Unseen threat: The devastating impact of microplastics on soil health in agricultural lands

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dc.authoridDilekoglu, Mehmet Fatih/0000-0001-7407-1635|yanardag, ibrahim halil/0000-0003-2558-9600;
dc.contributor.authorSakin, Erdal
dc.contributor.authorDilekoglu, Mehmet Fatih
dc.contributor.authorYanardag, Ibrahim Halil
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-24T18:08:59Z
dc.date.available2025-10-24T18:08:59Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.departmentMalatya Turgut Özal Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractMicroplastic pollution, originating from synthetic polymer materials, is a growing environmental threat with substantial implications for soil health and ecosystem functionality. This study investigates the accumulation and impacts of microplastics from plastic greenhouse covers on agricultural soils. Soil samples were collected from five greenhouses established 10 to 30 years ago, at a depth of 0-30 cm, to evaluate microplastic contamination levels and their impact on soil parameters. Microplastics were extracted using density separation with a saturated NaCl solution, followed by microscopic analysis for quantification. Enzyme activities, including beta-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucoaminidase, urease, dehydrogenase (DHG), and catalase, were measured using spectrophotometric and colorimetric assays. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 47 to 315 particles per 5 g of soil, with a progressive increase in concentration linked to the age of the greenhouses. Results revealed significant alterations in soil pH, which ranged from 7.58 to 8.04, and electrical conductivity (EC), varying between 192 and 616 mu S cm(-1). Organic carbon (0.68-0.59 %) and total nitrogen (0.07-0.03 %) contents decreased in soils with increasing microplastic concentrations, while microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) and nitrogen (Nmic) decreased by 43.75 % and 46.59 %, respectively. Enzyme activities such as beta-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, and beta-glucosaminidase declined by up to 51.17 %, 30.90 %, and 28.31 %, respectively. Additionally, soil respiration (CO2-C emissions) increased by 73.91 % (0.19 to 0.33 mg CO2-C kg(-1) soil h(-1)), and the metabolic quotient (qCO(2)) rose by 239.82 % (1.41 to 4.82 mg CO2-C g(-1) Cmic h(-1)). Regression analyses demonstrate strong correlations between microplastic concentrations and soil property changes, with a one-unit increase in microplastic concentration leading to significant decreases in enzyme activities (p < 0.05). Additionally, long-term microplastic accumulation altered soil structure, increasing porosity and aggregate instability, which compounded the reduction in enzyme activities. These findings underscore the profound negative effects of microplastic pollution on soil ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management strategies to mitigate microplastic contamination and its detrimental impact on soil health and functionality.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.catena.2025.108904
dc.identifier.issn0341-8162
dc.identifier.issn1872-6887
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.108904
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12899/3393
dc.identifier.volume253
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001445482100001
dc.identifier.wosqualityN/A
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.ispartofCatena
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.snmzKA_20251023
dc.subjectAgricultural pollution; Environmental impact; Greenhouse agriculture; Microplastics; Soil enzyme activity; Soil health
dc.titleUnseen threat: The devastating impact of microplastics on soil health in agricultural lands
dc.typeArticle

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