We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Variability in Characteristics of Water Retention Curve in Polluted Loessial Soils by Polyethylene Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Laboratory experiments showed that polyethylene microplastics at increasing concentrations progressively reduced water-holding capacity and altered soil water retention curves across three loessial soil types, with silty clay soils showing the greatest impact. Since agricultural plastic mulch use is widespread in arid and semi-arid farming regions, microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils may be degrading irrigation efficiency and water management in regions already vulnerable to water scarcity.
The occurrence of microplastics (MPs), known as "white pollution", especially in arid and semi-arid areas where plastic mulch is used, can affect the movement of water and solutes, especially the characteristics of the soil water retention curve (SWRC). This study aimed to achieve a better understanding of changing soil moisture characteristic curve in three loessial soils (silty loam, silty clay, and silty clay loam) by applying different rates of Polyethylene (PE) weights (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg soil) during four months of controlled incubation. SWRC models were fitted to water retention curves; after evaluation, the parameters of the best model were obtained. Finally, the morphological and chemical properties of polyethylene, separately and mixed with soil, were evaluated using instrumental methods such as FTIR, FESEM, and EDX analysis. The effect of MPs on the shape of SWRC were quite evident, indicating their clear impact on the water retention capacity in silty loam < silty clay loam < silty clay soil, as compared to the soil without MPs. Also, PE concentration reduced the water-holding capacity of silty clay soil to a greater extent, relative to silty clay loam and silty loam. In addition, the shape parameter of SWRC was increased significantly, while the saturated water content (θs) and residual water content (θr) were decreased significantly, as MPs concentration was increased. Finally, soil texture had a greater effect on SWRC than MPs concentration. This study, thus, emphasizes the potential adverse effects of MPs accumulation on the soil water retention capacity in agricultural fields containing high concentrations of plastic mulch.
More Papers Like This
Impacts of Different Sizes and Concentrations of Polyethylene on Chemical, Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties in a Loess Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that adding polyethylene microplastics to loess soils in northern Iran significantly altered soil chemistry, density, structural stability, and microbial activity — raising concerns because these fertile agricultural soils receive heavy microplastic input from mulching plastics and open landfills.
Effects of Microplastics Migration on Farmland Soil Physical and Chemical Properties Under Leaching Conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
A soil column experiment simulating rainfall showed that five common plastic polymer types migrate through farmland soil at similar rates, reducing available phosphorus concentrations while primarily affecting macro-aggregate stability in the topsoil layer. These findings reveal that even at moderate concentrations, microplastics can degrade soil fertility and nutrient availability, with downstream implications for agricultural productivity and ecosystem function.
Effects of Soil Components on Microplastics Transport and Retention in Natural Soils: Various Microplastics Types and Sizes
AI summary Read the abstract
Column transport experiments across desert, red, and black soils showed that microplastic mobility decreases with increasing particle size and that metal oxide-rich red soils nearly completely retained MPs, while natural organic matter in black soils created non-monotonic transport patterns. Understanding how soil composition governs microplastic movement is essential for predicting where MPs accumulate in agricultural soils and groundwater systems used for food production and drinking water.
Pollution Characteristics and Risk of Microplastics in Soils Related with Land-Use Type
AI summary Read the abstract
A survey of agricultural, industrial, and transportation soils found microplastics in 100% of samples, with agricultural land showing the highest concentrations up to 5,600 particles per kilogram, driven largely by plastic mulch films. Industrial and agricultural areas also posed the greatest ecological risk, highlighting the need for land-use-specific strategies to address microplastic contamination.
Current Situation and Ecological Effects of Microplastic Pollution in Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers synthesized existing knowledge on microplastic contamination in soils, finding that particles accumulate widely, disrupt soil ecosystems, and can enter food crops — yet soil remains far less studied than water environments. Closing this research gap is urgent because soil health underpins food production and microplastics in agricultural land could reach human diets.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.