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Plastic mulch productivity-sustainability tradeoffs and pathways toward an eco-friendly framework: insights from a global meta-analysis
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This meta-analysis pools data from global studies on plastic mulch used in farming, finding that it boosts crop yields by nearly 29% but leaves persistent plastic residue in soil. The plastic fragments that remain in farmland soil eventually break down into microplastics, which can contaminate crops and enter the food supply. The study calls for biodegradable alternatives to balance food production needs with the growing problem of agricultural microplastic pollution.
Meeting global food demands by 2050 requires a 45-60% increase in agricultural production. Plasticulture has emerged as a pivotal yet controversial solution. Here we perform a meta-analysis synthesizing the findings of global studies and reveal that plastic mulch enhances crop yields by 28.7% and water use efficiency by 48.9% under diversified systems. In China (2015-2024), plasticulture contributed an additional 189 million tons (Mt) of staple food, conserved 33.5 million hectares of arable land, and reduced emissions by 438 Mt CO₂-equivalent. However, persistent plastic residues degrade soils, and nanoplastics infiltrate food chains, posing ecological and health risks. Despite global negotiations (2024-2025), a binding UN treaty on plastic pollution remains stalled due to disparities among players. To reconcile productivity with sustainability, we propose six evidence-based priorities: (1) scaling integrated eco-farming systems with AI-driven precise application of soil mulches; (2) accelerating material innovation, focusing on biodegradable films and organic-based alternatives; (3) deploying blockchain-enabled circular economies for plastic waste; (4) improving reuse and recycling infrastructure; (5) implementing localized incentive mechanisms to support plastic-free farming; and (6) integrating plastic management into UN carbon trading frameworks. These strategies can pivot plasticulture toward a climate-resilient, ecologically sustainable model-balancing food security with environmental stewardship in an era of climate uncertainty.
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This systematic review traces the full lifecycle of plastic mulch films used in farming, from application to breakdown in soil. While these films boost crop yields, they leave behind persistent residues that fragment into microplastics, potentially contaminating soil and groundwater. The review highlights the need for biodegradable alternatives to reduce long-term microplastic accumulation in agricultural land.
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This review examines the trade-off between the agricultural benefits of plastic film mulch, which helps feed an estimated 85 million additional people in China alone, and the growing microplastic contamination it causes in farmland soils. Researchers found that current studies on the effects of mulch-derived microplastics use inconsistent methods and often unrealistically high concentrations, making it difficult to assess the true risks. The study calls for standardized research approaches to better understand whether the agricultural benefits of plastic mulch outweigh its environmental costs.
Plastic mulching in agriculture: agronomic performance, residual film hazards, and green development strategies
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This review summarizes 247 existing studies on plastic mulch films used in farming, covering their benefits for crop growth, pollution from leftover film pieces and microplastics in soil, and recycling challenges. It suggests future work focus on improving film recovery methods and developing biodegradable alternatives.
Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?
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This study examined plastic mulch use in agriculture, arguing that short-term crop benefits come with long-term costs as mulch fragments accumulate in soil as microplastics and disrupt soil structure, biology, and water dynamics.
The Plastic Paradox: A Systematic Review of Mulch-Derived Microplastic Pollution and the Sustainability of Arid Zone Agriculture
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This systematic review examines the 'plastic paradox' in farming — plastic mulch boosts crop yields in dry climates but leaves behind microplastics that accumulate in soil over time. These soil microplastics can alter water flow, harm soil organisms, and potentially enter the food chain through crops.
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