Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Environmental potential risk of microplastic pollution due to agricultural plastics: a case study in Apulia region

Researchers assessed the environmental risk of microplastic pollution from agricultural plastic waste in the Apulia region of Italy, examining how the breakdown of agricultural plastics at end-of-life contributes to soil and ecosystem contamination.

2025 CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro)
Article Tier 2

Micro plastics mapping in the agricultural sector of Cyprus

Researchers mapped microplastic pollution across agricultural areas in Cyprus, identifying key hotspots and sources of contamination. They found that plastic mulch films, irrigation systems, and fertilizer applications were major contributors to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policies to reduce plastic use in Mediterranean agriculture and protect both soil health and food safety.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and temporal variance of microplastics in agricultural soils

This study reviewed how microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils vary by location and over time across multiple European field sites. The findings highlight that farming practices are direct sources of soil plastic contamination, and that long-term monitoring is needed to understand accumulation trends and their effects on soil health.

2023
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from southern Portugal, collecting samples across four land-use areas with different farming practices and characterizing polymer types and their associations with agricultural history in a Mediterranean system.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from southern Portugal, collecting samples across four land-use areas with different farming practices and characterizing polymer types and their associations with agricultural history in a Mediterranean system.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution modulated by farming regimes under multi-scenarios

Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils were found to vary with farming regimes, with certain practices under mulching leading to higher accumulation. The study highlights how common agricultural methods contribute to soil microplastic pollution and supports calls for better plastic mulch management.

2025 iScience 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying hot-spots for microplastic contamination in agricultural soils—a spatial modelling approach for Germany

A spatial model was developed to identify hotspots of microplastic contamination in German agricultural soils based on plastic use in farming, sewage sludge application rates, and atmospheric deposition estimates, predicting that certain intensively farmed regions accumulate substantially more plastic than previously estimated from limited field studies.

2021 Environmental Research Letters 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Influences of land use and depth profile on the characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils

Researchers examined how land use and soil depth profile influence microplastic characteristics in agricultural soils, finding that wastewater and sludge application, plastic mulching, and atmospheric deposition are key sources, and that MP type and abundance vary with soil management practice and depth, highlighting the importance of vertical distribution in soil MP studies.

2025
Article Tier 2

Management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal to prevent microplastics

This study assessed agricultural plastic waste management practices in Portugal and their role in generating soil micro- and nanoplastics. Poor management of plastic mulches and other agricultural films was identified as a significant and preventable source of persistent soil contamination.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic appraisal of soil, water, ditch sediment and airborne dust: The case of agricultural systems

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across agricultural soils, water, airborne dust, and ditch sediments in farm settings with different management practices. They found 11 types of microplastics in soil, with the highest concentrations in fields using plastic mulch, and documented the spread of particles into nearby water bodies and air. The study reveals that both plastic mulch and compost application contribute to microplastic pollution in agricultural landscapes.

2022 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Derived From Disposable Greenhouse Plastic Films and Irrigation Pipes: A Case Study From Turkey

Researchers found an average of 11.13 microplastics/kg in agricultural soils in Turkey's Adana region where disposable greenhouse plastic films and irrigation pipes are used, with one site reaching 32 microplastics/kg, linking agricultural plastic inputs directly to soil microplastic contamination.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and Analysis of Microplastics in Farmland Soils: Characterization, Sources, and Pathways

This study quantified and characterized microplastics in farmland soils from multiple sites, identifying agricultural mulch films, irrigation water, and compost as major sources and documenting widespread soil contamination across different farming regions.

2021 Agriculture 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Macro and microplastics in agricultural soils after use of conventional and biodegradable plastics

Researchers sampled 38 agricultural fields where conventional polyethylene mulching films, polypropylene weed fabrics, biodegradable PBAT films, and frost covers had been used, quantifying macro- and microplastic contamination in soils to assess how different agricultural plastic products contribute to soil plastic pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in soil agro-ecosystems: A review

This review examines microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across global regions, with a focus on underrepresented areas in Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. Researchers found that key sources include plastic mulch films, fertilizers, compost, and wastewater irrigation, and discuss strategies for pollution monitoring and control in farming systems.

2022 Environmental Advances 62 citations
Article Tier 2

A nationwide assessment of microplastic abundance in agricultural soils: The influence of plastic crop covers within the United Kingdom

A nationwide study of 108 agricultural sites across the United Kingdom found microplastics in all soil samples, with concentrations averaging 3,680 particles per kilogram. Fields where plastic crop covers were used had significantly higher microplastic levels than those without plastic covers. This study shows that common agricultural plastic use is a major source of soil microplastic contamination, which could ultimately affect crop quality and enter the food chain.

2023 Plants People Planet 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Agricultural plastic mulching as a source of microplastics in the terrestrial environment

Researchers analyzed 384 soil samples from 19 Chinese provinces and found that macroplastic fragments were concentrated in agricultural fields with plastic mulch film use, providing large-scale field evidence linking agricultural mulching to terrestrial plastic contamination.

2020 Environmental Pollution 1205 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil contamination by microplastics in a small French agricultural watershed

Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across a small French watershed, examining how various farming practices influence microplastic sources, distribution, and fate in soil environments outside of previously studied regions like China.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal to prevent microplastics

Researchers examined the management of agricultural plastic waste in Portugal, assessing how mismanagement of plastics used in farming has led to soil contamination with microplastics and identifying practices that reduce plastic fragmentation and environmental release. The study found gaps between best practices and actual farm-level waste management that result in preventable plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin

Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and risk assessment of microplastics contamination in different agricultural systems

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across six sites in Coimbatore, India with distinct farming practices, finding microplastics in 81% of organic matter-removed samples. The study revealed that different agronomic inputs and land management practices produce distinct microplastic contamination profiles.

2024 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics derived from disposable greenhouse plastic films and irrigation pipes in agricultural soils: a case study from Turkey

Researchers investigated plastic contamination in agricultural soils in Turkey where disposable greenhouse films and irrigation pipes are used. They found an average of 16.5 plastic pieces per kilogram of soil, with about 42% being microplastics, and evidence indicates that removing used plastics after the growing season significantly reduces soil contamination.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 68 citations
Article Tier 2

GIS mapping of agricultural plastic waste in southern Europe

Researchers used geographic information systems to map the generation and distribution of agricultural plastic waste across four southern European countries: Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. They quantified plastic waste from different farming systems at the regional level and identified hotspots where waste management infrastructure is most needed. The study provides a spatial framework that could help policymakers target plastic waste reduction strategies in agriculture.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Implementing a GIS-Based Digital Atlas of Agricultural Plastics to Reduce Their Environmental Footprint; Part I: A Deductive Approach

Researchers developed a GIS-based methodology using orthophotos and satellite imagery to map and quantify agricultural plastic coverage in the Ionian Coast region of southern Italy, identifying approximately 2,000 hectares of crop protection plastics and locating areas most susceptible to plastic waste accumulation. The open-source GIS framework was designed to be replicable by local authorities as the basis for a regional agricultural plastics atlas.

2022 Applied Sciences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Agricultural Soil

This book chapter surveys microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, reviewing the sources of plastic inputs, concentrations found in different farming systems, and the effects of MPs on soil properties, microbial communities, and crop yields.

2025