soil (1% of microplastics, dw/dw) in a mesocosm system and the ingestion of pure microplastics in the Petri Dish by earthworms were studied. Results show that earthworms survived in the microplastics-contaminated soil (0% mortality in 35 days) but barely when exposed solely to microplastics (30-80% mortality in 4 days). Size-dependent ingestion of microplastics was not observed. The fragmentation of LDPE microplastics in the gizzard facilitated by soil was confirmed by the significantly increased ratio of small-sized (20-113\u00a0\u00b5m) microplastics from the bulk soil to the gut (from 8.4% to 18.8%). PLA and PBAT microplastics were fragmented by gizzard without the facilitation of soil, the ratios of small-sized (20-113\u00a0\u00b5m) PLA and PBAT microplastics in the gut were 55.5% and 108.2% higher than in respective pristine distributions. Substantial depolymerization of PLA (weight-average molar mass reduced by 17.7% with shift in molecular weight distribution) and suspected depolymerization of PBAT were observed in the worm gut, while no change in the molar mass was observed for PLA and PBAT microplastics buried in the soil for 49 days. Our results suggest that ingested microplastics could undergo fragmentation and depolymerization (for certain polymers) in the earthworm gut. Further research is needed to reveal the mechanisms of polymer depolymerization in the earthworm gut and to evaluate the feasibility of microplastic bioremediation with earthworms.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "ddc:550", "Microplastics", "Polyesters", "01 natural sciences", "Soil", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biodegradation", " Environmental", "Polyethylene", "Life Science", "Animals", "Soil Pollutants", "Oligochaeta", "Plastics", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130765"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Hazardous%20Materials", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130765", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130765", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130765"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-04-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:11Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-08-22", "title": "Microplastics originated from agricultural mulching films affect enchytraeid multigeneration reproduction and soil properties", "description": "Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly entering agricultural soils, often from the breakdown of agricultural plastics (e.g., mulching films). This study investigates the effects of realistic MPs from different mulching films: two conventional polyethylene (PE-1 and PE-2) and two biodegradable (starch-blended polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate; PBAT-BD-1 and PBAT-BD-2). MPs were mixed into Lufa 2.2 soil at a concentration range from 0.005\u00a0% to 5\u00a0% (w/w dry soil), wide enough to reflect both realistic environmental levels and 'worst-case scenarios'. Effects on Enchytraeus crypticus reproduction over two generations and six important soil properties were studied. PBAT MPs notably reduced enchytraeid reproduction in the F0 generation, with a maximum decrease of 35.5\u00a0\u00b1\u00a09.6\u00a0% at 0.5\u00a0% concentration. F1 generation was unaffected by PBAT contamination. PE MPs had a more substantial reproductive impact, with up to a 55.3\u00a0\u00b1\u00a09.7\u00a0% decrease at 5\u00a0% PE-1 concentration compared to the control, showing a dose-related effect except for 1\u00a0%. Both MP types also significantly affected soil water holding capacity, pH, and total carbon. Other soil properties remained unaffected. Our results highlight the potential negative impacts of MPs originating from real agricultural plastics on soil health and raise concerns about the role of agricultural plastics in sustainable agriculture and food safety.", "keywords": ["Soil invertebrates", "soil ecotoxicology", "Microplastics", "Polyesters", "Soil pH", "realistic soil pollution", "Agricultural plastics; Realistic soil pollution; Soil ecotoxicology; Soil invertebrates; Soil pH; water holding capacity; total carbon", "01 natural sciences", "soil pH", "Soil", "Soil Pollutants", "Animals", "Oligochaeta", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "total carbon", "Soil ecotoxicology", "Realistic soil pollution", "water holding capacity", "Reproduction", "Agriculture", "Starch", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "soil invertebrates", "Polyethylene", "Agricultural plastics", "agricultural plastics", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Plastics"], "contacts": [{"organization": "\u0160m\u00eddov\u00e1 Kl\u00e1ra, Selonen Salla, van Gestel Cornelis A. M., Fleissig Petr, Hofman Jakub,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Hazardous%20Materials", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.213", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-12-22", "title": "A simple method for the extraction and identification of light density microplastics from soil", "description": "This article introduces a simple and cost-saving method developed to extract, distinguish and quantify light density microplastics of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in