The effects of microplastics on soil nitrogen cycling

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the abstract and stated research gap and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 6 journals. Those papers have been cited 339 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 8 representative gaps

• Effect of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the soil-soybean system: A perspective on rhizosphere microbial community and soil element cycling (2024) · Environment International · cited 88× · doi

  As an exogenous carbon input, microplastics (MPs), especially biodegradable MPs, may significantly disrupt soil microbial communities and soil element cycling (CNPS cycling), but few studies have focused on this.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: soil cycling exogenous carbon input microplastics especially biodegradable disrupt microbial communities element cnps focused
• Soil Matrix Modulates Polystyrene Microplastic Toxicity to Eisenia fetida: From Acute Lethality to Oxidative Genotoxicity (2026) · Current Issues in Molecular Biology · doi

  Microplastic (MP) contamination in soils has raised widespread concern, yet the extent to which soil matrices regulate MP toxicity remains insufficiently characterized.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: microplastic contamination soils raised widespread concern extent soil matrices regulate toxicity remains insufficiently characterized
• Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastics Across Air, Water, and Soil in a Coastal Megacity of Southern India (2026) · Water Air & Soil Pollution · doi

  The gap in knowledge on microplastic distribution and ecological risk in coastal megacities. The need to investigate microplastics in soil, water, and air-associated dust.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: gap knowledge microplastic distribution ecological risk coastal megacities
• Plant functional traits, but not soil abiotic properties, mediate the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  The underlying pathways governing the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly are not well understood. The relative contributions of soil abiotic properties and plant functional traits in mediating microplastic legacy effects on community assembly are not well understood.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: underlying pathways governing legacy effects microplastics plant community
• Plant functional traits, but not soil abiotic properties, mediate the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi

  Future research should focus on multifactor field experiments that incorporate diverse microplastic types and complex plant communities. The study highlights the need to investigate the underlying mechanisms, specifically soil microbial succession and direct physiological indicators.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: future research focus multifactor field experiments incorporate diverse
• RETRACTED: Adverse impacts of microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and crop health in agricultural systems (2024) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · cited 37× · doi

  This review not only synthesizes current knowledge but also identifies significant knowledge gaps in understanding how microplastics interact with soil properties, microbial communities, and agricultural crops.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: knowledge review synthesizes current identifies significant gaps understanding microplastics interact soil properties microbial communities agricultural
• Microbial metabolism influences microplastic perturbation of dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils (2024) · The ISME Journal · cited 107× · doi

  Further research is needed to investigate the effects of microplastic pollution on agricultural soils. Further research is needed to examine the microbial transformation of dissolved organic matter released by microplastics. Further research is needed to develop strategies for managing microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: further research needed investigate effects microplastic pollution agricultural
• Microbial metabolism influences microplastic perturbation of dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils (2024) · The ISME Journal · cited 107× · doi

  The fate and composition of dissolved organic matter released from microplastics is not well understood. The effects of microplastic pollution on dissolved organic matter in agricultural soils are not well understood. The study aims to address this knowledge gap.

  generalstated research gapevidence 3/5
  Keywords: fate composition dissolved organic matter released microplastics well

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