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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Impact of plastic mulch on soil microbial abundance, activity, and diversity in the saline-alkali soils of Xinjiang
ClearEffects 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.
Responses of cotton growth, physiology, and soil properties to polyethylene microplastics in arid areas
A field study in the arid Xinjiang region of China investigated how polyethylene microplastics from plastic mulch films affect cotton plant growth, soil chemistry, and microbial communities. At higher concentrations, microplastics reduced cotton germination rates, altered root structure, and changed the soil's microbial makeup and enzyme activity, suggesting negative effects on soil health and crop productivity. Given that plastic film mulching is widespread in Chinese agriculture — and generates enormous quantities of residual microplastics — these findings raise concerns about long-term soil degradation in farming regions.
The effects of biodegradable mulch film on the growth, yield, and water use efficiency of cotton and maize in an arid region
Researchers compared biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films in Chinese agriculture, finding that biodegradable films improved water use efficiency and crop yield comparably to conventional plastic while reducing long-term plastic accumulation in soil. Degradable mulch films represent a promising strategy to reduce agricultural microplastic pollution.
Microplastic contamination in cotton soils following long-term mulching: A field study for the Xinjiang production and construction corps in China
Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation across agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China — a major mulch film use region — finding that microplastic abundance positively correlates with mulching duration and that geographical and social factors drive north-south differences in contamination levels.
Effects of long-term plastic film mulching on microplastic and phthalate esters pollution in salt-affected soils: Microbial community shifts and enrichment of putative degraders
Researchers found that 1-30 years of continuous plastic film mulching in salinized cotton fields caused progressive accumulation of microplastics and their phthalate ester degradation products in soil, with co-contamination significantly altering soil microbial community composition and functional interactions.
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.
The Effects of Biodegradable Mulch Film on the Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of Cotton and Maize in an Arid Region
Biodegradable mulch film maintained crop growth and water use efficiency comparable to conventional polyethylene film in Chinese cotton and maize fields for the first 60 days, then began to degrade. Replacing conventional plastic mulch with biodegradable alternatives could reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils.
Testing Biodegradable Films as Alternatives to Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhancing the Yield and Economic Benefits of Processed Tomato in Xinjiang Region
Biodegradable mulch films were tested against conventional plastic mulch in processed tomato fields in Xinjiang, China, with results showing comparable yields while substantially reducing plastic residue accumulation in soil.
Distribution of microplastics in mulched soil in Xinjiang, China
Researchers measured microplastic distribution in plastic-mulched farmland soils in Xinjiang, China, finding that plastic particles concentrate in the top soil layer where mulch films fragment. The dominant polymer found was polyethylene, consistent with the plastic mulch films widely used in agriculture across the region.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance and soil organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic accumulation in topsoil after years of conventional polyethylene versus biodegradable film mulching in Chinese cotton fields. Despite biodegradable films being designed to break down, soils under biodegradable mulching had comparable microplastic counts to conventional mulching after multiple seasons, raising questions about whether bioplastic mulches truly reduce field microplastic pollution.
Characterization of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) PBAT co- polyesters degrading bacteria from farmland soil of Xinjiang
Researchers isolated and characterized bacteria from farmland soil capable of degrading PBAT, a biodegradable plastic used as mulch film. Identifying microbes that can break down agricultural plastics offers a biological approach to reducing long-term microplastic accumulation in soils that grow food.
Cropland Microplastics in Xinjiang: Unveiling Distribution and Impact of Mulching Film Residues
This study assessed microplastic distribution and the contribution of agricultural mulching film residues across croplands in Xinjiang, China, finding widespread polyethylene microplastic contamination that correlates with mulch film use intensity and poses risks to soil health and food safety.
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.
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.
Distribution of microplastics and microorganisms and their relationship in high-salinity soil
Researchers characterized microplastic distribution and microbial community structure in high-salinity irrigated farmland soils in Inner Mongolia, finding polyethylene terephthalate particles concentrated near drainage infrastructure and identifying salt-tolerant and plastic-degrading bacterial taxa whose distribution correlated with long-term MP exposure.
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.
Microplastics from mulching film is a distinct habitat for bacteria in farmland soil
Microplastics collected from cotton field mulch films in Xinjiang, China were analyzed by electron microscopy and 16S rRNA sequencing, revealing bacterial communities on plastic surfaces that were structurally distinct from surrounding soil, plant litter, and macroplastics. The study identifies microplastics from agricultural mulch films as novel microbial habitats with a distinct plastisphere community structure.
Environmental risk of multi-year polythene film mulching and its green solution in arid irrigation region
Researchers found that 19 years of polythene film mulching accumulated up to 2,900 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil along with elevated plasticizer concentrations, and demonstrated that biodegradable film alternatives could significantly reduce this environmental contamination.
Occurrence characteristics, source analysis, and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils: A case study on Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang, China
Microplastic occurrence was characterized in agricultural soils of the Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang — a region with decades of plastic film mulching — finding high-density PE and PP fragments as dominant types, with mulch film degradation as the primary source.
Microplastic Accumulation in Agricultural Soils with Different Mulching Histories in Xinjiang, China
Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils of Xinjiang, China increases significantly with mulching history, with fields mulched for over 20 years containing substantially more microplastics across all soil layers.
Effect of mulching on soil properties, microbial diversity and activities, and crop yield
Researchers examined mulching materials including plastic films and biodegradable hemp fiber alternatives, finding that plastic mulch leaves persistent microplastic fragments in soil with poorly understood consequences, while plant fiber bio-canvas offers a promising biodegradable substitute for weed control.
Occurrence status of microplastics in main agricultural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China, were surveyed for microplastic contamination, revealing widespread presence in major farming regions where plastic mulch films and irrigation systems are heavily used. The study provides one of the first regional-scale assessments of microplastic pollution in this important agricultural area.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance, soil structure and organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic levels in cotton fields after 23 years of plastic film mulching and found that switching to biodegradable film actually produced more total microplastics than continuing with conventional polyethylene film. The biodegradable film broke down into many small particles that also reduced beneficial soil microbes and dissolved organic carbon. This challenges the idea that biodegradable agricultural films are a simple solution to farmland plastic pollution.
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.