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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigating the sustainability of agricultural plastic products, combined influence of polymer characteristics and environmental conditions on microplastics aging
ClearFrom 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.
Insights into the mechanism of plastics’ fragmentation under abrasive mechanical forces: An implication for agricultural soil health
Researchers studied how mechanical abrasion by soil particles breaks down agricultural plastic films into microplastics, revealing the physical and chemical mechanisms behind fragmentation. They found that repeated friction causes surface cracking and releases progressively smaller plastic fragments into soil. This matters because understanding how farm plastics become microplastics can help develop more durable materials and reduce contamination of agricultural land and food crops.
Polymer-specific transformation of microplastics under soil freeze–thaw versus UV aging: Multiscale insights into atrazine interaction mechanisms
Long-term soil incubation experiments showed that different polymer types transform distinctively under real soil conditions, with some plastics fragmenting rapidly while others persist with minimal change. Polymer-specific fate data are essential for accurate risk assessment and regulatory decisions about plastic use in agriculture.
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.
In-soil degradation of polymer materials waste – A survey of different approaches in relation with environmental impact
This review surveys the in-soil degradation of polymer materials — including natural fibers, synthetic plastics, and composites — examining how environmental factors such as UV radiation, microorganisms, moisture, and temperature drive degradation and influence the environmental impact of plastic waste in terrestrial ecosystems.
Macro and microplastics in agricultural soils after use of conventional and biodegradable plastics
Researchers sampled 38 agricultural fields where conventional polyethylene mulching films, polypropylene weed fabrics, biodegradable PBAT films, and frost covers had been used, quantifying macro- and microplastic contamination in soils to assess how different agricultural plastic products contribute to soil plastic pollution.
Photodegradation modifies microplastic effects on soil properties and plant performance
Researchers examined how UV-driven photodegradation alters the effects of microplastics on soil properties and plant growth. The study found that degraded plastic fibers increased soil water retention and respiration more than their non-degraded counterparts, while degraded foams reduced soil aggregation, demonstrating that the environmental weathering state of microplastics is an important factor in determining their ecological impact.
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.
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.
Plastics Biodegradation in the Short Term in a Mediterranean Soil and the Effect of Organic Amendment
Researchers investigated short-term biodegradation of conventional plastics in Mediterranean agricultural soil and examined the effect of organic amendment on degradation rates, testing whether low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and biodegradable alternatives differ in their breakdown behavior under realistic field conditions.
Reductive soil disinfestation influences microbial aging of low-density polyethylene and polyhydroxyalkanoate microplastics and microbial communities in plastispheres
Researchers examined how a soil treatment method called reductive soil disinfestation affects the breakdown of conventional and biodegradable microplastics in agricultural soil. They found that the treatment slowed the degradation of conventional polyethylene microplastics but accelerated the breakdown of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate plastics. The study reveals that soil management practices can significantly influence how long different types of microplastics persist in farmland.
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.
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.
Interactive effects of soil characteristics and polymer types reveal patterns of denitrifying bacteria enrichment in the soil plastisphere
A field study examined how soil characteristics (texture, organic matter, pH) and polymer type interact to determine microplastic persistence and mobility in agricultural soils. The results show that soil properties are as important as plastic type in predicting environmental fate.
Evaluating the impacts of microplastics on agricultural soil physical, chemical properties, and toxic metal availability: An emerging concern for sustainable agriculture
This study tested how five common types of microplastics affect soil properties and heavy metal availability in agricultural soil over 90 days. Microplastics changed soil structure, nutrient levels, and water-holding capacity, and actually reduced the availability of toxic heavy metals at higher plastic concentrations -- highlighting the complex ways plastic pollution is altering the farmland that produces our food.
Thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion - understanding mechanisms of microplastic generation and chemical transformation
Researchers evaluated how consumer-derived polymers fragment and chemically transform when exposed to UV radiation or thermal oxidation followed by soil abrasion. The study found that these combined weathering processes, which mimic real-world environmental conditions, significantly affect the rate and type of microplastic generation. The results highlight how everyday use and environmental exposure work together to break down plastics into microplastic particles.
Aging reduces the negative effect of low-density polyethylene microplastics on soil-plant-microbial systems
This study compared the effects of original and UV-aged low-density polyethylene microplastics at two particle sizes on soil properties, plant performance, and microbial communities. Aging reduced the negative impacts of LDPE microplastics, suggesting that environmental weathering partially mitigates the harm these particles cause to soil-plant-microbe systems.
Microplastics in Agriculture- a Review
This review examines the growing presence of microplastics in agricultural environments, covering their sources from plastic mulch films and irrigation water, their effects on soil health and crop quality, and the implications for food safety and sustainable agriculture.
iMulch: an investigation of the influence of polymers on a terrestrial ecosystem using the example of mulch films used in agriculture
This research project studied how plastic mulch films used in farming break down into microplastics in soil, comparing conventional polyethylene films with biodegradable alternatives. The findings show that both types of mulch release microplastic particles into agricultural soil, though they behave differently in the environment, raising questions about the true sustainability of biodegradable farm plastics.
Biodegradable Polyesters and Low Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Soil: Interrelations of Material Properties, Soil Organic Matter Substances, and Microbial Community
Researchers examined how biodegradable polyesters and low molecular weight polyethylene behave in soil environments, investigating their interactions with soil organic matter and microbial communities over time. They found that both biodegradable and conventional polymer microplastics alter soil microbial community composition and interact with organic matter fractions, with biodegradable plastics showing distinct but not necessarily more benign effects than conventional plastics.
The impact of microplastic weathering on interactions with the soil environment: a review
This review examines how weathering — exposure to UV light, moisture, and physical forces — changes the surface properties of microplastics and affects their interactions with soil. Weathered microplastics behave differently in the environment, potentially altering soil structure and the movement of water and nutrients.
Leaching of phthalate acid esters from plastic mulch films and their degradation in response to UV irradiation and contrasting soil conditions
Researchers studied how phthalate plasticizers leach from agricultural mulch films and break down under different soil conditions and UV exposure. They found that sunlight accelerates the release of these chemicals from plastic, while soil microbes play a major role in their subsequent degradation. The study highlights how plastic mulch in farming can be a continuous source of potentially harmful chemical additives entering the soil environment.
Insights into photoaging behaviors and mechanisms of biodegradable and conventional microplastics in soil
Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics break down when exposed to light in soil environments. They found that biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) aged faster than conventional polyethylene, with both types developing surface cracks and chemical changes over time. The study provides new insights into how different plastic types weather in soil, which affects their environmental persistence and potential toxicity.
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.