Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of residual mulching films with different mulching years on the diversity of soil microbial communities in typical regions

Researchers examined four cotton fields in Xinjiang, China with varying polyethylene mulch film histories (0-25 years) using high-throughput sequencing to assess how residual film and microplastics affect soil microbial communities. They found that short-term mulching (0-10 years) increased microbial diversity while continuous 25-year mulching significantly decreased bacterial diversity, with Proteobacteria and Ascomycetes dominating, and residual film accumulation reducing bacterial community diversity without significantly impacting fungal diversity.

2022 Heliyon 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the microbial community structure of maize rhizosphere soil

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics from agricultural films affect the microbial communities in crop root zones (rhizosphere), finding shifts in bacterial diversity and function. Disrupting soil microbiomes through microplastic contamination could have downstream effects on soil fertility and crop health.

2021 中国生态农业学报 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics distribution and microbial community characteristics of farmland soil under different mulch methods

This study compared microplastic distribution and soil microbial community structure in farmland soils under different plastic film mulching methods including no mulch, biodegradable film, and conventional polyethylene film. Mulching method significantly altered both microplastic abundance and microbial diversity in the top soil layer.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Structural and Functional Responses of Soil Microbial Communities to Biodegradable Plastic Film Mulching in Two Agroecosystems

Researchers investigated the effects of biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs) on soil microbial communities over two years at sites in Tennessee and Washington, finding that mulch treatment type had minimal impact on bacterial community structure or extracellular enzyme activity compared to the stronger effects of location and season.

2019 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Findings of Polypropylene Carbonate (PPC) Plastic Film Mulching Effects on the Soil Microbial Community

Researchers examined how polypropylene carbonate biodegradable film mulching affects soil microbial community composition and function compared to bare soil, finding that PPC film alters microbial diversity and activity during decomposition in agricultural settings.

2022 Agriculture 27 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

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

Evaluating the Impact of Traditional and Biodegradable Mulch Film Residues on Heavy Metal Dynamics and Maize Productivity: Insights from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Community Analysis

Researchers compared the long-term effects of traditional polyethylene and biodegradable mulch film residues on soil properties, heavy metal uptake in maize, and beneficial soil fungi communities. Traditional mulch residues increased the accumulation of arsenic and cadmium in maize roots while altering soil chemistry, whereas biodegradable mulch residues also affected fungal communities but in different ways. The study suggests that neither type of mulch film is without environmental consequence, and that their residues can influence both crop safety and soil microbial health.

2025 Agronomy 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Film Residue Reshaped Protist Communities and Induced Soil Nutrient Deficiency Under Field Conditions

Researchers conducted a field experiment to examine how long-term plastic mulch film residues affect soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. They found that plastic residues significantly reduced the diversity of protist communities, which play key roles in soil health, and led to deficiencies in soil moisture, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The study underscores that agricultural plastic waste creates lasting negative effects on soil ecosystems well beyond its intended use.

2025 Agronomy 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Different Mulch Types on Farmland Soil Moisture in an Artificial Oasis Area

Not relevant to microplastics — this study compares how different mulch materials (including conventional polyethylene plastic films) affect soil moisture retention in an arid farming region of China, focusing on water management rather than plastic fragmentation or microplastic contamination.

2023 Land 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Rice Cultivation under Film Mulching Can Improve Soil Environment and Be Beneficial for Rice Production in China

This review examines the benefits and drawbacks of growing rice under plastic film mulch in China, which improves water efficiency and yield but contributes to microplastic contamination of agricultural soil. While degradable films and organic fertilizers offer partial solutions, long-term plastic residue in farmland remains a concern. The study highlights the tension between agricultural productivity and the risk of microplastic pollution entering the food supply through soil.

2024 Rice Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of mulching film on soil microbial diversity and community of cotton

Researchers compared how traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch and biodegradable PBAT mulch affect soil microbes in Chinese cotton fields. PBAT mulch significantly altered the diversity of soil fungi — particularly boosting Gibellulopsis — while neither type of mulch strongly affected bacterial diversity, suggesting biodegradable mulch changes the soil ecosystem in ways that need further study.

