Effects of microplastics polluted soil on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L.

This study employed two prevalent plastic products - straws and microfiber as microplastics (MPs) to elucidate their largely unexplored effects on soil’s properties and the growth of the tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.). For this experiment, a completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted where, straw - polypropylene (PP), microfiber - polyester (PES) + polyamide (PA), and their combinations (PP + PES + PA) were mixed with soil using different concentrations – 0% (control), 0.4%, 1%, and 2% (treatments) and kept for 45 days at room temperature. The findings demonstrated that incorporating 2% mixed MPs in soil significantly decreased bulk density and electrical conductivity 7.29% and 67.3%, respectively, while soil pH increased 17.84% in cultures containing 1% microfiber. Maximum water holding capacity (MWHC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil organic matter (SOM) showed varied responses based on MPs type and concentration. Specifically, MWHC increased 16.4% with 2% microfiber but declined 13.3% with 0.4% straw. The highest decreased (30.65%) in SOC and SOM were evident in cultures with 1% microfiber whereas increased 9.68% and 8.33% in cultures with 0.4% straw. In terms of the growth traits of S. lycopersicum, substantial reductions in plant height (56.37%), leaf number (54.37%), and girth diameter (56.43%) were observed in 2% straw containing cultures. Although no plant mortality was noted, the most pronounced reductions in leaf area (62.44%) and total plant biomass (68.16%) occurred in 2% microfiber cultures. Therefore, the ramifications of these findings may contribute to a deeper comprehension of the mechanisms and effects of MPs on soil properties and above-ground plant growth.