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Mikroplastik in der Landwirtschaft
Summary
This review paper explains how tiny plastic bits get into farm soil through things like plastic sheeting, sewage sludge, and compost, then work their way deeper into the ground where they harm earthworms and other soil life and hurt plant growth. Crops can absorb these microplastics, meaning they may end up on our dinner plates — plus, since plastic comes from crude oil, its production and breakdown also add to climate change. This matters because it shows plastic pollution isn't just an ocean problem — it's quietly affecting the food we grow and eat.
Microplastics in agricultural soil: Microplastics are found everywhere in the environment, from water and air to soil and even our food. In agriculture, microplastics enter through the use of plastics such as plastic films, sewage sludge, and compost, which are often contaminated with foreign substances like heavy metals and microplastics. Through tilling, soil organisms, and percolating rainwater, microplastics are drawn into deeper soil layers and further broken down. This alters soil properties, harms soil organisms such as earthworms, and impairs plant growth. Micro- and nanoplastics are eventually absorbed by crops and enter the human food chain. Plastics are primarily manufactured from fossil raw materials like crude oil. Their production, disposal, and decomposition therefore release greenhouse gases that exacerbate climate change.