Effect of biodegradable poly-3-hydroxybutyrate amendment on the soil biochemical properties and fertility under varying sand loads

Abstract Background Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a bacterial intracellular carbon and energy storage polymer, used as thermoplastic polyester in wide array of industrial agricultural applications. However, how the soil microbiome fertility are altered by exogenously applied P3HB has been relatively unexplored. This study aimed to assess effects addition nutrient restricted soil: its biological properties lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L.) biomass production. The experiment was designed evaluate impacts spatial arrangement organic-rich (soil organic matter, particles) versus poor fractions matrix with confounding factors such variable microbial biomass, inherent nutrient/energy status, different water relations (due hydrophysical augmented sand at ratios). Results results revealed that soils induced inconsistent contradictory changes abundance well most enzymatic activities. differences were conditioned content both under presence or absence. On other hand, dehydrogenase, urease activities, basal substrate-induced respirations mostly enhanced addition, directly increasing (several respiration types). Nevertheless, significantly inhibited Conclusions introduction boosts activity owing preferential utilization C source, which depletes N strongly inhibits plant growth. Enhanced P3HB-amended high (60–80%) suggested nutrient-impoverished can temporarily replace SOM source for communities due shift their structure preferentially P3HB-degrading microbiome. Graphical