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Increasing concentration of pure micro- and macro-LDPE and PP plastic negatively affect crop biomass, nutrient cycling, and microbial biomass
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Researchers grew maize in soil mixed with pure polyethylene and polypropylene plastics of different sizes and found that higher plastic concentrations reduced crop biomass, disrupted nutrient cycling, and decreased soil microbial activity. Even plastics without chemical additives negatively affected plant growth, showing that the plastic material itself is harmful to soil health. This matters for food security because agricultural soils are accumulating plastic from mulch films and other farming materials.
Over the last 50 years, the intense use of agricultural plastic in the form of mulch films has led to an accumulation of plastic in soil, creating a legacy of plastic in agricultural fields. Plastic often contains additives, however it is still largely unknown how these compounds affect soil properties, potentially influencing or masking effects of the plastic itself. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pure plastics of varying sizes and concentrations, to improve our understanding of plastic-only interactions within soil-plant mesocosms. Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown over eight weeks following the addition of micro and macro low-density polyethylene and polypropylene at increasing concentrations (equivalent to 1, 10, 25, and 50 years mulch film use) and the effects of plastic on key soil and plant properties were measured. We found the effect of both macro and microplastic on soil and plant health is negligible in the short-term (1 to <10 years). However, ≥ 10 years of plastic application for both plastic types and sizes resulted in a clear negative effect on plant growth and microbial biomass. This study provides vital insight into the effect of both macro and microplastics on soil and plant properties.
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A laboratory study added three common types of microplastics — polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene — to maize-soil systems at varying concentrations and measured the cascading effects on crop health and soil ecology. All types of microplastics harmed maize growth and disrupted nutrient cycling, particularly reducing phosphorus availability, though low concentrations sometimes temporarily boosted soil microbial diversity. The findings warn that microplastic buildup in agricultural soils poses a real threat to food production and ecosystem health at the scale plastics are now accumulating.
Polypropylene microplastics alter soil microbial diversity in wheat and maize cropping systems
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Researchers added polypropylene microplastic pieces to soil growing wheat and maize at different concentrations. Higher amounts reduced soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and changed the diversity and makeup of soil bacteria, differently in wheat versus maize soils.
Polyethylene microplastics alter soil microbial community assembly and ecosystem multifunctionality
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations affect soil microbial communities and overall ecosystem function in a maize growing system. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics shifted microbial community composition, reduced beneficial bacteria involved in nutrient cycling, and impaired multiple soil ecosystem functions simultaneously. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils can undermine the biological processes that support healthy crop growth.
Impact of Plastic Residues on Soil Properties and Crop Productivity: A Comprehensive Research Study
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This agricultural field study assessed how plastic residues at varying contamination levels affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop productivity, finding that higher microplastic concentrations disrupted soil structure, reduced microbial activity, and lowered plant growth.
Integrated effects of residual plastic films on soil-rhizosphere microbe-plant ecosystem.
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This pot experiment investigated how residual plastic film fragments of different sizes in agricultural soil affect soil properties, microbial enzyme activity, nutrient levels, and plant growth. Larger plastic residues caused greater disruption to soil health and reduced crop yield, suggesting that accumulated mulch film pollution poses a serious threat to long-term agricultural productivity.
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