We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Insights into the mechanism of plastics’ fragmentation under abrasive mechanical forces: An implication for agricultural soil health
ClearMechanisms of microplastic accumulation in the root zones of agricultural soils
Scientists found that tiny plastic pieces from farm materials like mulch films get stuck in soil and don't wash away easily, causing them to build up over time in areas where food is grown. This matters because these microplastics can potentially enter our food supply through crops that absorb them from contaminated soil. The research shows it's very difficult to remove these plastic particles once they're in farmland, suggesting we need better prevention methods to protect our food system.
Fate and Transport Pathways of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil and their Interaction with Agrochemicals
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics move through agricultural soil and interact with agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. The study highlights that industrialization-driven plastic accumulation fragments into microplastics in farming environments, where their interactions with agricultural chemicals may amplify environmental and food safety risks.
Environmental fate and effects of mulch films on agricultural soil: A systematic review from application to residual impact
This systematic review examines how plastic mulch films used in agriculture break down over time and release microplastics into farm soil. The films improve crop growth but create lasting environmental damage as plastic fragments accumulate and alter soil properties. The findings underscore the importance of developing truly biodegradable alternatives to protect farmland from microplastic pollution.
Investigating the sustainability of agricultural plastic products, combined influence of polymer characteristics and environmental conditions on microplastics aging
Researchers investigated how polymer characteristics and environmental conditions influence the photodegradation of agricultural plastic products in soil. The study examined low-density polyethylene microplastic degradation under different UV radiation and humidity conditions. The findings suggest that environmental factors significantly affect how agricultural plastics break down into microplastics, with implications for understanding long-term soil contamination from farming practices.
Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas
Researchers measured the effects of microplastics used in common agricultural practices — including mulch film residues and irrigation-delivered particles — on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Microplastic presence altered soil aggregation, water retention, and microbial community composition, with effects depending on plastic concentration, polymer type, and soil texture.
A method for measuring the emissions of in situ agricultural plastic film microplastics by ultraviolet and mechanical abrasion
Researchers developed a method to measure in situ microplastic emissions from agricultural plastic films under combined UV and mechanical abrasion, providing the first quantitative approach to assess how field conditions cause polyethylene and PVC films to fragment into microplastics.
From intentionally used plastic films to soil microplastic contamination
Researchers examined how six different LDPE agricultural plastic films fragment into microplastics under UV radiation and mechanical stress, finding that film thickness and UV exposure time significantly influenced degradation rates, with thinner films fragmenting more rapidly into soil-contaminating microplastic particles.
Effects of microplastics on selected physical properties of agricultural soils and on the response of the selected terrestrial isopod
Scientists found that tiny plastic pieces from agricultural films change how soil holds and releases water, with some types increasing available water for plants by about 5%. These microplastics also affect soil creatures that help keep ecosystems healthy. This matters because these plastic particles could be changing how our food is grown and may eventually end up in the crops we eat.
Agricultural mulch films as soil microplastic contamination factor
This review examines agricultural mulch films as a source of soil microplastic contamination, summarizing evidence on degradation rates, particle accumulation in soil profiles, and impacts on soil properties and biological communities over time.
Association of microplastics with water-stable aggregates formed under laboratory conditions
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in soil can break apart the natural clumps that keep soil healthy and stable. Different types of plastics had different effects, with some plastics causing more damage to soil structure than others. This matters because damaged soil could affect how well crops grow and how plastic pollution moves through the environment, potentially impacting our food supply.
Impact of Plastic Residues on Soil Properties and Crop Productivity: A Comprehensive Research Study
This agricultural field study assessed how plastic residues at varying contamination levels affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop productivity, finding that higher microplastic concentrations disrupted soil structure, reduced microbial activity, and lowered plant growth.
Microplastics in agricultural soils: Extraction and characterization after different periods of polythene film mulching in an arid region
Researchers developed a new method to extract microplastics from agricultural soil and found that fields mulched with plastic film for 30 years had the highest microplastic concentrations, at 40 mg per kilogram of soil, with particle size decreasing as the years of mulching increased. The study highlights the long-term accumulation of microplastics in soils under continuous plastic film agriculture.
Microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates: Insights from two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils
Researchers conducted two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils comparing microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films, finding that soil properties and MP size and shape influence the degree of occlusion, with aggregate embedment potentially protecting MPs from further degradation.
Microplastic alteration in agricultural soils across Europe: Comparative study of MPs inside and outside soil aggregates over two years
Researchers tracked microplastic aging inside and outside soil aggregates in European agricultural soils over two years, comparing fields in multiple countries. Microplastics enclosed within aggregates showed less physicochemical aging than surface-exposed particles, suggesting that aggregate formation can temporarily protect plastics from degradation and prolong their persistence in soil.
[Adverse Effects and Underlying Mechanisms of Soil Microplastics on Crops and Its Preventive Strategies].
This review summarizes the pollution status of microplastics in agricultural soils and their adverse effects on crops, including mechanical damage, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity leading to disrupted plant growth and metabolism. Researchers also examined how hazardous substances released from microplastics and contaminants adsorbed onto their surfaces contribute to soil ecosystem harm. The study identifies source control and biodegradation as the most promising strategies for reducing microplastic risks to crop production.
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.
Are agricultural plastic covers a source of plastic debris in soil? A first screening study
Agricultural plastic covers made from polyethylene and polypropylene were assessed for their potential to fragment and contribute microplastics to underlying soil in a screening study, with early results suggesting partial breakdown during field use. The study provides preliminary evidence that agricultural covers are a source of soil microplastic contamination beyond just mulch films.
Tracing macroplastics redistribution and fragmentation by tillage translocation
Researchers developed a method to trace how agricultural tillage redistributes and fragments large plastic debris in farm soil. Using magnetic tagging and radio-frequency identification, they tracked how tillage operations moved plastic pieces horizontally and vertically through the soil while breaking them into smaller fragments. The study demonstrates that routine farming practices contribute to microplastic generation by physically breaking down larger plastic waste already present in agricultural fields.
Unravelling the ecological ramifications of biodegradable microplastics in soil environment: A systematic review
Researchers reviewed 85 studies on biodegradable microplastics in soil, finding that when biodegradable plastics fail to fully break down they can disrupt soil structure, nutrient cycling, and microbial life in ways that depend heavily on concentration and plastic type. The review highlights that "biodegradable" plastics are not a simple fix for microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Microplastics in Agricultural Soils: Sources, Fate, and Interactions with Other Contaminants
This review examines how microplastics enter farmland through irrigation, fertilizers, and plastic mulch, and how long-term farming practices affect their spread and aging in soil. The paper highlights that microplastics can either increase or decrease the toxicity of co-existing pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals depending on how strongly each contaminant binds to soil versus plastic particles.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in agriculture—A potential source of soil and groundwater contamination?
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics (tiny plastic fragments) contaminate agricultural soils and can migrate through the soil into groundwater, potentially carrying pesticides and other chemicals with them. They conclude that current analytical tools are inadequate and that plastic fragmentation in soils is a poorly understood but serious threat to drinking water supplies.
Processes controlling the transportation of microplastics in agricultural soils
Researchers investigated the physical processes controlling microplastic transport through agricultural soils, examining how soil structure, water flow, bioturbation, and particle properties interact to move microplastics from surface application sites deeper into the soil profile or laterally toward aquatic systems. The study addressed the dual role of agricultural soils as both sinks and potential sources of microplastic pollution to surrounding environments.
Disintegration and mineralization of mulch films and leaf litter in soil
This field study tracked the physical disintegration of biodegradable mulch films in agricultural soil over time, monitoring how the films fragment and whether they fully disappear. Understanding the fragmentation and fate of agricultural plastic films in soil is important because these films are a significant source of microplastic contamination of farmland.
Tiny pollutants, big consequences: investigating the influence of nano- and microplastics on soil properties and plant health with mitigation strategies
Researchers reviewed the impact of nanoplastics and microplastics on soil properties and plant health, examining absorption and translocation mechanisms in plants. The study suggests that plastic particles alter soil structure and microbial communities, impair plant growth and nutrient uptake, and proposes mitigation strategies to address these emerging threats to agricultural ecosystems.