Planting Enhances Soil Resistance to Microplastics: Evidence from Carbon Emissions and Dissolved Organic Matter Stability

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have become a global hotspot due to their widespread distribution in recent years. MPs frequently interact with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and microbes, thereby influencing the carbon fate of soils. However, the role of plant presence in regulating MPs-mediated changes in the DOM and microbial structure remains unclear. Here, we compared the mechanisms of soil response to 3 common nonbiodegradable MPs in the absence or presence of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radculus Pers) plants. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) analysis revealed that MPs reduced the chemodiversity and biodiversity of dissolved organic matter (DOM). MPs enhanced the degradation of lignin-like compounds and reduced the DOM stability. Comparative analysis showed that MPs caused less disturbance to the microbial composition and metabolism in planted soil than in unplanted soil. In unplanted soil, MPs stimulated fermentation while upregulating photoautotrophic activity in planted soil, thereby enhancing system stability. The rhizosphere effect mitigated MPs-induced CO₂ emissions. Overall, our study highlights the crucial role of rhizosphere effects in maintaining ecosystem stability under soil microbe-DOM-pollutant interactions, which provides a theoretical basis for predicting the resistance, resilience, and transitions of the ecosystem upon exposure to the anthropogenic carbon source.