Microplastics affect activity and spatial distribution of C, N, and P hydrolases in rice rhizosphere

Microplastics provide a new ecological niche for microorganisms, and the accumulation levels of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems are higher than those marine ecosystems. Here, we applied zymography to investigate how MPs — polyethylene [PE], polyvinyl chloride [PVC]) at two (0.01% 1% soil weight) impacted spatial distribution hydrolases, nutrient availability, rice growth paddy soil. increased above-ground biomass by 13.0%–15.5% decreased below-ground 8.0%–15.1%. Addition 0.01% reduced NH4+ content 18.3%–63.2% 52.2%–80.2%, respectively. The average activities N- P-hydrolases 0.8%–4.8% 1.9%–6.3% with addition MPs, uptake plants enzyme hotspots MP could an that facilitates microbial survival, alters decreases availability.