MICROPLASTICS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMPOST AND THEIR EFFECTS ON TOMATO PRODUCTIVITY AND YIELD

Abstract

This thesis explores microplastics (MPs) in municipal waste compost (MSW) and their impact on soil and plant health. MSW, widely used to enhance soil quality, also introduces MPs into agricultural systems, with a limited understanding of their effects on plant productivity and yield. The research tracked MP contamination through composting stages and optimized MP extraction methods, comparing the efficiency of ZnCl₂ and CaCl₂ for separation. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Scotia’) grown in MP-contaminated compost-enriched soil were studied to assess impacts. Results revealed that MPs, including polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, and mixed types, did not significantly affect plant morphology or physiology except stem girth and root tip traits. However, MPs variably and significantly altered fruit biochemical content. The findings underscore that MPs are abundant in compost, and their influence on plants, particularly fruit quality, is type-specific, highlighting the need for better MP management in agriculture.