Plastic surfaces in soil: Analysis, reproduction and environmental effects of soil microplastic

• Applicant: Dr. Frederick Büks
• Subject Area: Soil Sciences
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514859618

In the past few years, global microplastic (MP) concentrations of up to 10 mg/kg dry soil have been detected in agricultural soils. In addition, the impact of particularly smaller particles on the health of soil life and the formation of soil structure have been shown. It is suggested, that these adverse effects are linked to the shape and specific surface area of soil MP as well as soil texture. The aim of this project is to: 1) improve a method for the selective, non-destructive and complete extraction of microplastics from soil samples. 2) compare the surface characteristics of naturally weathered soil MP with those of unweathered and artificially weathered MP. 3) develope a method for the artificial weathering of MP for laboratory tests, which includes both the photooxidative and the biogeochemical weathering phase. 4) determine the influence of MP on soil structure formation as a function of the degree of weathering, size, shape of plastic particles and the activity of soil fauna.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants