About this Research Topic
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, have become widespread pollutants in terrestrial environments, including agricultural soils. Initial research predominantly examined their impacts in marine ecosystems, but recent studies have highlighted significant accumulation in soils. In agricultural soils, microplastics can alter critical factors such as water retention, aeration, and temperature regulation, affecting nutrient availability and root development. These changes impose abiotic stresses on plants and disrupt nutrient cycling by impacting soil microorganisms essential for organic matter decomposition. The interference of microplastics with plant-microbe interactions and their potential to adsorb toxic substances, which can be taken up by plants, further exacerbates stress responses. Research in plant nutrition and abiotic stress is essential to develop strategies to mitigate these adverse effects, ensuring sustainable agriculture and food security.
This research topic aims to comprehensively understand the impact of microplastics on soil health and plant physiology within agricultural ecosystems. By focusing on plant biology, the research aims to elucidate how microplastics influence soil’s physical and chemical properties, nutrient cycling, and the intricate interactions between soil, microbes, and plants. Specifically, this study seeks to investigate how microplastics alter soil properties such as water retention, aeration, and temperature regulation, and assess the consequent effects on nutrient availability and root development. It will examine how microplastics affect soil microbial communities that are crucial for decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients, thus impacting overall soil fertility. The project will explore the impact of microplastics on the complex interactions between soil microbes and plants, which are essential for nutrient uptake and plant health. Additionally, it will investigate the potential for microplastics to adsorb toxic substances and their subsequent uptake by plants, evaluating the risks to plant growth and productivity. By achieving these goals, the research aims to develop strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring food security.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of microplastics' impact on agricultural soils, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Plant-Soil Interactions: Studies on how microplastics affect soil structure, water retention, aeration, temperature regulation, and the subsequent impacts on plant root development and nutrient uptake.
o Microbial Dynamics: Research on the influence of microplastics on soil microbial communities, including changes in composition, function, and their role in nutrient cycling.
o Toxic Substance Adsorption: Investigations into the adsorption of toxic substances by microplastics and their uptake by plants, assessing the risks to plant health and productivity.
o Ecological and Physiological Impacts: Analyses of the broader ecological and physiological effects of microplastics on plant growth, stress responses, and overall plant health.
This research topic aims to comprehensively understand the impact of microplastics on soil health and plant physiology within agricultural ecosystems. By focusing on plant biology, the research aims to elucidate how microplastics influence soil’s physical and chemical properties, nutrient cycling, and the intricate interactions between soil, microbes, and plants. Specifically, this study seeks to investigate how microplastics alter soil properties such as water retention, aeration, and temperature regulation, and assess the consequent effects on nutrient availability and root development. It will examine how microplastics affect soil microbial communities that are crucial for decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients, thus impacting overall soil fertility. The project will explore the impact of microplastics on the complex interactions between soil microbes and plants, which are essential for nutrient uptake and plant health. Additionally, it will investigate the potential for microplastics to adsorb toxic substances and their subsequent uptake by plants, evaluating the risks to plant growth and productivity. By achieving these goals, the research aims to develop strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring food security.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of microplastics' impact on agricultural soils, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Plant-Soil Interactions: Studies on how microplastics affect soil structure, water retention, aeration, temperature regulation, and the subsequent impacts on plant root development and nutrient uptake.
o Microbial Dynamics: Research on the influence of microplastics on soil microbial communities, including changes in composition, function, and their role in nutrient cycling.
o Toxic Substance Adsorption: Investigations into the adsorption of toxic substances by microplastics and their uptake by plants, assessing the risks to plant health and productivity.
o Ecological and Physiological Impacts: Analyses of the broader ecological and physiological effects of microplastics on plant growth, stress responses, and overall plant health.
Keywords: microplastics, microbial communities, nutrient cycling, stress responses
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
