Applied Soil Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Comparing apples and apples; evaluating the impact of conventional and organic management on the soil microbial communities of apple orchards","authors":"Kate E. Matthews ,&nbsp;Martin F. Breed ,&nbsp;Erinne Stirling ,&nbsp;Lynne M. Macdonald ,&nbsp;Timothy R. Cavagnaro","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106470","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106470","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecological intensification of food production systems is gaining interest globally. Such processes seek to better support ecosystem services and improve soil health with approaches that have a stronger consideration for biological processes. Here, we investigated the effect of ecological intensification on soil health in an apple orchard context. To do this, we compared soil physicochemical properties and microbial diversity and composition across conventional orchards, organic orchards, and spatially paired remnant native ecosystem sites. Minimal differences in physicochemical properties were found between the conventional and organic orchards; however, microbial communities were distinct from each other. Organic management had no impact on either bacterial or fungal alpha diversity or heterogeneity but did increase dung saprotroph abundance. Soil physicochemical and microbial analysis revealed that orchards and native sites were significantly different, with orchards having significantly higher bacterial diversity and fungal heterogeneity. We found that soil physicochemical characteristics and microbial community parameters varied inconsistently between organic and conventional orchards. This variability is likely the result of legacy effects from historical land practices or inherent variation in management, irrespective of conventional or organic labels. In conclusion, apple orchard management was associated with distinct microbial communities and fungal trait abundance which may be indicative of alternate nutrient cycling and energy pathways. The similarities between organic and conventional apple orchard management highlight the necessity for a nuanced approach that identifies and promotes beneficial strategies for sustainable soil and agroecosystem management. We suggest that future research focus on individual practices/combination of practices of ecological intensification, rather than the broad farm classification (i.e. conventional vs organic).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106470"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomic insight into microbial regulation of nutrient cycling in amended bauxite residue under various planting strategies: Implications for soil formation","authors":"Yanjiao Tang ,&nbsp;Zuyan Wan ,&nbsp;Youfa Luo ,&nbsp;Yulu Chen ,&nbsp;Qiansong Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable rehabilitation of bauxite residue relies on a consistent supply of plant-available nutrients, with functional microbial communities playing a pivotal role in nutrient cycling. However, the mechanisms by which microbial functional genes regulate nutrient cycling during early plant growth in amended bauxite residue remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a greenhouse pot experiment to examine shifts in microbial functional genes related to carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycling under various planting strategies, including single and mixed plantings of <em>Lolium perenne</em>, <em>Cynodon dactylon</em>, and <em>Trifolium repens</em>, using metagenomic sequencing. Results showed that planting significantly reduced alkalinity (pH decreased by 1.58–1.67 units) and enhanced nutrient availability, with available N and P increasing by 12.47–18.00-fold and 4.07–8.56-fold, respectively, while enzyme activities increased 4.18–179-fold, from catalase to urease. Dominant C cycling pathways were the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle (28.1–29.2 %) and the dicarboxylate-4-hydroxybutyrate (DC4HB) cycle (29.1–30.4 %). N cycling was primarily mediated through organic nitrogen metabolism (47.6–49.0 %), whereas P cycling was driven by translocation-related processes (35.0–36.9 %). Planting with <em>Lolium perenne</em> enhanced C sequestration, whereas <em>Cynodon dactylon</em> promoted N and P cycling. Notably, mixed planting with <em>Trifolium repens</em> weakened certain metabolic pathways related to C, N, and P cycling. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that most nutrient cycling genes were positively correlated, with <em>glpx-SEBP</em>, <em>gltB</em>, and <em>phoU</em> identified as key regulatory genes. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) revealed that planting directly enhanced enzyme activity by improving residue physicochemical properties and indirectly regulated C, N, and P cycling genes through shifts in bacterial community composition. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria consistently dominated C, N, and P cycling gene groups. These findings provide mechanistic insights into microbial regulation of nutrient cycling and inform planting strategies for sustainable bauxite residue rehabilitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106469"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing microbial diversity for effective remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils","authors":"Samy Selim ,&nbsp;Mohammad Harun-Ur-Rashid","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metal contamination in soils presents a significant global environmental challenge, particularly in agricultural regions where it threatens food safety, soil health, and human well-being. This review explores the role of microbial communities in the remediation of heavy metals from contaminated soils, with an emphasis on the diversity and functionality of bacteria and fungi in these processes. Microorganisms play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycling, employing mechanisms such as bioaccumulation, detoxification, and transformation to mitigate the toxic effects of heavy metals. This review discusses various biotechnological approaches, such as bioaugmentation and biostimulation, which utilize microbes to enhance natural cleanup processes in polluted areas. Case studies from around the world highlight the practical applications of microbial remediation techniques, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing heavy metal concentrations in soils. The review also addresses the challenges in this field, including the need for tailored remediation strategies and the competition between indigenous and introduced microbial populations. Future research and technological advancements are crucial for optimizing microbial remediation processes, ensuring the sustainability of agricultural practices, and protecting environmental and human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106473"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oribatid mite taxa and composition associated with temperate habitats in Great Britain","authors":"Ainoa Pravia ,&nbsp;Carlos Barreto ,&nbsp;Frank Ashwood ,&nbsp;Aidan Keith","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Knowledge on the status of soil biodiversity and its variation across habitats is fundamentally important to soil monitoring. Oribatid mites are globally distributed, can be found in all terrestrial ecosystems and, being generally numerous and including various trophic traits, are important components in soil food webs for the ecosystem services they deliver. The Countryside Survey (CS) is an integrated monitoring programme in Great Britain, and here we analyse an existing dataset of oribatid mite records from soil invertebrate assessments of CS in 1998 that covered over 500 one-kilometre squares. Using vegetation-based classification (AVC) to represent broad habitat types, we tested differences in oribatid mite richness and community composition across these, and used indicator analysis to uncover taxa associations with habitats or habitat combinations. Furthermore, we explored links between species and soil properties using richness and prevalence across organic matter and pH gradients. Oribatid mite species richness and composition differed between habitat types. Lowland and Upland wooded habitats had highest species richness per core; richness was lower in the managed agricultural habitats (Crops &amp; Weeds, Tall Grass &amp; Herb, Fertile Grassland) and generally higher in wooded habitats and those typically with organic soils (Lowland Wooded, Upland Wooded, Moorland-Grass mosaic, Heath &amp; Bog). Oribatid mite richness increased steeply to ∼30 % organic matter. We list several species associated with AVCs that can potentially be used as indicators. These findings reinforce the link between oribatid mites, habitat, soil organic matter and pH, and provide a basis for mapping and further analyses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106471"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhizosphere microbial diversity drives differences of peppers N absorption","authors":"Xin Li ,&nbsp;Mingxing Zhang ,&nbsp;Chi Zhou ,&nbsp;Di Peng ,&nbsp;Yaoyu Zhou ,&nbsp;Xinqi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rhizosphere microbiota is crucial for biogeochemical cycling and plant nutrient uptake, but the molecular mechanisms by which it influences pepper nutrient traits remain poorly understood. Using four cultivars (Yuanzhu pepper, YZ; bell pepper, BE; line pepper, LN; and horn pepper, HR), we investigated the relationships between rhizosphere microbial composition, CNP functional genes, and NPK uptake/allocation in pepper organs. YZ exhibited 15 % greater rhizosphere available nitrogen (N) than BE and 26 % more than LN and HR. Similar trends occurred for root total N content and rhizosphere soil abundances of nitrification genes (<em>nxrA</em>, <em>amoA</em>2) and dissimilatory N reduction gene (<em>napA</em>) across cultivars. Notably, the relative abundance of the N mineralization gene <em>gdhA</em> was significantly higher in YZ, while the ammonification gene <em>ureC</em> was elevated in both YZ and BE compared to other cultivars. Within the rhizobacterial co-occurrence network, YZ and BE also enriched specific functional microbes in modules (#3, #15). The abundance of these modules (included <em>Arthrobacter</em>, <em>Leifsonia</em>, o_<em>Gaiellales,</em> etc.) positively correlated with N-related gene abundance and significantly influenced pepper N nutrient content. This indicated that rhizosphere-recruited microbes significantly drive N availability differences among pepper cultivars. However, these rhizosphere-enriched microorganisms minimally affected phosphorus activation. Modeling analysis revealed that bacterial module abundance, N-functional genes, and soil N collectively explained 90.3 % (approximately 2.18-fold that for P content [41.5 %]) of the variance in pepper aboveground N content. This study enhances our understanding of microorganism-mediated N cycling across pepper cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106472"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of fertilization strategies on arsenic uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.): Insights from biotic and abiotic perspectives","authors":"Siyao Liu ,&nbsp;Zhe Wang ,&nbsp;Kaiwen He ,&nbsp;Jerome Nriagu ,&nbsp;Ruixia Han ,&nbsp;Gang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fertilization regulates soil organic matter and microbial communities, which affect arsenic behavior in rice rhizospheres, but the coupled mechanisms remain unclear. This study systematically explored the effects of fertilization strategies on soil properties including dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics, microbial communities, and arsenic behavior based on a field experiment conducted over a full rice growth cycle in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers increased soil pH by up to 33 % and elevated the concentration of DOM by 1.5-fold, but had different effects on microbial community and arsenic-related functional genes. High proportion of sludge-based organic fertilizer maintained neutral soil pH while reducing microbial alpha diversity and altering microbial community composition. Whereas manure-based organic fertilizer application significantly improved the DOM aromaticity, promoting arsenic mobilization and increasing pore water arsenic concentrations. High-throughput qPCR revealed that microbial As(V) reductase genes governed arsenic mobility via As(V)-to-As(III) conversion, while elevated arsenic methylation gene abundance in organic fertilizer treatments enhanced volatilization, reducing grain arsenic accumulation. In general, the application of a high proportion of sludge- and manure-based organic fertilizers increased rice biomass by 1.3 to 2.2-fold, but had no significant effect on grain yield or the arsenic content of brown rice. Nevertheless, the long-term organic fertilizer use showed promising potential for improving soil quality, enhancing crop productivity, and mitigating arsenic accumulation. These findings demonstrate that optimized organic fertilization offers a sustainable strategy to improve soil health and reduce rice arsenic risks, supporting food safety in contaminated areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106474"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil microbes and nutrient inputs influence root nodulation and tree performance in Alnus glutinosa","authors":"Konstantinos Georgopoulos ,&nbsp;T. Martijn Bezemer ,&nbsp;Lars Vesterdal ,&nbsp;Kaiyi Li ,&nbsp;Léon de Nobel ,&nbsp;Naksha Kasal ,&nbsp;Sofia I.F. Gomes","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The symbiotic relationship between the nitrogen-fixing bacteria <em>Frankia alni</em> and the pioneer tree species <em>Alnus glutinosa</em> plays an important role for tree performance, helping trees thrive in nitrogen-poor environments. However, <em>F. alni</em> nodulation can vary greatly between different soils and this could be due to biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil. Here we examine how microbial communities from young (∼10 years) and mature (≥100 years) forests and gradients of available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) influence <em>F. alni</em> nodulation and tree performance. In mesocosm experiments, <em>A. glutinosa</em> seedlings were inoculated with bacteria, fungi, or both, cultured from young and mature forest soils, alongside <em>F. alni</em>. The impacts of N and P availability were examined through controlled nutrient manipulations. Results demonstrated that fungal communities from mature forests suppressed the growth-promoting effects of <em>F. alni</em>, although nodule biomass itself was not directly influenced. Further, we isolated and identified bacteria and fungi that were found to contribute to the observed inhibitory effects on <em>F. alni</em>-mediated growth promotion. Increased N availability significantly reduced nodule biomass, and we established a threshold at which reliance on symbiosis diminished. Conversely, P-addition stimulated nodulation and tree growth. These findings highlight the pivotal influence of N and P availability in determining the <em>A. glutinosa-F. alni</em> symbiosis, while also providing evidence that specific microbes in the soil influence these dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106466"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermodynamic response of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria in vegetable soils across Yangtze River Basin","authors":"Yubing Dong ,&nbsp;Jingfan Xu ,&nbsp;Junqian Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhonglong Wang ,&nbsp;Fanghu Sun ,&nbsp;Zhengqin Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) are key drivers of nitrous oxide (N₂O) production. Understanding their thermodynamic response parameters is critical for developing effective N₂O mitigation strategies under global warming scenarios. However, the thermodynamic response parameters of AOA and AOB in relation to potential ammonia oxidation (PAO) rates and N₂O production remain poorly understood. This study evaluates the contributions of AOA and AOB to nitrite (NO₂⁻) and N₂O production in representative