soil. A floatation method using distilled water was used to extract the light density microplastics from soil samples. Microplastics and impurities were identified using a heating method (3-5s at 130\u00b0C). The number and size of particles were determined using a camera (Leica DFC 425) connected to a microscope (Leica wild M3C, Type S, simple light, 6.4\u00d7). Quantification of the microplastics was conducted using a developed model. Results showed that the floatation method was effective in extracting microplastics from soils, with recovery rates of approximately 90%. After being exposed to heat, the microplastics in the soil samples melted and were transformed into circular transparent particles while other impurities, such as organic matter and silicates were not changed by the heat. Regression analysis of microplastics weight and particle volume (a calculation based on image J software analysis) after heating showed the best fit (y=1.14x+0.46, R2=99%, p<0.001). Recovery rates based on the empirical model method were >80%. Results from field samples collected from North-western China prove that our method of repetitive floatation and heating can be used to extract, distinguish and quantify light density polyethylene microplastics in soils. Microplastics mass can be evaluated using the empirical model.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Identification", "Soil", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "Extraction", "02 engineering and technology", "Light density polyethylene microplastics", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.213"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.213", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.213", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.213"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-03-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:25Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-06-28", "title": "Intensive vegetable production under plastic mulch: A field study on soil plastic and pesticide residues and their effects on the soil microbiome", "description": "Intensive agriculture relies on external inputs to reach high productivity and profitability. Plastic mulch, mainly in the form of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), is widely used in agriculture to decrease evaporation, increase soil temperature and prevent weeds. The incomplete removal of LDPE mulch after use causes plastic contamination in agricultural soils. In conventional agriculture, the use of pesticides also leaves residues accumulating in soils. Thus, the objective of this study was to measure plastic and pesticide residues in agricultural soils and their effects on the soil microbiome. For this, we sampled soil (0-10\u00a0cm and 10-30\u00a0cm) from 18 parcels from 6 vegetable farms in SE Spain. The farms were under either organic or conventional management, where plastic mulch had been used for >25\u00a0years. We measured the macro- and micro-light density plastic debris contents, the pesticide residue levels, and a range of physiochemical properties. We also carried out DNA sequencing on the soil fungal and bacterial communities. Plastic debris (>100\u00a0\u03bcm) was found in all samples with an average number of 2\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0103\u00a0particles\u00a0kg-1 and area of 60\u00a0cm2\u00a0kg-1. We found 4-10 different pesticide residues in all conventional soils, for an average of 140\u00a0\u03bcg\u00a0kg-1. Overall, pesticide content was \u223c100 times lower in organic farms. The soil microbiomes were farm-specific and related to different soil physicochemical parameters and contaminants. Regarding contaminants, bacterial communities responded to the total pesticide residues, the fungicide Azoxystrobin and the insecticide Chlorantraniliprole as well as the plastic area. The fungicide Boscalid was the only contaminant to influence the fungal community. The wide spread of plastic and pesticide residues in agricultural soil and their effects on soil microbial communities may impact crop production and other environmental services. More studies are required to evaluate the total costs of intensive agriculture.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Plastic mulch", "Soil microbiome", "Microbiota", "Microplastic", "Pesticide Residues", "Pesticides residues", "Agriculture", "12. Garantizar modalidades de consumo y producci\u00f3n sostenibles", "15. Life on land", "Fungicides", " Industrial", "Edafolog\u00eda y Qu\u00edmica Agr\u00edcola", "Soil", "Intensive vegetable production", "13. Climate action", "Agriculture contamination", "Polyethylene", "Vegetables", "31 Ciencias Agrarias::3101 Agroqu\u00edmica", "Pesticides"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2022-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174667", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:27Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-07-10", "title": "Reproduction, growth and oxidative stress in earthworm Eisenia andrei exposed to conventional and biodegradable mulching film microplastics", "description": "Plastic contamination in agricultural soils has become increasingly evident. Plastic mulching films are widely used in agricultural