PBAT degradable mulch film multidimensional degradation behavior and soil microenvironment effect

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1565.2025.05.005

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastic pollution caused by traditional mulch residues seriously threatens the ecological safety of farmland, while biodegradable mulch film still has microplastic release and soil environmental risks in practical application. In order to evaluate the degradation characteristics of biodegradable films and their long-term impacts on soil environment, this study was conducted to analyze the degradation process of white, silver-black and black films under the conditions of surface soil exposure(0 cm)and deep burial(10 cm)using poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)biodegradable films. The results showed that the degradation of mulch film was significantly higher in the deep soil layer than in the surface layer, while the effect of color on the degradation of mulch film was limited. The microplastics released from broken mulch could change the soil pore structure, resulting in a decrease in soil pH, an increase in soil electrical conductivity(EC), and a decrease in soil organic matter(SOM)content. The results provide a theoretical basis for the scientific application of degradable mulch film and the prevention and control of soil microplastic pollution.- DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1565.2025.05.005PBAT可降解地膜多维度降解行为及其土壤微环境效应冯芳,梁存,黄佳,刘微(河北大学化学与材料科学学院,河北保定 071002)摘要:传统地膜残留引发的微塑料污染严重威胁农田生态安全,而可降解地膜在实际应用中仍存在微塑料释放及土壤环境风险.为评估可降解地膜的降解特性及其对土壤环境的长期影响,本研究以聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二酯可降解地膜为研究对象,分析白色、银黑色和黑色地膜在土壤表层暴露(0 cm)与深层掩埋(10 cm)条件下的降解过程.结果表明,地膜在深层土壤中的降解程度显著高于表层,而颜色对地膜降解的影响有限.地膜破碎后,释放的微塑料可以改变土壤孔隙结构,使土壤pH下降、土壤电导率升高,以及土壤有机质含量降低.本研究成果为可降解地膜的科学应用与土壤微塑料污染防控提供了理论依据.关键词:可降解地膜;表面特征;土壤理化性质;微塑料中图分类号:X53 文献标志码:A 文章编号:1000-1565(2025)05-0488-09PBAT degradable mulch film multidimensional degradation behavior and soil microenvironment effectFENG Fang,LIANG Cun,HUANG Jia,LIU Wei(College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002,China)Abstract: Microplastic pollution caused by traditional mulch residues seriously threatens the ecological safety of farmland, while biodegradable mulch film still has microplastic release and soil environmental risks in practical application. In order to evaluate the degradation characteristics of biodegradable films and their long-term impacts on soil environment, this study was conducted to analyze the degradation process of white, silver-black and black films under the conditions of surface soil exposure(0 cm)and deep burial(10 cm)using poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT)biodegradable films. The results showed that the degradation of mulch film was significantly higher in the deep soil layer than in the surface layer, while the effect of color on the degradation of mulch film was limited. The microplastics released from broken mulch could change the soil pore structure, resulting in a decrease in soil pH, an increase in soil electrical conductivity(EC), and a decrease in soil organic matter(SOM)content. The results provide a theoretical basis for the scientific application of degradable mulch film and the prevention and control of soil microplastic pollution.- 收稿日期:2025-01-25;修回日期:2025-03-05 基金项目:国家自然科学基金项目(42077369) 第一作者:冯芳(2001—),女,河北大学在读硕士研究生,主要从事可降解微塑料的光老化和土壤降解方向的研究. E-mail:flf0123ff@126.com 通信作者:刘微(1980—),女,河北大学教授,主要从事土壤污染防治及修复方向的研究.E-mail:uhlw80@126.com 第5期冯芳等:PBAT可降解地膜多维度降解行为及其土壤微环境效应河北大学学报(自然科学版) 第45卷

Key words: degradable mulch film, surface characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, microplastics

CLC Number:

FENG Fang,LIANG Cun,HUANG Jia,LIU Wei. PBAT degradable mulch film multidimensional degradation behavior and soil microenvironment effect[J]. Journal of Hebei University(Natural Science Edition), 2025, 45(5): 488-496.

