Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

A Practice of Conservation Tillage in the MollisolRegion in Heilongjiang Province of China:A Mini Review

This review summarizes conservation tillage practices in the Mollisol (black soil) region of Heilongjiang Province, China, where intensive farming has caused significant soil degradation. Researchers found that conservation tillage methods like no-till and straw return can help restore soil health, improve microbial diversity, and reduce erosion. The study highlights the importance of sustainable farming practices for protecting one of China's most important agricultural regions.

2023 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Straw Return with Biodegradable Film Mulch: A Synergistic Cultivation Measure with Environmental and Economic Benefits Based on Life Cycle Assessment

Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate straw return combined with biodegradable plastic film mulch as a cultivation strategy for Chinese farmland, comparing environmental and economic outcomes against conventional practices. The combination reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved soil health while remaining cost-competitive.

2024 Agronomy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Resource Spatial Mismatch on the Configuration Analysis of Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity

This study analyzed how the spatial distribution of agricultural resources affects green farming productivity in China from 2005 to 2021. While not directly about microplastics, it found that pollutant emissions from fertilizers and petroleum products significantly hinder sustainable agriculture. The findings are indirectly relevant because agricultural plastic waste, including mulch films, is a major source of microplastic contamination in farmland soil.

2024 Agriculture 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Can pro-environmental behavior increase farmers’ income?—Evidence from arable land quality protection practices in China

This study used survey data from 591 farmers in Xinjiang, China to assess whether pro-environmental farming behaviors increase income. Results showed that farmers adopting practices that reduced soil and water pollution generated higher yields and revenues over time. Pro-environmental agricultural practices that limit plastic mulch use and chemical inputs can improve both farm sustainability and farmer livelihoods.

2023 Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Agronomy 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Mulching on Maize Yield and Evapotranspiration in the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

This study examined how plastic film mulching affects maize yield and water use in northwest China's Heihe River Basin, finding that mulching increases yields and reduces evaporation. However, widespread plastic mulch use is also a major source of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2022 Remote Sensing 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable film mulching increases soil carbon sequestration in major Chinese dryland agroecosystems

Researchers compared biodegradable and conventional plastic film mulches used in farming and found that biodegradable films increased carbon storage in soil while traditional plastic mulch reduced it, suggesting that switching to biodegradable alternatives could help fight climate change while cutting plastic pollution.

2025 Nature Communications 15 citations
Article Tier 2

What drives low-carbon agriculture? The experience of farms from the Wielkopolska region in Poland

Researchers found that fertilizer efficiency was the most important driver of low-carbon agriculture among Polish farms, with productivity of land, labor, and capital also positively influencing low-carbon farming outcomes.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigation of the Ratio of Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon to Available Phosphorus Effectively Improves Crop Productivity under Mulching Measures on the Loess Plateau

This study investigated how different mulching measures affect soil stoichiometric ratios of dissolved organic carbon to available phosphorus in the Loess Plateau, finding that strategic mulching can mitigate nutrient imbalances and support sustainable agriculture in this erosion-prone region.

2023 Agronomy 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Developments and Prospects of Farmland Application of Biogas Slurry in China—A Review

This review assessed the agronomic benefits and environmental risks of applying biogas slurry (a nutrient-rich anaerobic digestion byproduct) to farmland in China, covering its effects on soil microbiomes, nutrient cycling, and crop productivity.

2023 Microorganisms 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Different Soil Tillage Practices on Microplastic Particle Abundance and Distribution

Researchers compared microplastic particle abundance and depth distribution in agricultural soils under conventional tillage, minimum tillage, and no-till practices, finding that tillage intensity affected both total MP concentrations and the vertical mixing of particles through the soil profile.

2025 Preprints.org
Meta Analysis Tier 1

[Meta-analysis of the Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in China].

This meta-analysis pooled data from studies across China to assess microplastic pollution in agricultural soil. The research found that microplastic levels vary by region and are influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation, and farming practices. Since agricultural soil is where food crops grow, understanding microplastic contamination in farmland is directly relevant to food safety and human health.

2025 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The field mulching could improve sustainability of spring maize production on the Loess Plateau

This study evaluated field mulching impacts on yield stability, soil water storage, nitrogen budget, and soil total nitrogen in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau over multiple years, finding that plastic film mulching improved productivity but raised concerns about microplastic accumulation and nitrogen cycling disruption.

2023 Agricultural Water Management 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing carbon restoration and ecosystem resilience in global drylands via water-to-carbon biotransformation strategies

Researchers synthesized thousands of experiments on dryland farming and found that combining crop diversification, efficient irrigation, soil mulching, and soil health practices can significantly restore carbon to depleted soils while improving water use efficiency. The study argues these strategies are practical pathways for combating climate change and food insecurity in the world's most water-stressed regions.

2025 Communications Earth & Environment 2 citations
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

An Overview of the Impact of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Health in Agricultural Practices

This review examines how different farming methods, from conventional plowing to zero-tillage systems, affect overall soil health including microbial activity and structure. Conservation tillage and crop rotation can improve soil biology and reduce erosion compared to intensive plowing. The findings are relevant to microplastic research because tillage practices affect how plastic fragments from mulch films and other sources get distributed through soil layers.

2023 Advances in Agriculture 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?

This study examined plastic mulch use in agriculture, arguing that short-term crop benefits come with long-term costs as mulch fragments accumulate in soil as microplastics and disrupt soil structure, biology, and water dynamics.

2016 The Science of The Total Environment 1452 citations
Article Tier 2

Macro- and micro-plastic accumulation in soils under different intensive farming systems: A case study in Quzhou county, the North China Plain

Soil samples from six farming systems in the North China Plain showed macroplastic abundances from 0.2 to 46.8 kg/ha and microplastic concentrations up to 3.7×10⁴ items/kg, with greenhouse and mulched vegetable fields showing the highest contamination.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: A review

This review examined mulching practices in agriculture as a strategy for improving soil fertility, water retention, and crop yields, while also noting that plastic mulch films generate persistent microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. The authors discussed biodegradable mulch alternatives and best management practices for reducing plastic residues.

2022 Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Why do farmers care about rented land? Investigating the context of farmland tenure

Researchers investigated why some farmers who rent land invest less in soil conservation than landowners, finding that rental duration, relationship quality, and plot characteristics all matter. Soil degradation on rented farmland can accelerate microplastic accumulation from plastic mulch films that tenants may be less motivated to properly remove.

2021 Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 21 citations