practices. However, the increased use of biodegradable plastics has, to some extent, replaced their non-degradable counterparts. The fragmentation of plastics generates microplastics (MPs), posing risk to soil functions and organisms. In this study the effects of low-density polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate biodegradable microplastics (PBAT-BD-MP) originating from mulching films on the earthworm Eisenia andrei were studied. The earthworms were exposed to seven concentrations (0, 0.005, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5\u00a0% w/w) based on environmentally relevant levels and worst-case scenarios on soil contamination. Survival, growth, reproduction, and biomarkers for oxidative stress [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LPO)] were analysed. Additionally, the Integrated Biomarker Response Index (IBR) was calculated to assess the overall oxidative stress status of the earthworms. Results showed that PE-MP exposure slightly decreased the biomass of the earthworms towards higher concentrations, whereas PBAT-BD-MPs induced growth at lower concentrations. MPs did not have a significant effect on Eisenia andrei reproduction; however, a slight negative trend was observed in juvenile production with increasing PE-MP concentrations. Both PE-MP and PBAT-BD-MP affected antioxidant system, PE-MPs with changes in CAT and GR levels and PBAT-BD-MPs inducing effects on SOD and LPO levels. Additionally, both MPs exhibited effects on soil parameters, resulting in increased soil pH and water-holding capacity at 5\u00a0% concentration. Changes in soil parameters can further affect soil organisms such as earthworms. This study provides understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei. It also shows that MP particles of both conventional and biodegradable mulching films induce oxidative stress, considered as an early-warning indicator for adverse ecological effects, in environmentally relevant concentrations.", "keywords": ["lierot", "soil ecotoxicology", "LDPE", "Microplastics", "School of Resource Wisdom", "maaper\u00e4biologia", "Biodegradable Plastics", "Resurssiviisausyhteis\u00f6", "maatalous", "Animals", "Soil Pollutants", "PBAT", "Oligochaeta", "oksidatiivinen stressi", "Glutathione Transferase", "mikromuovi", "2. Zero hunger", "maaper\u00e4", "agricultural soil", "Superoxide Dismutase", "Reproduction", "biodegradable plastic", "Catalase", "ymp\u00e4rist\u00f6kuormitus", "biohajoaminen", "environmental stress", "ekotoksikologia", "Oxidative Stress", "maaper\u00e4el\u00e4imist\u00f6", "muovi", "Polyethylene", "13. Climate action", "Lipid Peroxidation", "Biomarkers"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174667"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20of%20The%20Total%20Environment", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174667", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174667", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174667"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-10-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100104", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:17:57Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-08-21", "title": "No Home without Hormones: How Plant Hormones Control Legume Nodule Organogenesis", "description": "The establishment of symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires the coordination of both nodule development and infection events. Despite the evolution of a variety of anatomical structures, nodule organs serve\u00a0a common purpose in establishing a localized area that facilitates efficient nitrogen fixation. As in all plant developmental processes, the establishment of a new nodule organ is regulated by plant hormones. During nodule initiation, regulation of plant hormone signaling is one of the major targets of symbiotic signaling. We review the role of major developmental hormones in the initiation of the nodule organ and argue that the manipulation of plant hormones is a key requirement for engineering nitrogen fixation in non-legumes as the basis for improved food security and sustainability.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "2. Zero hunger", "0303 health sciences", "Cytokinins", "hormones", "nodule", "Fabaceae", "legume", "Review Article", "Ethylenes", "Plant Root Nodulation", "symbiosis", "Gibberellins", "03 medical and health sciences", "Plant Growth Regulators", "nitrogen fixation", "Nitrogen Fixation", "Symbiosis"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100104"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20Communications", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100104", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100104", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100104"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1021/acsomega.1c03001", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:18:04Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-09-22", "title": "Control of sulfate and nitrate reduction by setting hydraulic retention time and applied potential on a membraneless microbial electrolysis cell for perchloroethylene removal", "description": "A membraneless microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) has