EDDS and polystyrene interactions: implications for soil health and management practices

Abstract

Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) has been studied extensively for its potential use as an amendment in agriculture due to its numerous beneficial properties. The widespread usage of microplastics (MPs) poses a growing threat to plant growth. This study investigated the effects of Polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) and EDDS on soil pH, EC, organic matter (OM), available nutrients, and maize (Zea mays L.) growth in a calcareous soil. Results showed that both PS and EDDS had significant effects on soil pH, with higher concentrations leading to a decrease in pH. PSMPs negatively impacted soil health by increasing EC and decreasing OM, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). EDDS had potential applications in soil remediation and phytoremediation by decreasing EC and increasing N, P, and K. The interaction between EDDS and PSMPs suggests that their effects on soil pH may be modulated by each other. The study highlights the potential negative impacts of high concentrations of PS on soil health and the potential benefits of using EDDS at lower concentrations in soil remediation and phytoremediation. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and environmental impacts of EDDS and the combined effects of EDDS and PSMPs on soil properties and plant growth.

NOVELTY STATEMENT

Plastic pollution is a serious environmental issue affecting soil health worldwide, and this study sheds new light on the potential benefits of using EDDS at lower concentrations for soil remediation and phytoremediation. The findings reveal that EDDS can mitigate the negative impacts of PS on soil health and maize growth by improving nutrient availability, enhancing soil structure, and water retention. The study is the first to investigate the interactive effects of EDDS and PS on maize growth parameters across different levels of PS contamination. The results provide critical insights into the mechanisms underlying the mitigating effects of EDDS and highlight the need for further research on the environmental impacts of plastic pollution and effective management practices. Overall, this study presents a novel approach to mitigating the negative impacts of plastic pollution on soil health and crop production, with important implications for sustainable agriculture and environmental preservation.

This study shows that EDDS, at lower concentrations, can mitigate the negative impacts of PSMPS on soil health and maize growth. It is the first to examine interactions between EDDS and PSMPS across varying levels of contamination. The results point to the potential benefits of EDDS as a soil amendment to remediate MPs pollution, revealing insights into its mechanisms of action. Findings suggest possible solutions for MPs pollution in agriculture but call for more research to balance environmental goals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Both EDDS and PSMPs impacted soil pH, EC, OM, and nutrient levels.

• PSMPS caused pH decrease, increased EC, and reduced OM, N, P, and K levels, negatively affecting soil health.

• EDDS showed potential for soil remediation, increasing N, P, and K levels, and decreasing EC, with optimal concentrations.

• Interaction between EDDS and PSMPs influenced soil pH modulation, revealing interplay between their effects.

• PSMPs had significantly negative effects on maize growth parameters, including root and shoot dry weight, chlorophyll content, leaf area, and plant height.

• EDDS amendment mitigated PSMPs’s adverse impacts on maize growth, especially chlorophyll content and leaf area.

• Interaction between PSMPs and EDDS improved soil and plant health, possibly via chelation, property alteration, and enhanced nutrient availability.

• EDDS demonstrates promise as an environmentally friendly strategy to counteract the effects of PSMPs contamination on agricultural soils and crop productivity.

• Further research is essential to understand EDDS mechanisms and environmental impacts, as well as the combined effects of EDDS and PSMPs on soil and plant properties.

Keywords:

• EDDS
• maize
• microplastics
• polystyrene
• soil amendments
• soil fertility
• soil properties

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my family, who gave me the opportunity to finish this article (Dr. Farhang Rassaei, Mahdokht Massoud, Dr. Liza Rassaei, Dr. Farshad Rassaei, Dr. Janet Rassaei, and Farhad Rassaei).

Authors’ contributions

Farzad Rassaei: design of the work, the acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets during and/or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding regarding this manuscript.