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Long-Term Effects of Plastic Mulch in a Sandy-Loam Soil Cultivated with Blueberry in Southern Portugal
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This study examined the long-term effects of plastic mulch use in blueberry cultivation in southern Portugal, finding that microplastic fragments from degrading mulch accumulate in the sandy-loam soil over time. Agricultural plastic mulch is a significant source of microplastic contamination in farmland, raising concerns about soil health and food safety.
Abstract: Agriculture uses plastic products for containers, packaging, tunnels, drip irrigation tub-ing, mulches. Large amounts of plastics are used as mulches on the soil surface for vegetable pro-duction (tomato, cucumber, watermelon, strawberry, vine) to reduce the weed competition, in-crease water and fertilizer use efficiency and enhance crop yield. Portugal uses around 4,500 t/year of polyethylene plastic to cover approximately 23,000 ha of agricultural land and only a small amount is recovered for recycling or secondary uses because of dirt with soil, vegetation, pesticide and fertilizers. Cleaning and decontaminating polyethylene mulch are costly and commercial technology is often not accessible nor economically viable in the current economic Portuguese situation. Most plastic mulch is composed of polyethylene that degrades slowly and produces a large quantity of residues in soil with negative impact in the environment. In the present study, the effects of long-term cultivation of blueberry using green 100% high density polyethylene mulch, in the south Portugal were evaluated for soil chemical and biological changes. High density green plastic mulch did not contaminate the topsoil with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and heavy metals, buttotal nitrogen and organic carbon concentrations, electric conductivity and microbial activity were reduced in the planting row compared with bare soil, without mulching. Further-more, the presence of plastic mulch did not affect negatively the presence of nematodes, and the Rhabditida (bacterial feeders) increased in the planting and covered row.
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Long-Term Effects of Plastic Mulch in a Sandy Loam Soil Used to Cultivate Blueberry in Southern Portugal
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the long-term effects of plastic mulch on a sandy loam soil used for blueberry cultivation in southern Portugal, addressing concerns about plastic accumulation given Portugal uses approximately 4,500 tonnes of polyethylene mulch per year. The study assessed soil microplastic accumulation, soil quality impacts, and the challenges of plastic recovery and recycling.
Soil microbiome patterns across a long-term plastic-mulching chronosequence in blueberry orchards
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Researchers found that using plastic mulch (a common farming technique to control weeds and retain moisture) for many years in blueberry orchards changes the soil's microbial life, shifts nutrient levels, and leads to microplastic buildup in the dirt where our food grows. While this study didn't directly test effects on human health, it adds to growing evidence that plastic-based farming methods can introduce microplastics into agricultural soil, raising questions about whether these particles could eventually make their way into the food we eat.
Microplastic Accumulation and Soil Quality Changes Under Varying Plastic Mulching Durations in the Mediterranean Region
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Researchers studied microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils across 15 sites in Türkiye that had used plastic mulching for 5, 10, and 30 years. They found that longer mulching durations led to significantly higher microplastic concentrations, with soil quality declining as plastic particles accumulated. The study suggests that decades of plastic mulch use degrades soil health by altering physical, chemical, and biological properties.
Management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal to prevent microplastics
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This study assessed agricultural plastic waste management practices in Portugal and their role in generating soil micro- and nanoplastics. Poor management of plastic mulches and other agricultural films was identified as a significant and preventable source of persistent soil contamination.
Macro- and microplastic accumulation in soil after 32 years of plastic film mulching
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Researchers quantified plastic accumulation in an agricultural field after 32 continuous years of plastic mulch film use. They found roughly 10 times more macroplastic fragments in fertilized plots than non-fertilized plots, likely because plant roots and stems became entangled with the film making removal difficult. The study found that plastic mulch contributed 33% to 56% of total microplastics detected down to one meter of soil depth, demonstrating substantial long-term accumulation from agricultural plastic use.
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