been developed for perchloroethylene (PCE) removal through the reductive dechlorination reaction. The MEC consists of a tubular reactor of 8.24 L equipped with a graphite-granule working electrode which stimulates dechlorinating microorganisms while a graphite-granule cylindrical envelopment contained in a plastic mesh constituted the counter electrode of the MEC. Synthetic PCE-contaminated groundwater has been used as the feeding solution to test the nitrate and sulfate reduction reactions on the MEC performance at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (4.1, 1.8, and 1.2) and different cathodic potentials [-350, -450, and -650 mV vs standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)]. The HRT decrease from 4.1 to 1.8 d promoted a considerable increase in sulfate removal from 38 \u00b1 11 to 113 \u00b1 26 mg/Ld with a consequent current increase, while a shorter HRT of 1.2 d caused a partial inhibition of sulfate reduction with a consequent current decrease from -99 \u00b1 3 to -52 \u00b1 6 mA. Similarly, the cathodic potential investigation showed a direct correlation of current generation and sulfate removal in which the utilization of a cathodic potential of -350 mV versus SHE allowed for an 80% decrease in the sulfate removal rate with a consequent current decrease from -163 \u00b1 7 to 41 \u00b1 5 mA. The study showed the possibility to mitigate the energy consumption of the process by avoiding side reactions and current generation, through the selection of an appropriate HRT and applied cathodic potential.", "keywords": ["Chemistry", "reductive dechlorination; perchloroethylene; bioelectrochemical systems; bioremediation", "QD1-999", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "6. Clean water", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.uniroma1.it/bitstream/11573/1570432/1/Dell%e2%80%99Armi_Control-sulfate-nitrate_2021.pdf"}, {"href": "https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.1c03001"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c03001"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/ACS%20Omega", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1021/acsomega.1c03001", "name": "item", "description": "10.1021/acsomega.1c03001", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1021/acsomega.1c03001"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-09-22T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1038/s41598-019-43305-4", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:18:27Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-05-03", "title": "Soil amendments with ethylene precursor alleviate negative impacts of salinity on soil microbial properties and productivity", "description": "AbstractSome microbes enhance stress tolerance in plants by minimizing plant ethylene levels via degradation of its immediate precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), in the rhizosphere. In return, ACC is used by these microbes as a source of nitrogen. This mutualistic relationship between plants and microbes may be used to promote soil properties in stressful environments. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that amendments of ACC in soils reshape the structure of soil microbiome and alleviate the negative impacts of salinity on soil properties. We treated non-saline and artificially-developed saline soils with ACC in different concentrations for 14 days. The structure of soil microbiome, soil microbial properties and productivity were examined. Our results revealed that microbial composition of bacteria, archaea and fungi in saline soils was affected by ACC amendments; whereas community composition in non-saline soils was not affected. The amendments of ACC could not fully counteract the negative effects of salinity on soil microbial activities and productivity, but increased the abundance of ACC deaminase-encoding gene (acdS), enhanced soil microbial respiration, enzymatic activity, nitrogen and carbon cycling potentials and Arabidopsis biomass in saline soils. Collectively, our study indicates that ACC amendments in soils could efficiently ameliorate salinity impacts on soil properties and plant biomass production. Light scatterometry combined with chemometrics can be a practical approach for the analysis of size and concentration of microplastics in water.
Inappropriate disposal of the plastic mulching debris could create macroplastics (MaPs) and microplastics (MiPs) pollution in agricultural soil.
MethodsTo study the effects of farming systems on accumulation and distribution of agricultural plastic debris, research was carried out on two farming systems in Northwest China. Farming in Wutong Village (S1) is characterized by small plots and low-intensity machine tillage while farming in Shihezi (S2) is characterized by large plots and high-intensity machine tillage. In September 2017, we selected six fields in S1, three fields with 6\uffe2\uff80\uff938 years of continuous plastic mulching (CM) as well as three fields with over 30 years of intermittent mulching (IM). In S2, we selected five cotton fields with 6, 7, 8, 15 and 18 years of continuous mulching. In both regions, MaPs and MiPs from soil surface to 30 cm depth (0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330 cm) were sampled.
