Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Distinct microplastic distributions in soils of different land-use types: A case study of Chinese farmlands

Microplastic distribution across six types of farmland land use was surveyed from soils in five Chinese provinces to determine how agricultural practices shape soil microplastic contamination. The study found that microplastic abundance varied significantly by land-use type, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation practices as key contributing factors.

2020 Environmental Pollution 278 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of plastic film mulching on microplastic in farmland soils in Guangdong province, China

Researchers surveyed farmland in Guangdong, China's largest economic province, to determine how much plastic mulch film contributes to soil microplastic pollution. They found that fields using plastic mulch had significantly higher microplastic levels than those without, and the contamination correlated with years of mulch use. The study helps clarify the direct agricultural contribution to soil microplastic pollution in regions with many overlapping pollution sources.

2023 Heliyon 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Agricultural plastic films reshape soil microplastic distribution, nitrogen cycle and ecological risks in facility agriculture

Researchers compared microplastic characteristics in protected agriculture systems and traditional farmland soils in China, finding significantly higher microplastic abundance in mulched farmland and documenting correlations between microplastic presence and altered soil nitrogen cycling and heavy metal distribution.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 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

Abundance, spatial distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils and their relationship with contributing factors

Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 2,800 to 82,500 particles per kilogram in agricultural soils of Hainan Island, China, with plastic mulching, farming practices, and environmental factors all contributing to spatial variation in contamination levels.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils in China: Sources, impacts and solutions

This review examines microplastic contamination in Chinese agricultural soils, finding abundances ranging from about 5 to over 40,000 items per kilogram depending on location. The study identifies plastic mulching films as the most significant source, followed by abandoned greenhouses and organic fertilizers, and recommends sustainable agronomic practices to reduce soil microplastic pollution.

2023 Environmental Pollution 148 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of agricultural land types on microplastic abundance: A nationwide meta-analysis in China

Meta-analysis of 321 observations across Chinese agricultural soils found that vegetable-growing soils had the highest microplastic contamination, followed by orchards, cropland, and grassland. Agricultural film mulch significantly increased soil microplastic levels, especially in orchards, while higher population density and economic activity correlated with increased contamination across all land types.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Significant influence of land use types and anthropogenic activities on the distribution of microplastics in soil: A case from a typical mining-agricultural city

Scientists surveyed microplastic pollution across five types of land in a Chinese mining-agricultural city and found the highest levels in greenhouse farmland, with nearly 3,738 particles per kilogram of soil. Agricultural plastic waste, irrigation water, and fertilizers were identified as the main sources of contamination. The study shows that farming practices are major contributors to microplastic buildup in the soil that produces our food.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate

Microplastic abundance and characteristics were examined in soils representing four agricultural practice types in Chinese farmland to evaluate the influence of land use on plastic particle accumulation. Microplastic concentrations and polymer types varied by agricultural practice, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation water source as key drivers of farmland soil contamination.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 282 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Farmland Soil in Guyuan].

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in agricultural soils in Guyuan City, China, finding concentrations ranging from 186 to 1,286 particles per kg, with greenhouse farming soils containing 35–229% more microplastics than open fields and PE and PP being the dominant polymer types. The findings raise concern for food chain contamination and demonstrate that plastic mulch film use in facility agriculture significantly increases soil microplastic accumulation.

2023 PubMed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The abundance, characteristics and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in farmland soil—Based on research in China

This review analyzed microplastic contamination in farmland soil across China and found that fertilizer use and plastic mulch film are the biggest contributors, increasing soil microplastic levels by 170% and 232% respectively. The most common types found were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers. These findings are concerning because microplastics in farm soil can be taken up by crops and enter the human food supply.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in soils from greenhouse and open-field cultivation using plastic mulch film

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across three regions in China, comparing greenhouse and open-field cultivation that uses plastic mulch film. They found that microplastic abundance varied significantly by region and that the type of mulching practice accounted for over 34% of the variation in microplastic composition. The study provides important baseline data on how plastic film use in farming contributes to soil microplastic pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Agricultural Activities on Climate Change: A Review of Greenhouse Gas Emission Patterns in Field Crop Systems

This review examines greenhouse gas emissions from different crop farming systems and management practices. While not directly about microplastics, it is relevant because plastic mulch films widely used in agriculture contribute to both microplastic soil contamination and altered greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights how agricultural practices affect both climate change and environmental pollution simultaneously.

