Investigating the Impact of Microplastics Type of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Rice Plants

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), which are emerging pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, could potentially impact plant growth. One of the least explored aspects of crop development is seed germination, a crucial stage in the plant's lifecycle. This study conducted soil cultivation trials to investigate the effects of 1% (w/w) concentrations of polyethylene (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs on rice growth over a 15‐day period. Parameters such as fresh weight, shoot height, root length, chlorophyll levels, and MPs identification in the roots were observed. The findings revealed the accumulation of 6–9 MP items in the roots. PET MPs inhibited root elongation (15%–20%), reduced shoot height (15%–30%), and decreased rice fresh weight (12%–37%). MPs PET, PP, and PS contamination reduced the content of chlorophyll a (15%–43%), b (21%–41%), and total (11%–40%) in rice leaves. This study enhances our understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of these three types of MPs on rice. The utilization of this data will further inform our understanding of MPs' behavior in soil vegetation and provide valuable insights into their land‐based impacts.