ResultsThe results showed that in S1, MaPs mass in fields with 6\uffe2\uff80\uff938 years CM (i.e., 97.4kg\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921) were significantly higher than in fields with 30 years IM (i.e., 53.7 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921). MaPs in size category of 10\uffe2\uff80\uff9350 cm2 accounted for 46.9% in fields of CM and 44.5% in fields of IM of total collected MaPs number. In S2, MaPs mass ranged from 43.5 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921 to 148 kg\uffc2\uffb7ha\uffe2\uff88\uff921. MaPs in size category of 2\uffe2\uff80\uff9310 cm2 account for 41.1% of total collected MaPs number while 0.25\uffe2\uff80\uff932 cm2 accounted for 40.6%. MiPs in S1 were mainly detected in fields with over 30 years of intermittent mulching (up to 2,200 particles\uffc2\uffb7kg\uffe2\uff88\uff921 soil), whereas in S2 were detected in all fields (up to 900 particles\uffc2\uffb7kg\uffe2\uff88\uff921 soil). The results indicated farming systems could substantially affect the accumulation and distribution of agricultural plastic debris. Continuous plastic mulching could accumulate higher amount of MaPs than intermittent plastic mulching. High-intensity machine tillage could lead to higher fragmentation of MaPs and more severe MiPs pollution. These results suggest that agricultural plastic regulations are needed. Soil compaction represents a major agronomic challenge, inhibiting root elongation and impacting crop yields. Roots use ethylene to sense soil compaction as the restricted air space causes this gaseous signal to accumulate around root tips. Ethylene inhibits root elongation and promotes radial expansion in compacted soil, but its mechanistic basis remains unclear. Here, we report that ethylene promotes abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and cortical cell radial expansion. Rice mutants of ABA biosynthetic genes had attenuated cortical cell radial expansion in compacted soil, leading to better penetration. Soil compaction-induced ethylene also up-regulates the auxin biosynthesis gene OsYUC8 . Mutants lacking OsYUC8 are better able to penetrate compacted soil. The auxin influx transporter OsAUX1 is also required to mobilize auxin from the root tip to the elongation zone during a root compaction response. Moreover, osaux1 mutants penetrate compacted soil better than the wild-type roots and do not exhibit cortical cell radial expansion. We conclude that ethylene uses auxin and ABA as downstream signals to modify rice root cell elongation and radial expansion, causing root tips to swell and reducing their ability to penetrate compacted soil. Stable isotope labeling of agricultural polyesters enables demonstration of their microbial utilization in soils. Bee alarm pheromones are essential molecules that are present in beehives when some threats occur in the bee population. In this work, we have applied multilevel modeling techniques to understand molecular interactions between representative bee alarm pheromones and polymers such as polymethyl siloxane (PDMS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and their blend. This study aimed to check how these interactions can be manipulated to enable efficient separation of bee alarm pheromones in portable membrane inlet mass spectrometric (MIMS) systems using new membranes. The study involved the application of powerful computational atomistic methods based on a combination of modern semiempirical (GFN2-xTB), first principles (DFT), and force-field calculations. As a fundamental work material for the separation of molecules, we considered the PDMS polymer, a well-known sorbent material known to be applicable for light polar molecules. To improve its applicability as a sorbent material for heavier polar molecules, we considered two main factors\u2014temperature and the addition of PEG polymer. Additional insights into molecular interactions were obtained by studying intrinsic reactive properties and noncovalent interactions between bee alarm pheromones and PDMS and PEG polymer chains. Halloysite nanoclay (HNC) was examined as an adsorbent for the individual and simultaneous removal of antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENRO) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions, alongside its regeneration via cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) bubbling. Initially, batch kinetics and isotherm studies were carried out, while the effect of several parameters was evaluated. Both ENRO and MB adsorption onto HNC was better described by Langmuir model, with its maximum adsorption capacity being 34.80 and 27.66 mg/g, respectively. A Pseudo-second order model fitted the experimental data satisfactorily, suggesting chemisorption (through electrostatic interactions) as the prevailing adsorption mechanism, whereas adsorption was also controlled by film diffusion. In the binary system, the presence of MB seemed to act antagonistically to the adsorption of ENRO. The saturated adsorbent was regenerated inside a CAP microbubble reactor and its adsorption capacity was re-tested by applying new adsorption cycles. CAP bubbling was able to efficiently regenerate saturated HNC with low energy requirements (16.67 Wh/g-adsorbent) in contrast to Fenton oxidation. Most importantly, the enhanced adsorption capacity of the CAP-regenerated HNC (compared to raw HNC), when applied in new adsorption cycles, indicated its activation during the regeneration process. The present study provides a green, sustainable and highly effective alternative for water remediation where pharmaceutical and dyes co-exist. In flooded soils, an efficient internal aeration system is essential for root growth and plant survival. Roots of many wetland species form barriers to restrict radial O2 loss (ROL) to the rhizosphere. The formation of such barriers greatly enhances longitudinal O2 diffusion from basal parts towards the root tip, and the barrier also impedes the entry of phytotoxic compounds produced in flooded soils into the root. Nevertheless, ROL from roots is an important source of O2 for rhizosphere oxygenation and the oxidation of toxic compounds. In this paper, we review the methodological aspects for the most widely used techniques for the qualitative visualization and quantitative determination of ROL from roots. Detailed methodological approaches, practical set-ups and examples of ROL from roots with or without barriers to ROL are included. This paper provides practical knowledge relevant to several disciplines, including plant\u2013soil interactions, biogeochemistry and eco-physiological aspects of roots and soil biota.
