Polyester microfiber and natural organic matter impact microbial communities, carbon-degraded enzymes, and carbon accumulation in a clayey soil

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 405; p. 124701
• Main Authors: Guo, Q.Q., Xiao, M.R., Ma, Y., Niu, H., Zhang, G.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.03.2021
• Subjects: Enzymatic activity; Microbial communities; Polyester microfiber; Soil organic carbon; Microbial communities; Polyester microfiber; Enzymatic activity; Soil organic carbon
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124701

Microplastics can alter microbial communities and enzymatic activities in soils. However, the influences of microplastics on soil carbon cycling which driven by microbial communities remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of polyester microfiber (PMF) and natural organic matter（OM）on soil microbial communities, carbon-degraded enzymes, and carbon accumulation through an incubation experiment. Our results showed that the addition of PMF increased the activities of soil cellulase and laccase but did not impact soil bacterial and fungal communities too much. However, the addition of OM largely altered soil microbial communities and the activities of carbon-degraded enzymes, then mitigated the PMF effects on the activities of soil cellulase and laccase. On the other hand, greater alpha diversity of bacterial community attached on PMF was observed than those in the surrounding soils. The interaction of PMF and OM increased the richness of bacterial community in soils and on PMF. More importantly, we observed that the accumulation of natural organic carbon in soils reduced with increasing PMF. Thus, our results provide valuable insights into the effects of microplastics on soil organic carbon dynamics and microbial communities, and further work is required to clarify the biochemical processes at the surface of microplastics. [Display omitted] •Polyester microfiber increased the richness of soil microbial communities.•The α-diversity of bacterial on polyester microfiber was higher than that in soils.•Polyester microfiber increased the activities of soil laccase and cellulase.•Polyester microfiber decreased the accumulation of natural organic carbon in soils.