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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Sustainable Agriculture through Small-Scale Hydroponics and Enhanced Nutrient Management
ClearCan microplastics threaten plant productivity and fruit quality? Insights from Micro-Tom and Micro-PET/PVC
Researchers grew tomato plants in soil containing environmentally realistic levels of PET and PVC microplastics and found mixed effects on plant productivity and fruit quality. While some growth parameters were affected, the microplastics also altered the mineral content of the tomatoes. This study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soil could change the nutritional profile of the food we eat.
Synergistic biochar‑Bacillus consortium enhances phosphorus availability, root architecture, and inflorescence development in greenhouse cherry tomato
Despite its title referencing biochar and Bacillus soil amendments, this paper studies how combining biochar with beneficial bacteria improves phosphorus availability and crop yield in greenhouse tomato farming — not microplastic pollution. It examines changes in soil microbiology and root development and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.
Effects of microplastics polluted soil on the growth of Solanum lycopersicum L.
This study tested how microplastic-contaminated soil affects tomato plant growth, finding that higher concentrations of plastic particles in soil reduced plant height, root development, and overall crop health. The results suggest that microplastic pollution in farmland could reduce food crop yields and potentially affect the quality of the produce we eat.
A Combined Effect of Mixed Multi-Microplastic Types on Growth and Yield of Tomato
Researchers grew tomatoes in soil spiked with a mixture of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics and found that while the plants appeared to grow normally, the nutritional quality of the fruit changed. Microplastics significantly reduced carotenoids, flavonoids, and sugars in the tomatoes while increasing protein and certain stress-related enzymes. This suggests that even when crops look healthy, microplastics in soil could subtly reduce the nutritional value of the food we eat.
Effects of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Tomato Yield and Economic Performance
This paper is not about microplastics; it is a field trial comparing organic farming practices and soil management strategies for processing tomato cultivation.
Phytotoxicity of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)
Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on tomato plant growth using hydroponic experiments at various concentrations. The study found that all three types of microplastics negatively affected seed germination, root growth, and plant development, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration. These findings suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural settings could interfere with crop growth and food production.
Efeito Da Salinidade Sobre O Crescimento Do Tomate Cereja
Not relevant to microplastics research; the title refers to a study on the effect of salinity on cherry tomato growth (in Portuguese), though the abstract has been incorrectly populated with a microplastics health review — this is a data error in the record.
MICROPLÁSTICOS Y NANOPLÁSTICOS: UNA REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA DE SU IMPACTO EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE TOMATE (Solanum lycopersicum)
This systematic review analysed published studies on the effects of synthetic microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth, examining how polymer type, particle size, concentration, and growth medium modulate phytotoxicity. The review found that MP and NP exposure consistently impaired biomass accumulation, plant height, flower and fruit production, and root and shoot length, with higher concentrations and smaller particle sizes generally producing the most pronounced negative effects.
A Combined Effect of Mixed Multi-Microplastic Types on Growth and Yield of Tomato
A greenhouse experiment found that a 1% w/w mixture of polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene microplastics negatively affected tomato plant development and yield, with statistical analysis confirming significant growth reductions compared to uncontaminated soil.
Diversity and interactions of rhizobacteria determine multinutrient traits in tomato host plants under nitrogen and water disturbances
Researchers investigated how root-associated bacteria help tomato plants maintain nutrient uptake under nitrogen and water stress conditions. They found that microbial diversity and species interactions were key factors in supporting the plant's ability to acquire multiple nutrients simultaneously. While not directly about microplastics, the study advances understanding of soil microbiome dynamics that are relevant to agricultural systems increasingly affected by plastic contamination.
Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Tomato Crops: A Critical Review
This review covers the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato crops, documenting disruption at germination, root development, flowering, and fruit production stages. It also examines how these particles alter soil microbial communities and identifies priority research areas for understanding MP effects on major food crops.
Micro- and nano-plastics in hydroponic environment are critical for plants: A meta-analysis
This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to evaluate how microplastics and nanoplastics affect plants grown in water-based growing systems. The findings show that these plastic particles can reduce plant growth and alter root function, suggesting that even hydroponic produce may not be free from microplastic contamination concerns.