The dynamic and equilibrium water vapor sorption properties of amorphous and highly crystalline poly(ethylene vanillate) (PEV) films were determined via gravimetric analysis, at 20 \uffc2\uffb0C, over a wide range of relative humidity (0\uffe2\uff80\uff9395% RH). At low RH%, the dynamic of the sorption process obeys Fick\uffe2\uff80\uff99s law while at higher relative humidity it is characterized by a drift ascribable to non-Fickian relaxations. The non-Fickian relaxations, which are responsible for the incorporation of additional water, are correlated with the upturn of the sorption isotherms and simultaneously the hysteresis recorded between sorption and desorption cycles. The sorption isotherms of amorphous and highly crystalline PEV are arranged in the same concentration range of that of PET proving the similarity of the two polyesters. Water diffusion coefficients, whose determination from individual kinetic sorption/desorption curves required treatment with the Barens\uffe2\uff80\uff93Hopfenberg model, were demonstrated to be \uffe2\uff89\uff8810\uffc3\uff97 higher for amorphous PEV compared to amorphous PET. Such a difference originates from the enhanced segmental flexibility of PEV chains.
", "keywords": ["water transport", "660", "poly(ethylene vanillate)", "13. Climate action", "[SDV.IDA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food engineering", "diffusivity", "poly(ethylene vanillate); water sorption; water transport; diffusivity", "02 engineering and technology", "[SDV.IDA] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Food engineering", "0210 nano-technology", "Article", "water sorption"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/4/524/pdf"}, {"href": "https://iris.unitn.it/bitstream/11572/364817/1/47-2021%20Polymers-PEV%20mass%20transport.pdf"}, {"href": "https://cris.unibo.it/bitstream/11585/798929/3/47-2021%20Polymers-PEV%20mass%20transport.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/4/524/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040524"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym13040524", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym13040524", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym13040524"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-02-10T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.5281/zenodo.10927017", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:23:00Z", "type": "Dataset", "title": "Physical characterization of agricultural plastic mulching films", "description": "The excel file regards the radiometric properties of the source material mulching films. \u00a0The radiometric tests were carried out at the University of Bari. The mulching films were used for the generation of microplastic test materials. The Italian mulching films were buried at the experimental field at the University of Bari.", "keywords": ["transmissivity", "biodegradable mulching film", "reflectivity", "mulching films", "polyethylene mulching film", "physical properties"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Schettini, Evelia, Vox, Giuliano,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10927017"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.5281/zenodo.10927017", "name": "item", "description": "10.5281/zenodo.10927017", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.5281/zenodo.10927017"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-04-04T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.5281/zenodo.10927676", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:23:00Z", "type": "Dataset", "title": "Physical characterization of agricultural plastic mulching films", "description": "The excel file regards the radiometric properties of the source material mulching films. \u00a0The radiometric tests were carried out at the University of Bari. The mulching films were used for the generation of microplastic test materials. The Italian mulching films were buried at the experimental field at the University of Bari.", "keywords": ["transmissivity", "biodegradable mulching film", "reflectivity", "mulching films", "polyethylene mulching film", "physical properties"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Schettini, Evelia, Vox, Giuliano,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10927676"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.5281/zenodo.10927676", "name": "item", "description": "10.5281/zenodo.10927676", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.5281/zenodo.10927676"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-04-04T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "PMC9862438", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-06-23T16:29:53Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-01-16", "title": "Mechanisms of Individual and Simultaneous Adsorption of Antibiotics and Dyes onto Halloysite Nanoclay and Regeneration of Saturated Adsorbent via Cold Plasma Bubbling", "description": "Halloysite nanoclay (HNC) was examined as an adsorbent for the individual and simultaneous removal of antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENRO) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions, alongside its regeneration via cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) bubbling. Initially, batch kinetics and isotherm studies were carried out, while the effect of several parameters was evaluated. Both ENRO and MB adsorption onto HNC was better described by Langmuir model, with its maximum adsorption capacity being 34.80 and 27.66 mg/g, respectively. A Pseudo-second order model fitted the experimental data satisfactorily, suggesting chemisorption (through electrostatic interactions) as the prevailing adsorption mechanism, whereas adsorption was also controlled by film diffusion. In the binary system, the presence of MB seemed to act antagonistically to the adsorption of ENRO. The saturated adsorbent was regenerated inside a CAP microbubble reactor and its adsorption capacity was re-tested by applying new adsorption cycles. CAP bubbling was able to efficiently regenerate saturated HNC with low energy requirements (16.67 Wh/g-adsorbent) in contrast to Fenton oxidation. Most importantly, the enhanced adsorption capacity of the CAP-regenerated HNC (compared to raw HNC), when applied in new adsorption cycles, indicated its activation during the regeneration process. The present study provides a green, sustainable and highly effective alternative for water remediation where pharmaceutical and dyes co-exist.
