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Influence of bioplastics´ biodegradation on soil quality
Paluchová, Natálie ; Doležalová Weissmannová, Helena (oponent) ; Kučerík, Jiří (vedoucí práce)
Over the past decade, the society has brought attention to microplastics. They are produced by various industries and spread across the environment. For long time, they were considered inert, without further effect on plants and any other living organisms, however as recent studies found out, they might be a serious threat. Therefore, several researchers, including us, begun to focus on their transport and transformation in the environment. Most of the researchers, however, focus only on their presence in the marine and fresh waters and hence their behaviour in air and soil remains rather unclear. Furthermore, bioplastics has been brought to the media spotlight. They are presented as an ecological alternative to solve all the problems mentioned so far (and more). But what is often forgotten, their main advantage might also be their bottleneck. For that reason, this master's thesis focuses on negative effects associated with the presence of microplastics (specifically poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate bioplastic) in soils as their common receptor. We combined respirometry, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and enzymatic assays to investigate physico-chemical changes in soil induced by the presence of the bioplastic. Our results showed a negative effect on soil organic matter and water retention in the soil. In this sense, priming effect was widely investigated as acceleration and also retardation of soil organic matter decomposition took place. We registered different influence of selected concentrations of biopolymer on the soil and also the influence of soil properties on the course of degradation. Last but not lest, increased enzymatic activities clearly suggested impact of biopolymer presence on the microbial community. Such findings let us conclude, that biopolymer addition leads to long-term impact on a range of soil ecosystem services.
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Influence of bioplastic biodegradation on soil properties
Stanislavová, Veronika ; Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena (oponent) ; Kučerík, Jiří (vedoucí práce)
Biodegradable plastics are gaining popularity as a desirable material in the market, particularly in the agricultural sector, where they are used as coatings and mulch films due to their favourable properties. This study investigated the impact of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB), an intracellular bacterial polymer, on various soil properties, including physical, chemical, and biological aspects, to assess its potential in agricultural use. Results showed that the P3HB had a negative effect on the soil dry matter content, aboveground biomass, and a slight decrease in soil pH. Moreover, the activity of selected enzymes was significantly enhanced when P3HB applicated solely or even more increased when combined with a specific amendment. The results varied depending on the amendment; the effects were negative, neutral or positive. The thermogravimetry analysis was used to assess the rate of P3HB biodegradation and the influence of P3HB on organic matter and water retention. It was found that the presence of amendment influenced the degradation rate of P3HB and other organic matter in the soil. Furthermore, the application of P3HB into the soil leads to the inhibition of plant (Zea mays L.) growth. The additions of amendments to soil prior to the application of P3HB improved this effect only marginally. It is concluded that biodegradation of P3HB supported the activity of the microbial community, which could eventually negatively influence the availability of essential nutrients in the soil. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the incorporation of organic amendments promoted the biodegradation of P3HB. Moreover, the results indicate that a combination of P3HB and biochar could improve soil water retention.
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Influence of bioplastics´ biodegradation on soil quality
Paluchová, Natálie ; Doležalová Weissmannová, Helena (oponent) ; Kučerík, Jiří (vedoucí práce)
Over the past decade, the society has brought attention to microplastics. They are produced by various industries and spread across the environment. For long time, they were considered inert, without further effect on plants and any other living organisms, however as recent studies found out, they might be a serious threat. Therefore, several researchers, including us, begun to focus on their transport and transformation in the environment. Most of the researchers, however, focus only on their presence in the marine and fresh waters and hence their behaviour in air and soil remains rather unclear. Furthermore, bioplastics has been brought to the media spotlight. They are presented as an ecological alternative to solve all the problems mentioned so far (and more). But what is often forgotten, their main advantage might also be their bottleneck. For that reason, this master's thesis focuses on negative effects associated with the presence of microplastics (specifically poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate bioplastic) in soils as their common receptor. We combined respirometry, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and enzymatic assays to investigate physico-chemical changes in soil induced by the presence of the bioplastic. Our results showed a negative effect on soil organic matter and water retention in the soil. In this sense, priming effect was widely investigated as acceleration and also retardation of soil organic matter decomposition took place. We registered different influence of selected concentrations of biopolymer on the soil and also the influence of soil properties on the course of degradation. Last but not lest, increased enzymatic activities clearly suggested impact of biopolymer presence on the microbial community. Such findings let us conclude, that biopolymer addition leads to long-term impact on a range of soil ecosystem services.
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