Effects of microplastics and drought on soil ecosystem functions and multifunctionality

Microplastics in soils have become an important threat for terrestrial systems as they may potentially alter the geochemical/biophysical soil environment and can interact with drought. As microplastics affect water content, this could exacerbate well‐known negative effects of drought on ecosystem functionality. Thus, functions including litter decomposition, aggregation or those related nutrient cycling be altered. Despite potential interaction, we know relatively little about how microplastics, under different conditions, multifunctionality. To address gap, performed experiment using grassland plant communities growing microcosms. Microplastic fibres (absent, present) conditions (well‐watered, drought) were applied a fully factorial design. At harvest, measured to (β‐glucosaminidase, β‐D‐cellobiosidase, phosphatase, β‐glucosidase enzymes), respiration, retention, pH, decomposition (water stable aggregates). provide these simultaneously, also assessed multifunctionality, index that encompasses array here. We found interaction between microplastic affected Drought had negatively by decreasing enzymatic activities up ~39%, while increased ~18%, pH ~4% retention ~70% diminishing leaching. impacted enzymes, respiration but importantly, direction depended status. That is, well‐watered decreased ~34% similar values irrespective presence, tended increase microplastics. Litter contrary pattern increasing ~6% percentage Synthesis applications. Single positively depending However, our results suggest cause multifunctionality magnitude strategies counteract new global change factor are necessary.