Soil compaction represents a major agronomic challenge, inhibiting root elongation and impacting crop yields. Roots use ethylene to sense soil compaction as the restricted air space causes this gaseous signal to accumulate around root tips. Ethylene inhibits root elongation and promotes radial expansion in compacted soil, but its mechanistic basis remains unclear. Here, we report that ethylene promotes abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and cortical cell radial expansion. Rice mutants of ABA biosynthetic genes had attenuated cortical cell radial expansion in compacted soil, leading to better penetration. Soil compaction-induced ethylene also up-regulates the auxin biosynthesis gene OsYUC8 . Mutants lacking OsYUC8 are better able to penetrate compacted soil. The auxin influx transporter OsAUX1 is also required to mobilize auxin from the root tip to the elongation zone during a root compaction response. Moreover, osaux1 mutants penetrate compacted soil better than the wild-type roots and do not exhibit cortical cell radial expansion. We conclude that ethylene uses auxin and ABA as downstream signals to modify rice root cell elongation and radial expansion, causing root tips to swell and reducing their ability to penetrate compacted soil. In flooded soils, an efficient internal aeration system is essential for root growth and plant survival. Roots of many wetland species form barriers to restrict radial O2 loss (ROL) to the rhizosphere. The formation of such barriers greatly enhances longitudinal O2 diffusion from basal parts towards the root tip, and the barrier also impedes the entry of phytotoxic compounds produced in flooded soils into the root. Nevertheless, ROL from roots is an important source of O2 for rhizosphere oxygenation and the oxidation of toxic compounds. In this paper, we review the methodological aspects for the most widely used techniques for the qualitative visualization and quantitative determination of ROL from roots. Detailed methodological approaches, practical set-ups and examples of ROL from roots with or without barriers to ROL are included. This paper provides practical knowledge relevant to several disciplines, including plant\u2013soil interactions, biogeochemistry and eco-physiological aspects of roots and soil biota. Light scatterometry combined with chemometrics can be a practical approach for the analysis of size and concentration of microplastics in water.
Some microbes enhance stress tolerance in plants by minimizing plant ethylene levels via degradation of its immediate precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), in the rhizosphere. In return, ACC is used by these microbes as a source of nitrogen. This mutualistic relationship between plants and microbes may be used to promote soil properties in stressful environments. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that amendments of ACC in soils reshape the structure of soil microbiome and alleviate the negative impacts of salinity on soil properties. We treated non-saline and artificially-developed saline soils with ACC in different concentrations for 14 days. The structure of soil microbiome, soil microbial properties and productivity were examined. Our results revealed that microbial composition of bacteria, archaea and fungi in saline soils was affected by ACC amendments; whereas community composition in non-saline soils was not affected. The amendments of ACC could not fully counteract the negative effects of salinity on soil microbial activities and productivity, but increased the abundance of ACC deaminase-encoding gene (acdS), enhanced soil microbial respiration, enzymatic activity, nitrogen and carbon cycling potentials and Arabidopsis biomass in saline soils. Collectively, our study indicates that ACC amendments in soils could efficiently ameliorate salinity impacts on soil properties and plant biomass production. Stable isotope labeling of agricultural polyesters enables demonstration of their microbial utilization in soils. Light scatterometry combined with chemometrics can be a practical approach for the analysis of size and concentration of microplastics in water.