[Effects of Different Microplastics in Soil on Nitrogen Absorption and Metabolism in Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.)].
To illuminate the differences in the effects of different types of microplastics (MPs, size<5 mm) on crop nitrogen absorption and metabolism, the degradable polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) and undegradable polyethylene (PE) were selected for vegetable pot experiments with three doses (0.5%, 1%, and 3%). The responses of inorganic nitrogen content, plant growth, nitrogen absorption, and metabolism enzyme activity to soil MPs pollution in the soil-lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) system was investigated. The results showed that MPs significantly hindered the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) and reduction and accumulation of nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>-N) in lettuce, while increasing soil C/N and ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N) content. The total nitrogen (TN) content of soil under the PE treatment was lower than that of the PLA and PBAT treatments for 0.25-0.52 g·kg<sup>-1</sup> and 0.33-0.52 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. PBAT treated lettuce had significantly lower dry weight and accumulated N uptake compared to those in the PLA and PE treatments (<i>P</i><0.05). The 1% dose resulted in the lowest antioxidant enzyme and nitrate reductase (NR) activities and the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) content, with NR activity and MDA content being 15.19%-42.0% and 2.68-3.11 times of the control, respectively. Regarding to the mechanism, N uptake by lettuce was significantly negatively correlated with SOC (<i>P<</i>0.01). In summary, the MPs input to soil can reduce the activity of N metabolism enzymes in lettuce. The degradable PBAT significantly reduced the N uptake, and the oxidative damage to lettuce was greater under moderate pollution.
Authors
- Xin Tong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2849-7683)
- Jiayi Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7354-4306)
- Zhi Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8404-4937)
- Xiao‐San Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4314-7216)
- Xuewen Yao
- Xin Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-3395)
- Tingting Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7362-6608)
- H H Guo
Institutions
- Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (CN)
- Jiangsu Institute of Meteorological Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PubMed
- Published
- 2025-06-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.13227/j.hjkx.202404195
- Primary Topic
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Type
- article