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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A comparative assessment of polymer-coated and non-coated urea in direct-seeded rice: agronomic, economic, and environmental performance and sensitivity analysis
ClearRunoff and accumulation of microplastics derived from polymer-coated fertilizer in Japanese paddy fields
Researchers investigated how polymer-coated fertilizers widely used in Japanese rice farming release microplastic shell fragments into paddy fields and surrounding waterways. The study found that between 61 and 100 percent of the fertilizer coating fragments run off from fields, and estimates suggest this is a meaningful source of agricultural microplastic pollution across Japan.
The role of coated fertilizer used in paddy fields as a source of microplastics in the marine environment
Researchers found that polyethylene microcapsules from slow-release coated fertilizers used in Japanese paddy fields are a major source of coastal microplastic pollution, comprising up to 90% of all microplastics sampled during irrigation season, with coastal density influenced by topographic and meteorological conditions beyond simple agricultural land area.
The input–output balance of microplastics derived from coated fertilizer in paddy fields and the timing of their discharge during the irrigation season
This study tracked the input-output balance of microplastics from polymer-coated fertilizer capsules in Japanese paddy fields, finding that large numbers of microplastic capsule fragments are discharged into waterways during the irrigation season.
Accumulation of microcapsules derived from coated fertilizer in paddy fields
Plastic microcapsules from slow-release coated fertilizers, each 2-5 mm in diameter, were found to accumulate in Japanese paddy fields after the fertilizer contents diffused. Unlike some other agricultural plastics, these microcapsules are not collected after use and have been found in large quantities in farmland and waterways.
A first approach to estimate the leakage of polymer-coated fertilizer-derived microplastics from paddy fields to beaches
Researchers investigated polymer-coated fertilizer-derived microplastics (PE and PU) along Japanese coastlines, finding that direct drainage from paddy fields to beaches retained 27.9% of applied microcapsules, while river transport resulted in less than 0.2% reaching beaches, with the Sea of Japan coast showing nearly three times higher beach concentrations than Pacific coast sites.
Generation Characteristics of Micro Plastics from Different Types of Coated Controlled-Release Fertilizer Films
Researchers conducted soil incubation experiments simulating five years of continuous application of three polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers to characterize microplastic generation from their degrading coating films. The study found that the polymer coating type significantly affected both fertilizer release characteristics and microplastic production, with changes in soil nitrogen fractions and electrical conductivity influencing the rate of membrane shell degradation and subsequent plastic particle release.
Environmental sustainability of future fertilizers: tradeoffs between ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching for 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers
Researchers stress-tested 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers under controlled greenhouse conditions to compare their performance in reducing ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching. They found strong performance tradeoffs among products, with six fertilizers performing well across both measures, including polymer-coated formulations. The study notes that polymer coatings used in fertilizer technology, including biodegradable options like PLA, represent a potential source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
Environmental sustainability of future fertilizers: tradeoffs between ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching for 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers
Researchers stress-tested 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers under greenhouse conditions and found significant performance tradeoffs between reducing ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching. Six fertilizers performed well across both measures, including two inhibitor-based products and four polymer-coated formulations. The study notes that polymer coatings on fertilizers, including those made from biodegradable plastics like PLA, can themselves become sources of microplastics in agricultural soils.
Environmental sustainability of future fertilizers: tradeoffs between ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching for 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers
Researchers evaluated 11 enhanced efficiency fertilizers under greenhouse conditions, finding that polymer-coated and inhibitor-based products showed significant performance tradeoffs between ammonia volatilization and nitrate leaching. Six fertilizers performed well overall, and the study found that even fertilizers within the same class performed differently depending on the substrate used. The research highlights that polymer coatings on fertilizers, including biodegradable plastics, are a potential environmental source of microplastics.
Mechanisms of microplastic generation from polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs)
This study investigated how the plastic coatings on slow-release fertilizers break down and release microplastics into soil. Significantly more microplastic particles were released in soil conditions than in water alone, and wet-dry cycles accelerated the breakdown, meaning agricultural soils receiving these fertilizers may be accumulating substantial amounts of microplastic pollution.
Unveiling the potency of polymers and their environmental implications: an agricultural perspective
Researchers reviewed the expanding use of synthetic polymers in agriculture — including water-retaining superabsorbent polymers and slow-release coatings — and found that while they boost crop yields and conserve water, they also contribute to soil microplastic pollution over time. The review calls for more research into biodegradable alternatives to reduce the long-term environmental burden of plastic-based farming inputs.
Advancements and challenges in controlled-release fertilisers: An approach to integrate biopolymer-based strategies
This review examines controlled-release fertilizers, which are designed to deliver nutrients to plants gradually, and finds that many use synthetic polymer coatings that can leave microplastic residues in soil. The authors highlight biopolymers made from natural materials like chitosan, cellulose, and starch as promising alternatives that can biodegrade without contributing to plastic pollution. The shift toward biodegradable fertilizer coatings could help reduce a significant but often overlooked source of agricultural microplastic contamination.
