We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastics in agriculture
AI summary Read the abstract
A Slovenian review of plastics in agriculture documents how mulch films, greenhouse coverings, and wastewater irrigation introduce microplastic particles into soils, where they alter aggregate stability, water retention, and can enter food and water chains. This study directly addresses agricultural plastics as a major microplastic source, highlighting risks that extend from soil health to broader ecosystem contamination.
Plastika je zaradi nizkih stroškov, vsestranske uporabnosti in obstojnosti postala nepogrešljiv material sodobnega kmetijstva, pri čemer ima njena uporaba kljub razmeroma majhnemu deležu v svetovni proizvodnji pomemben vpliv na delovanje agroekosistemov. V kmetijski praksi prispeva k večji produktivnosti in učinkovitejši rabi naravnih virov, hkrati pa predstavlja vir onesnaževanja tal, saj se s staranjem in razgradnjo kopiči v tleh v obliki manjših plastičnih delcev, ki lahko prehajajo v vodne in prehranske verige. Namen članka je ovrednotiti znanje o virih, poteh vnosa in okoljskih učinkih mikroplastike (MP) v kmetijskih tleh. Glavni viri vnosa plastičnih delcev v kmetijska tla vključujejo uporabo kompostiranih in fermentiranih organskih ostankov, komunalnega blata, namakanje z odpadno vodo ter razgradnjo in zaoravanje plastičnih zastirnih folij, dodatno pa tudi izluževanje iz neustrezno upravljanih odlagališč odpadkov. Po vnosu v tla se plastični delci vežejo na mineralne in organske komponente ter postanejo del talnega sistema, kar lahko povzroči spremembe gostote tal, stabilnosti agregatov, sposobnosti zadrževanja vode in vodoodbojnosti. Posebna pozornost je v članku namenjena uporabi plastičnih materialov v zelenjadarski pridelavi, kjer kritine rastlinjakov in tunelov, zastirne folije ter namakalni sistemi pomembno prispevajo k uravnavanju mikroklimatskih razmer in stabilnosti pridelave. Na podlagi pregleda literature ugotavljamo, da tudi biorazgradljivi materiali v realnih talnih razmerah pogosto ne dosegajo pričakovane stopnje razgradnje, kar poudarja potrebo po celostni oceni materialov ter razvoju trajnostnih in odgovornih kmetijskih praks za zmanjšanje onesnaženosti tal s plastiko.
More Papers Like This
Plastika v kmetijstvu: uporaba in vplivi ostankov plastike na tla ter zelenjadarske pridelovalne sisteme
AI summary Read the abstract
A review of plastic use in agriculture found that mulch films, greenhouse covers, and irrigation systems drive significant microplastic accumulation in soils through aging and fragmentation, with particles altering soil aggregate stability, water retention, and biological activity. Even biodegradable plastics fail to fully decompose under real agricultural conditions, meaning agricultural plastic use represents a major pathway for microplastic entry into food systems and soil ecosystems.
Plastic mulching, and occurrence, incorporation, degradation, and impacts of polyethylene microplastics in agroecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how plastic mulch films used in agriculture break down into polyethylene microplastics and what happens to them in farm ecosystems. Researchers describe how microorganisms colonize these particles and can eventually break down the plastic molecules, but also how the microplastics alter soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling. The study highlights plastic mulching as a major source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils worldwide.
Micro- and Nanoplastics in Agricultural Crop Systems: From Environmental Particles to Plant Phenotypes and Food-System Relevance
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from mulch films, compost, and irrigation water are building up in farm soils, and this review pulls together existing research on how they affect crops—from stressing plant cells to potentially moving into the parts we eat. The evidence that plastics can travel from soil into food is growing but still incomplete, so scientists say more realistic farm-based studies are needed before we know exactly how much this matters for what ends up on our plates.
Micro/Nanoplastics in Agriculture: Uptake, Translocation and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Their Ecological Implications
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from pollution are building up in farm soils and getting absorbed by plants through their roots, then traveling up into the leaves, fruits, and other parts we eat. This review of existing research shows these plastics can interfere with how plants grow and take up nutrients, and their presence in edible crops raises real concerns about how much plastic might be ending up on our dinner plates. Scientists still need better, standardized tools to detect these particles and develop ways to keep them out of our food supply.
Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how plastic products used in agriculture -- from mulch films to greenhouse covers -- contribute to microplastic pollution in soil, water, and crops. While plastics help boost crop production and food quality, their breakdown releases microplastics that can be taken up by plants and enter the food chain. The paper discusses strategies to reduce plastic pollution in farming, which is important because agricultural microplastics represent a direct pathway to human dietary exposure.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.