Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Soil texture is an important factor determining how microplastics affect soil hydraulic characteristics

Environment International 2022 266 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 65 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Ziqi Guo, Ziqi Guo, Ziqi Guo, Ziqi Guo, Violette Geissen, Ziqi Guo, Violette Geissen, Ziqi Guo, Xiaomei Yang, Peng Li, Peng Li, Peng Li, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Peng Li, Xiaomei Yang, Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Yang Wu, Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Guobin Liu, Guobin Liu, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Ziwen Zhao, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Sha Xue Yang Wu, Zhanhui Wang, Zhanhui Wang, Yang Wu, Yang Wu, Yang Wu, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Ziqi Guo, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, Ziqi Guo, Yang Wu, Sha Xue, Violette Geissen, Yang Wu, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Bingbing Lu, Sha Xue, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Yang Wu, Yang Wu, Sha Xue Bingbing Lu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Yang Wu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue C.J. Ritsema, Yang Wu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Wenjing Chen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Yang Wu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Guobin Liu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Guobin Liu, C.J. Ritsema, Peng Li, Guobin Liu, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Sha Xue, Yang Wu, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Guobin Liu, Guobin Liu, Guobin Liu, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Yang Wu, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, GuanWen Li, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Xiaomei Yang, Sha Xue, Sha Xue, Xiaomei Yang, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, C.J. Ritsema, C.J. Ritsema, C.J. Ritsema, C.J. Ritsema, Guobin Liu, GuanWen Li, Sha Xue Sha Xue Guobin Liu, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Xiaomei Yang, Ziwen Zhao, Sha Xue, Violette Geissen, Guobin Liu, Sha Xue Violette Geissen, Guobin Liu, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, C.J. Ritsema, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Violette Geissen, Yang Wu, C.J. Ritsema, Sha Xue, Sha Xue

Summary

This study tested how polypropylene microplastics of different sizes affect how water moves through three types of soil. Adding microplastics reduced the soil's ability to absorb and hold water by up to 96%, with clay soils being the most affected. These changes to soil water flow could affect crop growth and potentially increase the movement of other pollutants through contaminated farmland.

Polymers

Microplastic pollution and changes to soil hydraulic characteristics affect the physical properties and functions of soil; however, knowledge remains limited on how microplastics influence soil hydraulic properties. Nonetheless, it is important to understand these relationships to maintain soil health and ensure sustainable land use, especially in the current "plastic age." This case study explored how different particle sizes (20, 200, and 500 μm) and concentrations (up to 6%) of polypropylene microplastics affect the hydraulic properties of three soil textures (loam, clay, and sand). The results show that addition of microplastic reduced the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the three soils by 69.79%, 77.11%, and 95.79%, respectively. These observed adverse effects of microplastics on the infiltration properties of the three studied soils were influenced by particle size, with larger particles having the weakest effect. Furthermore, microplastic addition reduced the water retention capacity of the clay to a greater extent than that of the loam and sand. In the case of clay, the slope of the water characteristic curve (SWRC) increased significantly, whereas the saturated water content (θs) and residual water content (θr) curves decreased significantly. Importantly, the interaction between microplastics and soil alters the soil pore-size distribution and reduces pore availability. Overall, this case study demonstrates the impact of microplastic on the hydraulic properties of different soil textures, which can inform management strategies to minimize the adverse effects of microplastic accumulation on yields where plastics are used in agricultural production.

Read via DOI PubMed Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email