References

[1] HORTON A A, WALTON A, SPURGEON D J, et al. Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities[J]. Sci Total Environ, 2017, 586: 127-141. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190.
[2] QIN M, CHEN C Y, SONG B, et al. A review of biodegradable plastics to biodegradable microplastics: Another ecological threat to soil environments?[J]. J Clean Prod, 2021, 312: 127816. DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127816.
[3] FAN P, YU H, XI B, et al. A review on the occurrence and influence of biodegradable microplastics in soil ecosystems: Are biodegradable plastics substitute or threat?[J]. Environ Int, 2022, 163: 107244. DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107244.
[4] REAY M K, GRAF M, MURPHY M, et al. Higher potential leaching of inorganic and organic additives from biodegradable compared to conventional agricultural plastic mulch film[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2025, 488: 137147. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137147.
[5] CHEN L, MAO C K, YUAN S N, et al. Comparison of aging behavior and adsorption processes of biodegradable and conventional microplastics[J]. Chem Eng J, 2024, 502: 157915. DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2024.157915.
[6] ZHANG G H, LIU D, LIN J J, et al. Priming effects induced by degradable microplastics in agricultural soils[J]. Soil Biol Biochem, 2023, 180: 109006. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109006.
[7] CHAI X C, LI X X, MENG Y M, et al. Effects of aging behavior of biodegradable mulch on soil microbial community composition: An offline simulation study[J]. J Environ Manag, 2025, 373: 123945. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123945.
[8] GUO J J, HUANG X P, XIANG L, et al. Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil[J]. Environ Int, 2020, 137: 105263. DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2019.105263.
[9] HUANG M Y, ZHU Y, CHEN Y H, et al. Microplastics in soil ecosystems: Soil fauna responses to field applications of conventional and biodegradable microplastics[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2023, 441: 129943. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129943.
[10] LIAO Y L, TANG Q X, YANG J Y. Microplastic characteristics and microplastic-heavy metal synergistic contamination in agricultural soil under different cultivation modes in Chengdu, China[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2023, 459: 132270. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132270.
[11] KLÁRAŠ, SELONEN S, VAN GESTEL C A M, et al. Microplastics originated from agricultural mulching films affect enchytraeid multigeneration reproduction and soil properties[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2024, 479: 135592. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135592.
[12] SINGH N, ABDULLAH M M, MA X M, et al. Microplastics and nanoplastics in the soil-plant nexus: Sources, uptake, and toxicity[J]. Crit Rev Env Sci Tech, 2023, 53(18): 1613-1642. DOI:10.1080/10643389.2023.2196230.
[13] LI S T, DING F, FLURY M, et al. Macro- and microplastic accumulation in soil after 32 years of plastic film mulching[J]. Environ Pollut, 2022, 300: 118945. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118945.
[14] GAO M L, DONG Y M, DENG H, et al. Impact of microplastics on microbial-mediated soil sulfur transformations in flooded conditions[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2024, 468: 133857. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133857.
[15] YANG Y, MIN J, XUE T, et al. Complete bio-degradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)via engineered cutinases[J]. Nat Commun, 2023, 14(1): 1645. DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-37374-3.
[16] LI B R, LIU Q, YAO Z Z, et al. Mulch film: An overlooked diffuse source of organic ultraviolet absorbers in agricultural soil[J]. Environ Pollut, 2023, 318: 120935. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120935.
[17] XIE J Z, YAN Y, FAN S H, et al. Prediction model of photodegradation for PBAT/PLA mulch films: Strategy to fast evaluate service life[J]. Environ Sci Technol, 2022, 56(12): 9041-9051. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c01687.
[18] CONVERTINO F, CARROCCIO S C, COCCA M C, et al. The fate of post-use biodegradable PBAT-based mulch films buried in agricultural soil[J]. Sci Total Environ, 2024, 948: 174697. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174697.
[19] LIANG J C, CHEN X, DUAN X T, et al. Natural aging and adsorption/desorption behaviors of polyethylene mulch films: Roles of film types and exposure patterns[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2024, 466: 133588. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133588.
[20] CHAI X C, LI X X, MENG Y M, et al. Effects of aging behavior of biodegradable mulch on soil microbial community composition: An offline simulation study[J]. J Environ Manage, 2025, 373: 123945. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123945.
[21] TANG S, SUN P P, MA S J, et al. The interfacial behaviors of different arsenic species on polyethylene mulching film microplastics: Roles of the plastic additives[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2023, 442: 130037. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130037.
[22] YU Y X, FLURY M. Unlocking the potentials of biodegradable plastics with proper management and evaluation at environmentally relevant concentrations[J]. NPJ Mater Sustain, 2024, 2: 9. DOI:10.1038/s44296-024-00012-0.
[23] QI Y L, BERIOT N, GORT G, et al. Impact of plastic mulch film debris on soil physicochemical and hydrological properties[J]. Environ Pollut, 2020, 266: 115097. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115097.
[24] SANTINI G, PROBST M, GÓMEZ-BRANDÓN M, et al. Microbiome dynamics of soils covered by plastic and bioplastic mulches[J]. Biol Fertil Soils, 2024, 60(2): 183-198. DOI:10.1007/s00374-023-01781-x.
[25] SUN H R, SHI Y L, LI C H, et al. Factors controlling the heavy metal ion activity in soil contaminated by microplastics with different mulch durations: Partial least squares path model[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2024, 464: 133027. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133027.
[26] WANG K, MIN W, FLURY M, et al. Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance, soil structure and organic carbon in a cotton field[J]. Environ Pollut, 2024, 356: 124367. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124367.
[27] XU Z, ZHENG B J, YANG Y C, et al. Effects of biodegradable(PBAT/PLA)and conventional(LDPE)mulch film residues on bacterial communities and metabolic functions in different agricultural soils[J]. J Hazard Mater, 2024, 472: 134425. DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134425.
[28] BO L, SHUKLA M K, MAO X. Long-term plastic film mulching altered soil physicochemical properties and microbial community composition in Shiyang River Basin, Northwest China[J]. Appl Soil Ecol, 2024, 193: 105108. DOI:10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105108.
[29] WHALEN E D, GRANDY A S, GEYER K M, et al. Microbial trait multifunctionality drives soil organic matter formation potential[J]. Nat Commun, 2024, 15(1): 10209. DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-53947-2. (