An Impact Of Microplastic And Microplastic + Lead Induced Toxicity On Growth Parameters And Chlorophyll Content Of Tomato Plant: (Comparison Study)
Researchers grew tomato plants in soil spiked with polyethylene microplastics alone and combined with lead nitrate at multiple concentrations to compare their toxicity. Both treatments reduced shoot length, fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content in a dose-dependent manner, with the combined microplastic-plus-lead treatment causing more severe harm than either pollutant alone.
The varied effects of different microplastics on stem development and carbon-nitrogen metabolism in tomato
Researchers tested how six different types of microplastics, including both conventional and biodegradable varieties, affect tomato plant growth. All types disrupted the plants' internal structure and altered how they processed carbon and nitrogen, with PVC causing the most severe damage. Notably, biodegradable plastics like PLA and PBS were not harmless either, suggesting that switching to so-called eco-friendly plastics may not fully protect agricultural soil and food crops from microplastic contamination.
The effect of sewage sludge containing microplastics on growth and fruit development of tomato plants
Sewage sludge containing microplastics was applied to soil and effects on tomato plant growth and fruit development were assessed. Microplastic exposure through sludge-amended soil altered vegetative growth and fruit maturation, suggesting that agricultural sludge application is a route by which microplastics affect food crops.
Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Soil Properties, Microbial Diversity and Solanum lycopersicum L. Growth in Meadow Soils
Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect tomato plant growth and soil microbes. Surprisingly, some microplastic treatments boosted plant growth and soil nutrients, while others reduced microbial diversity and disrupted soil community networks. The mixed results show that microplastic effects on agriculture are complex and depend on particle size and concentration, making it difficult to predict how contaminated soil will affect food crops.
Micro and nano-plastics on environmental health: a review on future thrust in agro-ecotoxicology management
This review examines the growing body of evidence on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect plant health, soil microbial communities, and agricultural productivity. The study highlights that plastic accumulation in agricultural soils can alter crop growth and yield while disrupting soil ecosystem dynamics, and calls for greater attention to agro-ecotoxicology management to address these emerging threats to food production.
Sustainable production of healthy, affordable food in theUK: The pros and cons of plasticulture
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in coastal sediments along a heavily urbanized shoreline, finding higher concentrations near wastewater discharge points and river mouths. Polyethylene and polypropylene fragments were the dominant polymer types detected.
The effects of microplastics on crop variation depend on polymer types and their interactions with soil nutrient availability and weed competition
Researchers investigated how different types of microplastics interact with soil nutrient availability and weed competition to affect crop growth. The study found that the effects of microplastics on plant performance depend on the polymer type and are modulated by fertilization levels and competition from weeds, suggesting that real-world agricultural impacts of microplastic pollution may be more complex than laboratory studies indicate.
Type-dependent effects of microplastics on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.): Focus on root exudates and metabolic reprogramming
Researchers grew tomato plants in the presence of three different types of microplastics and found that each type produced distinct effects on plant physiology, root secretions, and metabolic processes. Polystyrene had the strongest negative impact, significantly altering root exudate composition and triggering metabolic reprogramming in the plants. The study demonstrates that the type of plastic matters when assessing how microplastic pollution affects crop growth and soil chemistry.
Integrating microplastic research in sustainable agriculture: Challenges and future directions for food production
Researchers reviewed how microplastics interact with environmental stressors like heat, drought, and salinity to threaten crop health and food safety, finding that microplastics can increase toxic metal uptake in plants and alter growth — with risks likely to worsen as climate change intensifies.
Comparative Study on the Use of Traditional, Conventional and Advanced Methodologies for Sustainable Agriculture – a Review
Not relevant to microplastics — this is a review comparing traditional, conventional, and nano-technology-based fertilisation methods in agriculture.
Combined impact of short-term phosphorus deficiency and microplastic contamination on tomato mineral elements, chlorophyll fluorescence and root exudates
Researchers studied how phosphorus deficiency and microplastic contamination together affect tomato plants grown in hydroponic conditions. They found that while each stressor alone had measurable effects, the combination altered root exudate composition and mineral uptake in distinct ways. The study highlights that microplastics may interact with existing nutritional stresses to create compounding challenges for plant health.
The multifaceted mechanisms of microplastic inhibition of tomato plant growth: oxidative toxicity, metabolic perturbation, and photosynthetic damage
Researchers exposed tomato seedlings to biodegradable and conventional microplastics and investigated photosynthetic performance, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress responses. Both microplastic types inhibited tomato growth and caused oxidative damage, with impacts on the photosynthetic apparatus and metabolite profiles, challenging the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safer for agricultural systems.