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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Why do farmers care about rented land? Investigating the context of farmland tenure
ClearLand Tenure, Loans, and Farmers’ Cropland Conservation Behavior: Evidence from Rural Northwest China
This is not directly about microplastics — it is an agricultural economics study examining how land tenure security influences farmers' conservation behavior in rural China, using plastic mulch film recycling as one example of a conservation practice, but not studying microplastic pollution itself.
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.
Is mulch film itself the primary source of meso- and microplastics in the mulching cultivated soil? A preliminary field study with econometric methods
A field study examined whether mulch films were the primary source of meso- and microplastics in mulched agricultural soils using econometric methods to compare plastic-mulched and non-mulched fields, finding that while mulch contributed to soil plastic loads, it was not the sole source. The study challenges the assumption that plastic mulch is always the dominant microplastic source in farmed soils.
Mechanisms and Influencing Factors Making Agricultural Soil as a Sink for Microplastics
This review examines the mechanisms by which agricultural soils act as sinks for microplastics, analyzing how soil properties, land management practices, and MP characteristics determine retention versus transport of plastic particles in the terrestrial environment.
Microplastics pollution modulated by farming regimes under multi-scenarios
Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils were found to vary with farming regimes, with certain practices under mulching leading to higher accumulation. The study highlights how common agricultural methods contribute to soil microplastic pollution and supports calls for better plastic mulch management.
Impact of Different Soil Tillage Practices on Microplastic Particle Abundance and Distribution
Field experiments across different tillage and fertilization regimes quantified microplastic abundance and vertical distribution in agricultural soils, finding that tillage practices significantly influenced how deeply microplastics are mixed through the soil profile.
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.
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.
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.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate
Microplastic abundance and characteristics were examined in soils representing four agricultural practice types in Chinese farmland to evaluate the influence of land use on plastic particle accumulation. Microplastic concentrations and polymer types varied by agricultural practice, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation water source as key drivers of farmland soil contamination.
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.
Duration- and area-dependent influences of plastic film mulch on soil microplastics abundance
Researchers conducted a field campaign combined with remote sensing to investigate how the duration and coverage area of plastic film mulching affect microplastic abundance in agricultural soils in northern China's agro-pastoral ecotone, finding that microplastic concentrations ranged from 41.7 to 787.5 items per kilogram and positively correlated with mulching duration.
Quantification of macroplastic litter in fallow greenhouse farmlands: case study in southeastern hungary
A survey of fallow greenhouse farmlands in southern Hungary found an average of 434 macroplastic pieces per 100 square meters on soil surfaces, predominantly film fragments from agricultural covers. This quantification of large plastic debris matters because macroplastics are the primary source of microplastic contamination in farmland soils as they break down over time.
Influences of land use and depth profile on the characteristics of microplastics in agricultural soils
Researchers examined how land use and soil depth profile influence microplastic characteristics in agricultural soils, finding that wastewater and sludge application, plastic mulching, and atmospheric deposition are key sources, and that MP type and abundance vary with soil management practice and depth, highlighting the importance of vertical distribution in soil MP studies.
Macro- and microplastic accumulation in soil after 32 years of plastic film mulching
Researchers quantified plastic accumulation in an agricultural field after 32 continuous years of plastic mulch film use. They found roughly 10 times more macroplastic fragments in fertilized plots than non-fertilized plots, likely because plant roots and stems became entangled with the film making removal difficult. The study found that plastic mulch contributed 33% to 56% of total microplastics detected down to one meter of soil depth, demonstrating substantial long-term accumulation from agricultural plastic use.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mechanisms 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.
Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin
Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.
[Distribution, Sources, and Behavioral Characteristics of Microplastics in Farmland Soil].
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how microplastics distribute, accumulate, and move through farmland soils worldwide. The study found that microplastics in agricultural soil come mainly from plastic mulch films, fertilizers, and irrigation water, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes detected. Since farmland microplastics can be taken up by crops, this contamination pathway is a direct route for microplastics to enter the human food supply.
Microplastics in agricultural soils: a new challenge not only for agro-environmental policy?
This review addresses microplastic pollution in agricultural soils, identifying farming practices like mulching and sludge application as significant sources and discussing potential impacts on soil health and food safety. It calls for both policy action and more research on microplastic behavior in terrestrial environments.