Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass

Dose-Dependent Effects of a Corn Starch-Based Bioplastic on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): Implications for Growth, Biochemical Parameters, and Nutrient Content

“…Similarly, Qi et al [ 24 ] showed that wheat plants treated with 1% biodegradable macro- and micro- starch-based BP had a reduced vegetative growth. Brown et al [ 20 ], Graf et al [ 44 ], and Liu et al [ 45 ] also mentioned the negative effects of biodegradable plastic on plant growth in maize. Serrano-Ruiz et al [ 46 ] investigated different types of plastic and bioplastic mulches and showed a decrease in the amount of biomass and vegetative growth and a shrinking of the leaves in lettuce and tomato plants.…”

“…According to this theory, it can be assumed that with the accumulation of BP in the soil, an increase in the adhesion of molecules in the soil occurred, and the plant could have lost the capability to absorb water and nutrients, especially P. In addition, the presence of biodegradable plastics in the soil could reduce the available P content in the rhizosphere by inhibiting soil enzyme activities [ 64 , 65 ]. Graf et al [ 44 ] reported that the P content of maize shoots was decreased in the presence of high concentrations of macroplastic mulch residues, confirming the inhibition of nutrient uptake into the shoots at high concentrations.…”