Monitoring Microplastic Release from Simulated Paddy Fields in Controlled Planting Containers
Researchers used paddy field model containers equipped with soil, rice plants, and drainage systems to monitor the release and concentration patterns of microplastics from slow-release fertilizer (SRF) polymer coatings over 10 days under controlled conditions. The study found that SRF coatings shed measurable microplastic particles into drainage water, raising concern about agricultural microplastic pollution entering rivers and coastal waters.
Analysis of Slow-Released Fertilisers as a Source of Microplastics
Analysis of slow-release fertilisers coated with polymer shells found that these products can release microplastics into agricultural soils as the coatings degrade. Two major manufacturers' products showed varying polymer compositions and differing abilities to adsorb soil contaminants, raising concerns about MP accumulation from fertiliser use.
Spatiotemporal variation in microplastics derived from polymer-coated fertilizer in an agricultural small river in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Researchers tracked seasonal and daily variation of microplastics from polymer-coated fertilizer microcapsules in a small Japanese agricultural river, documenting their transport patterns and identifying timing of peak runoff events linked to agricultural practices.
Biodegradation of microplastics derived from controlled release fertilizer coating: Selective microbial colonization and metabolism in plastisphere
Scientists studied how microplastics from fertilizer coatings break down in soil over more than two years, finding that polyethylene degraded the most (nearly 17% weight loss) while producing secondary microplastic fragments and chemical byproducts. Specific bacteria and fungi colonized the plastic surfaces, forming biofilms that helped break down the material. This research shows that coated fertilizers are a direct source of microplastic pollution in farmland, where the breakdown products could enter crops and groundwater.
Fully bio-based polyurethane coating for environmentally friendly controlled release fertilizer: Construction, degradation mechanism and effect on plant growth
Researchers developed a fully bio-based polyurethane coating for controlled-release fertilizers using castor oil and a plant-derived chemical. Unlike conventional polyurethane coatings that persist in soil as microplastics, this coating showed strong biodegradability while still effectively controlling nutrient release. The study offers a practical solution to reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from fertilizer coatings.
Advances in Controlled Release Fertilizers: Cost‐Effective Coating Techniques and Smart Stimuli‐Responsive Hydrogels
This review examines advances in controlled release fertilizer technology, focusing on cost-effective coating techniques and smart hydrogels that release nutrients in response to environmental conditions. Researchers found that while these technologies improve nutrient efficiency and reduce environmental pollution from fertilizer runoff, the coatings themselves can introduce microplastic contamination into soils. The study calls for development of fully biodegradable coating materials that deliver the benefits of controlled release without adding to plastic pollution in agricultural lands.
Long-term localization experiments reveal aging degradation mechanisms of biobased and petroleum-based polyurethanes in natural environments: degradation characteristics, product assessment and degradation cycle prediction
Researchers conducted a 807-day field localisation experiment to study the degradation mechanisms of biobased and petroleum-based polyurethanes used as polymer coatings on controlled-release fertilisers in natural soil environments. The study characterised the degradation products, assessed environmental risk, and developed a predictive model for the degradation cycle, finding that both polyurethane types fragment into microplastic residues at different rates.
Unraveling consequences of soil micro- and nano-plastic pollution on soil-plant system: Implications for nitrogen (N) cycling and soil microbial activity
This review examines how micro- and nano-plastics affect soil microbial activity and nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems, finding mixed effects that depend on polymer type and size. The authors highlight concerns about biodegradable plastics posing greater risks to plant growth than conventional plastics, complicating the assumption that biodegradable options are always safer.
Perception and impact of micropollutants in urine-based liquid fertilizer on crop production: A comprehensive review of Eco-sanitation practices
This review explores the promise and risks of using human urine as a crop fertilizer, noting it contains valuable nitrogen and phosphorus but also pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and microplastics that can contaminate soil and enter food crops. The presence of microplastics in urine-derived fertilizer is identified as a safety concern that adds to the already complex risk calculus of eco-sanitation practices. The paper underscores how microplastics have permeated even novel, low-tech agricultural inputs, complicating otherwise sustainable approaches.
Evaluating novel biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen‐efficient agriculture
Researchers designed and evaluated biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen-efficient agriculture, testing their performance in simulated tropical conditions and finding improved nitrogen retention compared to conventional fertilizers, though with some trade-offs in release kinetics.
Polyethylene microplastic impairs soil gross nitrification and reduces fertilizer-derived nitrogen uptake in rice
Using nitrogen isotope labeling, researchers found that polyethylene microplastics significantly impaired gross soil nitrification rates and reduced rice uptake of fertilizer nitrogen. The results indicate that microplastic pollution can undermine nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture, with potential implications for crop yields and fertilizer management.
A risk assessment framework for fragmenting (micro-)plastics. A case study for polymer coated fertilizers in soil
Researchers developed a risk assessment framework specifically for fragmenting microplastics from polymer-coated fertilizers in agricultural soils, incorporating fragmentation dynamics and bioavailable particle fractions. The framework found that current environmental concentrations of PCF-derived microplastics approach hazardous levels for some soil organisms.