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Microplastics in vineyard soils: First insights from plastic-intensive viticulture systems
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Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic contamination in vineyard soils, comparing organic and conventional farming operations. They found microplastics in all sampled soils, with concentrations and types varying between management practices. The study highlights vineyards as a previously overlooked source of agricultural microplastic pollution, likely driven by the heavy use of plastic trellising, netting, and mulch materials.
In the terrestrial environment, microplastics in specialty cropping systems have not been studied so far. Viticulture as a potential plastic-intensive management form and a land use with high erosion risks, plays an important role in transport and distribution of material to other terrestrial and aquatic systems. This paper is a first investigation of microplastics in vineyard soils, assessing the spatial distribution and composition of microplastics in organically and conventionally managed viticulture, and relates it to the macroplastic collected at the vineyards. Topsoils (0-10, 10-30 cm) and plastic particles on soil surfaces from eight vineyard lots were sampled. Four of the vineyards were under organic and four underconventional management and they were all located in the Moselle and Saar Wine Region (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). Microplastic analysis was performed via μFTIR chemical imaging after wet-chemical microplastic extraction from soil samples. The mean microplastic concentration was 4200 ± 2800 p kg-1 (mean ± SD), with detected mean sizes of 230 μm ± 300 μm. Most abundant polymers were PP (35.2 %), PA (25.3 %) and PE (15.5 %). The distribution pattern showed higher microplastic concentration in topsoil, at middle and bottom slope position. The smallest particle sizes were found in subsoil samples and bottom position. Thus, erosion is assumed to be a potential downhill transport pathway. According to our dataset, management seems to have no significant influence on microplastic abundance, but affects polymer composition. Polymer composition of micro- and macroplastics partly coincide, thus in-situ fragmentation, is considered the major input source. Based on our findings, we recommend further investigation of plastic pathways in speciality crop systems like viticulture.
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Researchers studied how high doses of polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics from vineyard management materials affect soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling over 120 days. They found that microplastics from both new and used vineyard strings significantly altered microbial diversity and bioavailable nutrient levels. The study highlights that the common practice of mulching plastic vineyard materials into topsoil can meaningfully disrupt soil health in agricultural settings.
Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from southern Portugal, collecting samples across four land-use areas with different farming practices and characterizing polymer types and their associations with agricultural history in a Mediterranean system.
Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal
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Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from southern Portugal, collecting samples across four land-use areas with different farming practices and characterizing polymer types and their associations with agricultural history in a Mediterranean system.
Effect of polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene microplastics on nutrient status in two vineyard soils of contrasting pH
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Researchers conducted a 120-day soil incubation experiment to evaluate the effects of new and aged polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics on soil pH and the bioavailability of macro- and micronutrients in two vineyard soils of contrasting pH, finding that microplastics increased pH and reduced nutrient availability, with acid soils and PVC showing the strongest effects.
Microplastics abundance associated with farmland use types and the impact on soil microbial communities: A case study in Southern China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across orchard, paddy field, and vegetable field soils in Southern China and analyzed how it affected soil microbial communities. They found microplastic levels ranging widely across sites, with very small particles under 30 micrometers being most common, and identified 32 different polymer types. The study shows that farmland use type and agricultural practices like plastic mulching significantly influence both the amount and type of microplastic contamination in soils.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.