greenhouse vegetable soils of the Yangtze River Basin utilizing combined inhibitor approaches. The thermodynamic responses of AOA and AOB were assessed across a temperature gradient of 5–45 °C using the square root growth (SQRT) and macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) models. Results revealed that N₂O production was closely linked to PAO rates, which varied significantly (0.91 to 25.98 μg g⁻¹ d⁻¹) among soil types. The theoretical temperature ranges for AOA and AOB were −7.67 to 56.94 °C and −7.06 to 54.40 °C, respectively. AOA demonstrated a significantly higher optimal activity temperature (T_opt) than AOB, with differences of 6.05 ± 2.33 °C (SQRT) and 6.72 ± 2.34 °C (MMRT). Furthermore, AOA exhibited greater temperature sensitivity (T_{s_max}) compared to AOB. In conclusion, AOA demonstrates higher activity in high-temperature environments and greater sensitivity to temperature fluctuations, indicating a more pronounced response to N₂O emissions under global warming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106464"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Manganese concentration influences nitrogen cycling in agricultural soil","authors":"Avishesh Neupane ,&nbsp;Elizabeth M. Herndon ,&nbsp;Jennifer M. DeBruyn ,&nbsp;Arjun Chhetri ,&nbsp;Sindhu Jagadamma","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Manganese (Mn) can modulate nitrogen (N) transformations in soil, yet its role in agroecosystems remains understudied. We conducted a 51-day microcosm incubation with agricultural soils differing in long-term N history (N₀, no added N; N₁, added 225 kg N ha⁻¹ for a duration of 27 years) and amended with soluble Mn at 0 (M₀), 50 (M₁), or 250 (M₂) mg kg⁻¹ and <em>Glyceria striata</em> (Lam.) residue. In N₁ soils, Mn additions (both M₁ and M₂) lowered total mineral N by 25 % relative to N₁M₀ at day 51 and reduced 51-day cumulative N₂O by 32 % (N₁M₁) and 42 % (N₁M₂<strong>)</strong> vs. N₁M₀, whereas effects in N₀ were negligible. Mn also depressed ammonia-oxidizing bacterial <em>amo</em>A gene transcripts at day 15 in N₁M₂ vs. N₁M₀ (2.5 fold change). This reduction was likely due to increased N loss via complete denitrification to N₂ through microbial pathways such as nitrate/nitrite-dependent manganese oxidation (NDMO), where bacteria directly used the added Mn²⁺ to reduce nitrate (NO₃⁻) and nitrite (NO₂⁻) to N₂ or as Mn dependent-ammonia oxidation (Mnammox) where bacteria oxidized ammonium (NH₄⁺) to N₂, using Mn oxides as electron acceptors that formed from the oxidation of the added Mn. Other contributing mechanisms may include Mn-induced N immobilization, toxicity, and changes in the microbial community. These mechanistic results indicate that background Mn availability and redox dynamics can shape nitrification–denitrification pathways under N-rich conditions. We highlight how native Mn pools and redox state may help explain observed variability in N losses and greenhouse gas production across agricultural soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106460"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil constituents mediate the effects of microplastics from biodegradable mulch on soil biogeochemical properties","authors":"Casandra Leach ,&nbsp;Ekta Tiwari ,&nbsp;Seeta Sistla","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Terrestrial microplastics are increasing in abundance and are an emerging contaminant of concern, particularly in agroecosystems where plastic mulch use and subsequent soil contamination are prevalent. In response to this issue, biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) have been promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil fuel-based mulches. BDMs are designed to be tilled back into the soil where they are expected to degrade; however, this has proven to be dependent on soil type, climate, and polymeric composition, thus inconsistent, potentially leading to the accumulation of biodegradable microplastics (BDMPs) in soil that can have adverse effects like those of microplastics generated from conventional, non-biodegradable mulches. To evaluate the environmental impact of this conventional plastic mulch alternative, this 2-month incubation study explored the effects of BDMPs derived from PBAT-based BDM on a suite of soil health indicators, including physical soil properties, extractable nutrients, and microbial activities. Using laboratory-prepared soils amended with a BDMP concentration of 1 % (w/w), we assessed how clay mineralogy and organic matter content influence soil–BDMP interactions under controlled conditions. Our results suggest there is a significant effect of BDMPs on soil moisture and nutrient cycling with a potential negative priming effect, particularly in soils where organic matter is limited. While BDMP presence altered soil C pools, a qualitative analysis suggests the BDMPs remained largely undegraded by the end of the incubation. Additionally, clay mineralogy significantly mediated the BDMP effects on physical soil properties. These findings suggest that BDMPs have the potential to influence soil properties and functions relative to baseline soil characteristics, underscoring the need for further research to fully understand their environmental implications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"215 ","pages":"Article 106461"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145096074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}