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Biodegradable plastics: Effects on functionality and fertility of two different soils

Authors :
Salvatore Rapisarda
Claudio Marzadori
Paola Gioacchini
Martina Mazzon
Claudio Ciavatta
Daniela Montecchio
Mazzon, Martina
Gioacchini, Paola
Montecchio, Daniela
Rapisarda, Salvatore
Ciavatta, Claudio
Marzadori, Claudio
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.

Details

ISSN :
09291393
Volume :
169
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Applied Soil Ecology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....183ee7c190e6c9e7e24ffbb8cfe44dd3