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The synchronized dynamic release behavior of microplastics during farmland soil erosion process
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Field and laboratory experiments on farmland soil in coastal China showed that roughly half of the microplastics present in agricultural soil can be mobilized and released into water bodies during erosion events. The dynamic release pattern — an initial decrease followed by a sharp increase — is driven by competition between particle adsorption, sedimentation, and resuspension, highlighting that controlling soil erosion is a critical and underappreciated lever for preventing microplastic contamination of rivers and coastal waters.
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in farmland soil. However, the risks associated with their loss through soil erosion remain unknown. This study investigates the occurrence and behavior of MPs in farmland soil in a southeastern coastal area of China, focusing on their synchronized dynamic release during soil erosion scenarios. The results showed that the abundance of MPs in the tested farmland soil ranged from 2.40 × 10 to 1.04 × 10 items·kg. MPs predominantly appear as fragments and particles, with sizes concentrated between 30 and 100 μm. During the process of soil erosion, characterized by rapid soil subsidence, the amount of MPs released into water bodies initially decreases, averaging a reduction of 1.08 × 10 items·kg. This is followed by an average increase of 1.89 × 10 items·kg. The competition between the adsorption, collision, and sedimentation of soil particles and the desorption and release of settled particles, determines this behavior. This pattern is strongly related to the physicochemical properties and mechanical composition of the soil. Deep learning predictions revealed that, without external influences, 49.42% of MPs in farmland soil could be synchronously released into water bodies during erosion. The analysis shows that MPs exhibit dynamic behavior in time and space, posing serious threats to aquatic ecosystems. Controlling soil erosion in farmland is crucial for the source management of MP migration.
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