Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes
Abstract Background Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a biodegradable plastic that may affect soil quality and plant growth. To explain the observed deterioration of plant growth, this study investigated the effects of P3HB microplastics on the soil microbiome and its activity related to content of n...
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SpringerOpen
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00814-x |
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| author | Martin Brtnicky Jiri Holatko Marek Koutny Jiri Kucerik Tereza Hammerschmiedt Tivadar Baltazar Jana Sera Antonin Kintl Vaclav Pecina |
| author_facet | Martin Brtnicky Jiri Holatko Marek Koutny Jiri Kucerik Tereza Hammerschmiedt Tivadar Baltazar Jana Sera Antonin Kintl Vaclav Pecina |
| author_sort | Martin Brtnicky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a biodegradable plastic that may affect soil quality and plant growth. To explain the observed deterioration of plant growth, this study investigated the effects of P3HB microplastics on the soil microbiome and its activity related to content of nutrients and their transformation processes. A pot experiment was conducted using soil contaminated with five different doses of P3HB, both with and without maize. Soil mineral nitrogen forms, microbial properties as well as plant biomass were determined. Results P3HB significantly altered soil properties by stimulating microbial respiration, enhancing carbon turnover, and shifting nitrogen forms, notably reducing NO₃⁻ availability. The fungal community was more sensitive to P3HB compared to the bacterial one. Fungal genera such as Tetracladium, Exophiala, and Pseudogymnoascus were stimulated; others such as Gibberella and Gibellulopsis declined. In the bacterial community, P3HB promoted the growth of copiotrophic P3HB degraders (e.g., Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria); increased the abundance of anaerobes (Clostridia); decreased nitrifying groups (Nitrososphaeria, Nitrospiria); and reduced oligotrophic taxa (Vicinamibacteria, Thermoleophilia). These changes led to altered nutrient cycling, including inhibited nitrification and reduced mineral nitrogen availability, contributing to decreased maize growth. Conclusions Soil contamination with ≥ 1% P3HB microplastics disrupts microbial structure and nutrient dynamics, with potential negative effects on soil fertility and plant productivity. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c73125328ff7432ea35b4b60db3cd4a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2196-5641 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
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| series | Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-c73125328ff7432ea35b4b60db3cd4a42025-08-20T04:01:53ZengSpringerOpenChemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture2196-56412025-07-0112111910.1186/s40538-025-00814-xBiodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processesMartin Brtnicky0Jiri Holatko1Marek Koutny2Jiri Kucerik3Tereza Hammerschmiedt4Tivadar Baltazar5Jana Sera6Antonin Kintl7Vaclav Pecina8Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Environmental Protection Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in ZlinDepartment of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Environmental Protection Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in ZlinDepartment of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in BrnoAbstract Background Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a biodegradable plastic that may affect soil quality and plant growth. To explain the observed deterioration of plant growth, this study investigated the effects of P3HB microplastics on the soil microbiome and its activity related to content of nutrients and their transformation processes. A pot experiment was conducted using soil contaminated with five different doses of P3HB, both with and without maize. Soil mineral nitrogen forms, microbial properties as well as plant biomass were determined. Results P3HB significantly altered soil properties by stimulating microbial respiration, enhancing carbon turnover, and shifting nitrogen forms, notably reducing NO₃⁻ availability. The fungal community was more sensitive to P3HB compared to the bacterial one. Fungal genera such as Tetracladium, Exophiala, and Pseudogymnoascus were stimulated; others such as Gibberella and Gibellulopsis declined. In the bacterial community, P3HB promoted the growth of copiotrophic P3HB degraders (e.g., Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria); increased the abundance of anaerobes (Clostridia); decreased nitrifying groups (Nitrososphaeria, Nitrospiria); and reduced oligotrophic taxa (Vicinamibacteria, Thermoleophilia). These changes led to altered nutrient cycling, including inhibited nitrification and reduced mineral nitrogen availability, contributing to decreased maize growth. Conclusions Soil contamination with ≥ 1% P3HB microplastics disrupts microbial structure and nutrient dynamics, with potential negative effects on soil fertility and plant productivity. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00814-xBiodegradable plasticsBacteriaFungiNitrificationSoil nitrogen |
| spellingShingle | Martin Brtnicky Jiri Holatko Marek Koutny Jiri Kucerik Tereza Hammerschmiedt Tivadar Baltazar Jana Sera Antonin Kintl Vaclav Pecina Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture Biodegradable plastics Bacteria Fungi Nitrification Soil nitrogen |
| title | Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| title_full | Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| title_fullStr | Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| title_short | Biodegradable microplastics impact on soil: how poly-3-hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| title_sort | biodegradable microplastics impact on soil how poly 3 hydroxybutyrate alters microbial diversity and nitrogen mineralization processes |
| topic | Biodegradable plastics Bacteria Fungi Nitrification Soil nitrogen |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-025-00814-x |
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