Project Details
Projekt
Tire wear particles as a risk for agroecosystem functioning: temporal aspects, nitrogen cycling and zinc dynamics
Subject Area
Soil Sciences
Term
since 2026
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 569207620
Tyre wear particles (TWP) contribute to about 60 % of total microplastic emissions in Central Europe and lead to soil contamination. However, there is a significant gap in understanding the effects of TWPs on the soil-plant system and the underlying mechanisms, as previous studies have focused on single processes and used unaged or fresh TWP, which differ significantly from environmental TWP. We therefore propose a series of experiments conducted by TU Darmstadt and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture to address three important research gaps: 1. changes in TWP effects on the soil-plant system during particle aging; 2. TWP effects on the soil nitrogen cycle and its relation to plant nutrition; 3. Zinc (Zn) from TWP fate and the effects in the soil-plant system. The proposed project combines our expertise in chemical analysis and advanced biological methods to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of TWP on agroecosystems. In WP1, we will assess the effects of fresh and aged TWP on the soil-plant system. Since the physical and chemical properties of TWP are related to age, ageing may alter the long-term effects of TWP on the environment. Therefore, we will conduct a comparative study with fresh and soil-aged TWP particles to investigate the changes in their physical and chemical properties during the aging process and evaluate the potential effects on plant properties in comparison. In WP2, we will investigate the effects of TWP on the soil nitrogen cycle as a key mechanism of impact on the soil-plant system, including interactions with another factor of global change. In particular, we will holistically investigate the effects of TWP at different TWP concentrations and different N depositions. Our experimental design will allow us to assess both the direct and indirect effects of TWP on crop development, nutrition and health through changes in microbial communities. In WP3 we investigate the effects of TWP on the Zn cycle in the soil and the Zn concentration in plants, as TWP contain significant amounts of Zn that can be released into the soil. We will therefore conduct an inverse stable 67Zn isotope experiment with different crops, fertilizer types and N depositions to investigate the fate of Zn in the soil-plant system and influencing factors. Our results will improve the understanding of the effects of TWP on soil, plants and food production and help to better assess risks and develop strategies for healthy food.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
Switzerland
Cooperation Partner
Privatdozentin Dr. Else Bünemann-König
