Unravelling the ecological ramifications of biodegradable microplastics in soil environment: A systematic review

Plastic pollution, especially microplastics (MPs), poses significant environmental challenges, with biodegradable plastics (BPs) often presented as sustainable alternatives. However, incomplete degradation of BPs in soil environment leads to the creation of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs), whose impacts remain inadequately understood. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 85 publications to assess the effects of BMPs on soil ecosystems, encompassing physical, chemical, and biological properties. BMPs influence soil texture, porosity, nutrient cycling, microbial diversity, and plant growth, with varying impacts depending on polymer type, concentration, and soil conditions. While BMPs can enhance soil organic matter and microbial activity at low concentrations, higher concentrations often alter nutrient availability and soil stability. Soil biota shows differential responses to BMPs, with potential implications for nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem functioning. Contradictory research findings underscore the need for long-term, field-based studies under varied environmental conditions. The insights from this review contribute to a deeper understanding of the ecological ramifications of BMPs in soil ecosystems, highlighting critical research gaps, advocating for multidisciplinary approaches to comprehensively evaluate impacts of BMPs.