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Assessing microplastic pollution in horticultural soils under greenhouse cultivation in northern Portugal
Summary
Researchers characterized and quantified microplastic pollution in greenhouse horticultural soils in the Minho region of northern Portugal, sampling multiple greenhouses with varying crop types, plastic cover durations, and agricultural practices using stratified random sampling. The study assessed microplastic presence, distribution, and characteristics across sites to evaluate the environmental implications of intensive plastic use in greenhouse agriculture.
[Excerpt] The widespread use of plastic materials in intensive agriculture, including greenhouse covers and irrigation systems, raises increasing concerns regarding microplastic (MP) contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. This study aims to characterize and quantify microplastics in greenhouse agricultural soils in the Minho region of northern Portugal, an area of intensive horticultural production. The main objectives are to assess the presence, distribution, and characteristics of MPs in soil and to explore their potential environmental implications. Soil samples were collected from multiple greenhouses with varying crop types, durations of plastic use, and agricultural practices, using a stratified random sampling approach to ensure representativeness across sites. Sampling was performed using an auger to extract soil from the upper 0 20 cm of the profile, the zone most affected by agricultural activity and where plastic residues are most likely to accumulate. [...]