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Organic fertilizer and irrigation water are the primary sources of microplastics in the facility soil, Beijing
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Researchers found that organic fertilizer and irrigation water are the primary sources of microplastics in Beijing's facility agriculture soils, with microplastic abundance ranging widely across soil depths and posing potential pollution risks.
The large-scale utilization of plastic products in agricultural facility production has resulted in considerable accumulation of microplastics in the soil. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the accumulation and distribution of microplastics in facility agriculture. This study examined the presence of microplastics in the 15 representatives of Beijing facility agriculture soil in five districts with different planting years, and assessed the potential pollution risks. The abundance of microplastics in soil layers at a depth of 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm was 896.5 ± 80.0 (range, 160-2120), 630.6 ± 47.0 (180-1340), and 445.3 ± 47.0 (80-1480) items/kg, respectively. Overall, the microplastics were primarily fiber-shaped (72.2 %), white (75.9 %), 1-2 mm in size (37.9 %), and composed of polypropylene and polyethene. The risk assessment indices of the microplastics in the 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm soil layers were 272.1, 289.5, and 291.6, respectively, representing a risk level of 4 in each case. Using the conditional fragmentation model, we found that the microplastics in facility soil featured low stability and small sizes, and their primary sources were organic fertilizer and irrigation water. The number of mulching years, irrigation method, and the amount of organic fertilizer applied, influenced the accumulation of microplastics in the facility soil. This study provides scientific evidence supporting the pollution levels and need for risk control related to microplastics in facility soils.
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This review examines microplastic contamination in Chinese agricultural soils, finding abundances ranging from about 5 to over 40,000 items per kilogram depending on location. The study identifies plastic mulching films as the most significant source, followed by abandoned greenhouses and organic fertilizers, and recommends sustainable agronomic practices to reduce soil microplastic pollution.
The increasing age of facility agriculture significantly enriched microplastics and affected soil bacterial communities
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A study of soil from 10 agricultural greenhouse facilities in Beijing found an average of 1,760 microplastic particles per kilogram, with contamination increasing as the facilities aged. The most common types were polypropylene and polyethylene fragments and films, likely from plastic mulch and greenhouse materials. While the microplastics affected some soil bacteria, facility age and basic soil properties had a stronger influence on the soil's microbial ecosystem than the plastics themselves.
Pollution Characteristics of Microplastics in Soils in Southeastern Suburbs of Baoding City, China
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Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in soils from the southeastern suburbs of Beijing, finding widespread contamination across 12 sampling sites with fibers and fragments as the dominant forms, and highlighting agricultural activities and urban runoff as likely sources. The study contributes soil-ecosystem baseline data to a research area dominated by aquatic microplastic studies.
The Source, Distribution Characteristics,and Migration Behavior of Microplastic Pollutionin Soil Environment in China: A Review
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter Chinese soils — mainly through plastic mulch films, sewage irrigation, and fertilizer application — and how they migrate through soil layers while carrying other pollutants with them. The review highlights that China's intensive agricultural practices make its soils among the most microplastic-contaminated on Earth, with implications for food safety and groundwater quality.
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