Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial
Poly (butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable mulch film has been considered a promising, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative to polyethylene. However, its long-term effects on crops and soil remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effe...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010796 |
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| author | Weichang Gao Zugui Tu Xie Yin Shuang Ming Kai Cai |
| author_facet | Weichang Gao Zugui Tu Xie Yin Shuang Ming Kai Cai |
| author_sort | Weichang Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poly (butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable mulch film has been considered a promising, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative to polyethylene. However, its long-term effects on crops and soil remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PBAT mulch film with three application rates (0.05 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 5 g/kg), as well as polyethylene (PE) mulch film (0.05 g/kg), on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil microbial communities after 4-year pot experiment. The results indicated that the degradation of PBAT biodegradable mulch film in soil was significantly higher than that of PE. The concentrations of chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, vitamin C, soluble protein, and nitrate in lettuce significantly increased in high application rates of PBAT mulch film. Soil urease (UR) activity increased with the increase of the PBAT application rates, whereas catalase (CAT) activity decreased. Moreover, the application of PBAT biodegradable mulch film significantly altered the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities. The relative abundances of the bacterial genus Chujaibacter and Pseudolabrys increased with high PBAT application rates. Beneficial fungi such as Amphinema and Trichoderma showed an increasing trend, while pathogenic fungi exhibited the opposite pattern. These trends were also validated with the functional classification of bacteria and fungi. Overall, our findings suggest that PBAT mulch film application exerts significant effects on the soil micro-ecological environment and crop growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f89ef4752824dd0b0d450db729fd5c7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f89ef4752824dd0b0d450db729fd5c72025-08-20T03:41:53ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211873410.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118734Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trialWeichang Gao0Zugui Tu1Xie Yin2Shuang Ming3Kai Cai4Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; Corresponding authors.Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, ChinaGuizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, ChinaGuizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, ChinaGuizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, Guizhou 550081, China; Corresponding authors.Poly (butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable mulch film has been considered a promising, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative to polyethylene. However, its long-term effects on crops and soil remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PBAT mulch film with three application rates (0.05 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg, and 5 g/kg), as well as polyethylene (PE) mulch film (0.05 g/kg), on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil microbial communities after 4-year pot experiment. The results indicated that the degradation of PBAT biodegradable mulch film in soil was significantly higher than that of PE. The concentrations of chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, vitamin C, soluble protein, and nitrate in lettuce significantly increased in high application rates of PBAT mulch film. Soil urease (UR) activity increased with the increase of the PBAT application rates, whereas catalase (CAT) activity decreased. Moreover, the application of PBAT biodegradable mulch film significantly altered the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities. The relative abundances of the bacterial genus Chujaibacter and Pseudolabrys increased with high PBAT application rates. Beneficial fungi such as Amphinema and Trichoderma showed an increasing trend, while pathogenic fungi exhibited the opposite pattern. These trends were also validated with the functional classification of bacteria and fungi. Overall, our findings suggest that PBAT mulch film application exerts significant effects on the soil micro-ecological environment and crop growth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010796PBAT biodegradable mulch filmLettuce physiologyLong-term degradation trialSoil microbial community |
| spellingShingle | Weichang Gao Zugui Tu Xie Yin Shuang Ming Kai Cai Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety PBAT biodegradable mulch film Lettuce physiology Long-term degradation trial Soil microbial community |
| title | Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial |
| title_full | Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial |
| title_short | Effects of PBAT biodegradable mulch on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) physiology and soil microbial community: Based on a long-term degradation trial |
| title_sort | effects of pbat biodegradable mulch on lettuce lactuca sativa l physiology and soil microbial community based on a long term degradation trial |
| topic | PBAT biodegradable mulch film Lettuce physiology Long-term degradation trial Soil microbial community |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010796 |
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