Research Focus
Understanding the risks to soil microbial communities following the use of microplasticcontaminated digestate in agriculture
What environmental challenge does your research tackle?
Can soil perform its essential functions if it is contaminated with microplastics? Understanding the impact microplastics are having on agricultural soils, including the microbial communities that drive soil ecosystem processes. This refers to the extent to which soil can convert and store nutrients for plant uptake, the efficiency of decomposition processes, and any changes in soil structure resulting from microplastic introduction. Our fertiliser of choice is a byproduct of the biogas industry and can provide farms with essential nutrients, thereby reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers. However, we are
seeking to determine the impact of this fertiliser type on soil.
What is one thing you want everyone to know about your project?
The biogas industry can provide green energy in the form of gas to fuel our homes. Many of these plants process food waste from domestic and commercial sources, producing biomethane and a byproduct that can be used as an agricultural fertiliser. This is the circular waste economy that many are striving to achieve. How food reaches plants can cause issues.
Plastic packaging can break open, leading to microplastic contamination of the fertiliser, which in turn affects the soil and soil microbial communities.