Differential effects of microplastics on soil organic carbon via lignin phenols and amino sugars in soil aggregates

Researchers from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, et al. have conducted a study entitled “Differential effects of microplastics on soil organic carbon via lignin phenols and amino sugars in soil aggregates”. This study was published in Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, Volume 19, Issue 7.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) stability depends on plant- and microbial-derived carbon, while microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils affect SOC dynamics—yet their aggregate-specific impacts on carbon sources remain unclear. The study conducted a 140-day corn pot experiment with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and conventional polyethylene (PE) MPs, analyzing their effects on macroaggregates (0.25–2 mm) and microaggregates (

For more detailed information, the full paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-025-2010-y.