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Impact of Plastic Residues on Soil Properties and Crop Productivity: A Comprehensive Research Study
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This agricultural field study assessed how plastic residues at varying contamination levels affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop productivity, finding that higher microplastic concentrations disrupted soil structure, reduced microbial activity, and lowered plant growth.
The sources that have led to the development of plastic residues, microplastics, and macroplastics are plastic mulching, sewage sludge, compost, irrigation with contaminated water, and atmospheric deposition. These residues modify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil, eventually influencing crop yield. Objectives: To determine the impact of plastic residues on soil health and crop productivity through the evaluation of soil properties, microbial activity, and plant growth reactions to different levels of contamination. Methods: Soil and plant samples were taken in agricultural fields classified using the intensity of contamination. Density separation was used to extract microplastic particles, and FTIR and SEM were used to characterize the particles. Physical (bulk density, porosity, water-holding capacity), chemical (pH, organic matter, nutrient availability), and biological (microbial biomass, enzymatic activities, earthworm bioassays) soil parameters were examined. The performance of crops was determined in terms of germination, biomass, nutrient uptake, and yield. ANOVA and regression were statistically applied to analyze data. Results: Plastic debris interfered with the soil structure, decreased nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and suppressed crop development, causing drastic losses in production. Although plastic mulching originally improved the moisture content of soil and the control of weeds, the accumulation of the persistent residues over time produced adverse effects on soil fertility. Conclusions: Plastic wastes are dangerous in the long run to the soil ecosystems and agricultural productivity. The plastic pollution of the soil by plastics and the threat to food security require some urgency in the form of sustainable alternatives, better recycling, and stringent waste management policies.
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This review synthesized research on microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, examining how MPs affect soil physical properties, chemistry, and plant growth performance. It identified key knowledge gaps around MP accumulation rates, long-term soil effects, and impacts on food crop yields.
Microplastics in Agricultural Soil
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This book chapter surveys microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, reviewing the sources of plastic inputs, concentrations found in different farming systems, and the effects of MPs on soil properties, microbial communities, and crop yields.
Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas
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Researchers measured the effects of microplastics used in common agricultural practices — including mulch film residues and irrigation-delivered particles — on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Microplastic presence altered soil aggregation, water retention, and microbial community composition, with effects depending on plastic concentration, polymer type, and soil texture.
The Growing Problem of Soil Pollution with Microplastics: a Review
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This review examined how microplastic accumulation in soil disrupts physicochemical properties including structure, porosity, and water retention, impairs soil microbial communities, inhibits plant growth, and causes oxidative stress, with agricultural soils identified as especially vulnerable to contamination.
Microplastic-Induced Changes in Soil Quality and Functioning: Field Scale Trials
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This field-scale experiment added microplastics to agricultural soil at different concentrations and monitored changes in soil quality and functioning over time. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered soil structure, water holding capacity, and microbial community composition at concentrations that may be realistic in heavily mulched fields. The study provides rare field-level evidence for microplastic impacts on soil ecosystem function.
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