MICROPLASTIC EFFECTS ON SOIL NITROGEN STORAGE, NITROGEN EMISSIONS, AND AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION IN RELATION TO SOIL HEALTH AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY: MECHANISM AND FUTURE CONSIDERATION

Umair Sarfraz¹Yin Sen Qian¹Qiaoqiao Yu¹Yifan Cao¹Xiaoyi Jiang¹Nida Mahreen²Rongrong Tao¹Quan Ma¹Min Zhu^1,3Jinfeng Ding^1,3Chunyan Li^1,3Wenshan Guo^1,3,4Xinkai Zhu^1,3,4*

• ¹Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China, Yangzhou, China
• ²Horticulture Research Institute Ayyub Agriculture Research Institute Faisalabad Pakistan, Faisalbad Punjab, Pakistan
• ³Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China, Yangzhou, China
• ⁴Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China, Yangzhou, China

Microplastic contamination in agricultural soils is emerging as a significant environmental challenge due to its detrimental effects on soil health, nitrogen cycling, and crop productivity. This review paper synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of various microplastics, specifically polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP), on agricultural systems, with a particular focus on their interactions with nitrogen dynamics and ammonia volatilization processes. Microplastics enter agricultural soils through multiple sources, including plastic mulching, irrigation, and application of biosolids, leading to alterations in soil physical and chemical properties, nutrient availability, and microbial activity.These changes negatively influence critical soil processes such as nitrogen mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification, thereby reducing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and increasing ammonia volatilization. Consequently, these disturbances manifest in reduced crop growth and productivity, particularly affecting crops such as wheat. This review also explores biochar as a promising remediation strategy, highlighting its potential to mitigate microplasticinduced disruptions in soil ecosystems by improving soil structure, enhancing nitrogen retention, and reducing ammonia emissions. However, the paper identifies significant knowledge gaps, including the need for standardized methodologies and long-term field studies to understand the cumulative impacts of microplastics comprehensively. To address microplastic pollution effectively, integrated approaches combining scientific research, sustainable agricultural practices, and robust policy frameworks are recommended. This will ensure agricultural sustainability, soil fertility, and food security amidst growing environmental concerns.