2024 Plants 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of land-use patterns on soil microplastics: Distribution characteristics and driving factors in southern China’s Pearl River Delta

A study across different land-use types in China's Pearl River Delta found that agricultural land had higher soil microplastic concentrations than urban or forested areas, with land-use history and plastic mulch film use as the dominant factors controlling MP distribution and polymer composition.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Environmental Risk Assessment, and Key Drivers of Microplastics in Farmland Soils Across Agricultural Zones in China

Researchers mapped the distribution and environmental risk of microplastics across a study area while identifying the key drivers of spatial variation, including land use and proximity to pollution sources. The findings provide a framework for prioritizing cleanup and management efforts in microplastic-contaminated environments.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Plastic mulch productivity-sustainability tradeoffs and pathways toward an eco-friendly framework: insights from a global meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from global studies on plastic mulch used in farming, finding that it boosts crop yields by nearly 29% but leaves persistent plastic residue in soil. The plastic fragments that remain in farmland soil eventually break down into microplastics, which can contaminate crops and enter the food supply. The study calls for biodegradable alternatives to balance food production needs with the growing problem of agricultural microplastic pollution.

2026 Nature Communications
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in Chinese agricultural soils, collecting 477 samples from 109 cities across 31 regions, and identified spatial distribution patterns and key factors influencing farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China

This study provides the first comprehensive survey of plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soil, analyzing data from 163 publications covering 728 sites. The average microplastic abundance was 4,537 particles per kilogram of dry soil, with agricultural plastic films and organic waste being the biggest sources. Since China is the world's largest user of agricultural plastics, these findings highlight how farming practices can lead to significant microplastic contamination of the soil that grows our food.

2023 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 162 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Typical Maize Farmland Soils With Long-Term Plastic Film Mulching in Northern China

A survey of 225 soil samples from maize farmland with long-term plastic film mulching in northern China found widespread microplastic contamination, with abundance, distribution, and polymer composition reflecting the history of film use and agricultural management practices.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China

This review examines plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soils, finding that agricultural practices like mulch film use and sewage sludge application are major sources of both macro- and microplastics that accumulate over time.

2023 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Greenhouse farming as a source of macroplastic and microplastics contamination in agricultural soils: a case study from Southeast-Hungary

Researchers quantified macroplastic and microplastic contamination in greenhouse farmland soils in China, finding significant accumulation of polyethylene film fragments throughout the soil profile and in underlying groundwater, demonstrating that greenhouse agriculture is a substantial source of agricultural soil plastic pollution.

2022 Agrokémia és Talajtan 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Status, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in farmland surface soils cultivated with different crops across mainland China

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in farmland soils across mainland China, covering over 30 crop types in 109 cities. They found microplastics in all sampled soils, with concentrations varying by crop type, region, and farming practices such as plastic film mulching and irrigation methods. The study provides the most comprehensive picture to date of agricultural microplastic contamination in China and identifies the key farming practices that contribute most to soil pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of land use and landscape on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soil, China

Researchers investigated how land use patterns affect microplastic contamination in soils across different agricultural, orchard, grassland, and woodland areas in Yunnan Province, China. Agricultural lands, especially those with greenhouses and traditional farming, had significantly higher microplastic levels than grasslands and woodlands, with fragments being the dominant shape. The study suggests that farming practices, including plastic mulch use and fertilizer application, are major contributors to soil microplastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different mulch materials on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and soil water use efficiency of wheat in Loess tableland

Not relevant to microplastics — this agricultural study compares different mulching materials (including plastic film) on wheat yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China, with no focus on microplastic pollution from plastic mulch.

2023 Scientific Reports 6 citations