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Microplastic contamination of agricultural soil in Southern India: a review and PRISMA analysis
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This review pulls together 35 studies on microplastic pollution in Southern Indian farmland, finding that soil near urban dumps and fields using plastic mulch, wastewater, or treated sludge can contain thousands of tiny plastic fragments per kilogram of soil. Since these farms grow food crops, this contamination raises concerns about plastics working their way into our food supply, though the researchers note more standardized testing is needed to fully understand the health risks. The bottom line: the plastic we use on farms may be building up in the soil that grows our food, and better monitoring and farming practices are needed to get ahead of the problem.
The presence of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils represents a growing environmental concern, with significant ramifications for soil health, ecosystem functioning, and food security. While a substantial body of research has focused on marine pollution, the study of terrestrial systems, particularly in the Indian context, remains underdeveloped. The present review examined studies from 2015 to 2025, drawing on sources such as Scopus and Web of Science. A PRISMA-guided systematic qualitative review and narrative synthesis were used, excluding effect-size pooling and publication-bias assessment. Out of 210 records, 35 met the criteria for comprehensive analysis. The findings demonstrate that microplastic levels vary significantly, with concentrations ranging from ~ 45 items/kg in urban agricultural fields to more than ~ 4200 items/kg in mulched and unmulched fields. Fibres and fragments are the most prevalent forms of debris, with polyethene and polypropylene being the predominant polymers. In Southern India, contamination levels are highest at urban dump sites and in agricultural areas that use plastic mulch, apply wastewater or biosolids, or are subject to atmospheric deposition. This region-specific review underscores substantial data deficiencies and calls for standardised monitoring, enhanced policies, and sustainable farming practices to address microplastic pollution in soils.
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Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils Across India: A Systematic Review
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This systematic review of 73 studies found that microplastics are contaminating agricultural soils across India through polluted irrigation water, atmospheric deposition, and plastic mulch use. This is concerning because microplastics in farmland can be taken up by crops and enter the food supply. The research highlights a significant gap — most studies focus on waterways while the soils that grow our food remain understudied.
Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils Across India: A Systematic Review of Studies and Research Gaps
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This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across India, an area that has received far less attention than waterways. The research identifies polluted irrigation water, industrial discharge, and plastic mulch as key contamination sources, raising concerns about microplastics entering the food supply through crops grown in contaminated soil.
Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils and Its Implications for Soil Health in India: A Systematic Review
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This review of 52 studies found that Indian farm soils—especially in Punjab and Haryana—contain high levels of tiny plastic bits, mostly from mulch films and irrigation equipment, and these microplastics are harming soil quality by disrupting helpful microbes, earthworms, and root growth. This matters because the contamination has already been linked to crop yield losses of up to 28%, raising concerns about future food supplies and, potentially, plastic exposure through the food we eat.
Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils and Its Implications for Soil Health in India: A Systematic Review
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Farm soils across India—especially in Punjab and Haryana—are heavily contaminated with tiny plastic fragments from mulch films and irrigation equipment, according to this review of 52 existing studies. These microplastics harm soil health by disrupting beneficial microbes, earthworms, and root growth, leading to crop yield losses of up to 28%, which raises concerns about long-term food security. While the study doesn't directly measure health effects on people, shrinking crop yields and plastic-contaminated farmland are worth watching, since microplastics can end up in the food we eat.
Microplastics in agricultural soils, their sources, environmental impacts, ecological risks, and mitigation strategies
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Tiny plastic bits are building up in farm soil from sources like plastic mulch, sewage-based fertilizers, and irrigation water, and this review of existing research shows they can mess with soil's ability to hold water and nutrients while also acting as hitchhikers for heavy metals, pesticides, and harmful germs. Since this soil grows our food, contaminated farmland could mean these pollutants—and the microplastics themselves—end up on our plates. The good news: solutions like biodegradable farm materials, natural soil additives, and better monitoring could help curb the problem if adopted widely.
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