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Biodegradable plastics: Effects on functionality and fertility of two different soils
- Source :
- Applied Soil Ecology. 169:104216
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2022.
-
Abstract
- In agriculture, the use of soil biodegradable mulch films could represent an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic films. However, soil biodegradable mulch films incorporated into the soil through tillage, being not only a physical but also a biogeochemical input, is expected to influence the soil quality by affecting its functions. Therefore, the eco-compatibility of these biodegradable plastics needs to be evaluated for their impact on different soil functions. To understand the effect of biodegradable plastics on soil quality (i.e. microbial biomass, nitrogen cycle, and activity of soil enzymes involved in the biochemical processes of carbon and nitrogen), we added increasing quantities of biodegradable plastics in two different soils: a loamy (Cambisol) and sandy (Arenosol) soil. The results highlight that the carbon added through the biodegradable plastics influenced the processes linked to carbon and nitrogen cycles. Significant effects were observed mainly with the highest dose of biodegradable plastics added (1%), resulting in a higher growth of microbial biomass, increased carbon mineralisation, and increased immobilisation of available nitrogen. The results also underline the importance of evaluating the impact of biodegradable plastics in different soils because all the processes considered are also influenced also by soil physicochemical characteristics.
- Subjects :
- Cambisol
Ecology
Biodegradable plastics Soil quality Soil respiration Soil microbial activity Soil enzyme activities
Soil Science
Biomass
complex mixtures
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Soil quality
Soil functions
Environmental chemistry
Loam
Soil water
Environmental science
Mulch
Nitrogen cycle
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 09291393
- Volume :
- 169
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Applied Soil Ecology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....183ee7c190e6c9e7e24ffbb8cfe44dd3