Abstract
Solanum nigrum L. has a delightful prospect as a hyperaccumulation plant for cadmium pollution remediation, and microplastic is a new type of pollution that has received wide attention. In this study, the effects of polyethylene microplastics (LDPE) (0.135, 0.27, 0.81 and 1.35 mg·kg-1) and cadmium (20 mg·kg-1) on the growth indexes and soil physical and chemical properties of Solanum nigrum L. were investigated in a 17-day microcosm experiment. The results showed that single LDPE contamination showed a trend of low concentration promotion and medium-high concentration inhibited the growth index of Solanum nigrum L. and soil physicochemical index, and single Cd contamination was more stressful to plants than single LDPE contamination, while low concentration of LDPE could reduce the effect of Cd on soil physical and chemical properties and promote plant growth and uptake of soil nutrients. These findings suggest that high concentrations of microplastics can inhibit the growth of Solanum nigrum L. alone or in combination with Cd, rather than reducing the toxicity of Cd.
Highlights
The results showed that single low density polyethylene (LDPE) contamination showed a trend of low concentration promotion and medium-high concentration inhibited the growth index of Solanum nigrum L. and soil physicochemical index, and single Cd contamination was more stressful to plants than single LDPE contamination, while low concentration of LDPE could reduce the effect of Cd on soil physical and chemical properties and promote plant growth and uptake of soil nutrients
Heavy metals significantly inhibited the fresh weight of Solanum nigrum L. root
LDPE-Cd2+ compound pollution inhibited the fresh weight of roots in the early growth stage of Solanum nigrum L. seedlings
Summary
In China, where plastics are widely used in agricultural ecosystem, the concentration of plastic particles in the soil is usually between 7100 kg−1 and 42,900 kg−1 (an average of 18,760 kg−1 Soil), of which 95% are between 0.05 and 1 mm (i.e. MPS) (Rillig, 2018). As such high concentrations of microplastics are found in agricultural ecosystem, it is critical to assess the impact of microplastics on plant-soil health. Gu et al, (2021) studied the combined toxicity of aged PVC microplastics and cadmium on wheat and found that aged PVC microplastics and low concentration Cd could synergistically inhibit the growth of wheat roots. It provides a theoretical basis for the further study on the combined effect of heavy metals and microplastics on biology
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