2022 AMB Express 19 citations
Article Tier 2

The layout measures of micro-sprinkler irrigation under plastic film regulate tomato soil bacterial community and root system

Researchers investigated how different layout measures of micro-sprinkler irrigation under plastic film affect soil bacterial community structure and root system development in tomato crops in Northwest China. The L1C2 treatment produced the most stable bacterial community and best root morphological development, positively contributing to increased tomato yield and supporting water-saving production practices.

2023 Frontiers in Plant Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Long-Term Biodegradable Film Mulch on Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties

Long-term use of biodegradable mulch film was compared to conventional plastic and no-mulch controls in terms of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties, with results showing that biodegradable mulch altered soil structure and microbial diversity in ways differing from both conventional plastic and bare soil. The findings raise questions about the cumulative effects of biodegradable plastic residues on agricultural soil health.

2022 Toxics 54 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

Agri-plastics in soils drive changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community and plant transcriptome in Arabidopsis

Researchers investigated how low-density polyethylene mulching film residues affect rhizosphere bacterial communities and plant gene expression in Arabidopsis, finding that plastic residues mixed into agricultural soil at 5% w/w altered microbial community composition and triggered changes in plant transcriptome responses.

2025
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics and their abundance impacts on microbial structure and function in agricultural soils of remote areas in west China

Researchers found that agricultural soils in remote western China using plastic mulch film had about four times more microplastics than fields without it, mostly tiny polyamide fragments under 50 micrometers. The microplastics changed the diversity and function of soil bacteria, including boosting organisms linked to organic matter breakdown. These microbial shifts could affect soil health and potentially increase health risks from crops grown in contaminated soil.

2024 Environmental Pollution 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and weathering characteristics of microplastics in paddy soils following long-term mulching: A field study in Southwest China

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in paddy soils following long-term plastic film mulching in Southwest China, finding that ten years of continuous mulching significantly increased filmy microplastic accumulation and that weathering altered the chemical properties of these particles.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of different irrigation methods on the alfalfa rhizosphere soil fungal communities in an arid region

Researchers examined how traditional flood irrigation versus drip irrigation methods affect fungal diversity, community structures, and ecological functions in alfalfa rhizosphere soils in the arid Xinjiang region of China, finding that irrigation method significantly shapes soil fungal communities.

2022 PLoS ONE 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance associated with farmland use types and the impact on soil microbial communities: A case study in Southern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across orchard, paddy field, and vegetable field soils in Southern China and analyzed how it affected soil microbial communities. They found microplastic levels ranging widely across sites, with very small particles under 30 micrometers being most common, and identified 32 different polymer types. The study shows that farmland use type and agricultural practices like plastic mulching significantly influence both the amount and type of microplastic contamination in soils.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics in dryland soils after long‐term film mulching and the effect of cropping type in western Liaoning Province, China

Fields in a semi-arid region of China that had been covered with agricultural plastic film for over a decade showed significant microplastic accumulation in the soil, with fragment shapes dominating and concentrations varying by crop type. Different crops influenced both the abundance and characteristics of microplastic particles, likely due to differences in tillage, root activity, and film use patterns. This study adds to growing evidence that agricultural plastic mulching is a major driver of farmland microplastic pollution with potential consequences for soil health and crop safety.

2023 Land Degradation and Development 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distributions of microplastics in long-term mulched soils and their potential impacts on soil properties and microbial diversity

Microplastic concentrations were measured at different depths in agricultural soils that had been mulched with plastic film over many years, finding vertical stratification with higher concentrations near the surface. Long-term plastic mulching leads to progressive accumulation of microplastics throughout the soil profile.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 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

Biofilm Structural and Functional Features on Microplastic Surfaces in Greenhouse Agricultural Soil

Researchers studied biofilm formation on five types of microplastics in greenhouse agricultural soil over 30 days at two concentrations. The study found evidence of microbial enrichment on all plastic types, with biofilm community composition varying by polymer type and concentration. The findings suggest that microplastics in agricultural soils serve as distinct microbial habitats that may influence soil microbial ecology.

2022 Sustainability 61 citations