We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics Disrupt Soil Aggregate Stability and Associated Nutrient Dynamics in Mulched Salt-Affected Agricultural Soils
ClearMicroplastics DisruptSoil Aggregate Stability andAssociated Nutrient Dynamics in Mulched Salt-Affected AgriculturalSoils
Researchers investigated how microplastic accumulation and aging affects soil aggregate stability and nutrient dynamics in mulched salt-affected agricultural soils, finding that microplastics disrupt aggregate structure and interfere with nutrient storage and cycling processes critical to soil quality.
Microplastics DisruptSoil Aggregate Stability andAssociated Nutrient Dynamics in Mulched Salt-Affected AgriculturalSoils
Researchers investigated how microplastic accumulation and aging affects soil aggregate stability and nutrient dynamics in mulched salt-affected agricultural soils, finding that microplastics disrupt aggregate structure and interfere with nutrient storage and cycling processes critical to soil quality.
Microplastics influence nutrient content and quality of salt-affected agricultural soil under plastic mulch
Microplastics were found in salt-affected agricultural soils in northeast China at abundances ranging across mulched and unmulched fields, with MPs affecting soil nutrient content and quality in ways that could influence food production in this important agricultural region.
Microplastics influence organic carbon depletion in macroaggregates and soil structural stability in the Yanhe catchment
Researchers investigated how microplastics within soil aggregate fractions affect organic carbon retention and structural stability in the Yanhe catchment, finding that microplastics accelerate organic carbon depletion from macroaggregates and reduce soil structural stability. The results suggest that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may compound land-use-driven degradation of soil quality.
Distribution characteristics of soil microplastics and their impact on soil physicochemical properties in agricultural areas of the North China plain
Microplastics are accumulating across agricultural soils of the North China Plain, with this study finding moderate-to-low abundance across multiple land use types and detecting that plastic particles affect soil texture, bulk density, and water-holding capacity. Altered soil physical properties from microplastic contamination could impair crop growth and soil fertility over time, with implications for food security.
Microplastics sequestered in the soil affect the turnover and stability of soil aggregates: A review
This review examines how microplastics trapped in soil affect the structure and stability of soil clumps (aggregates) that are essential for healthy farming. Microplastics create weak points in soil structure and alter its physical and chemical properties, which can reduce soil's ability to hold water and support plant growth. Since healthy soil aggregates are the foundation of productive farmland, microplastic contamination could threaten food production over the long term.
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.
Microplastics Can Inhibit Organic Carbon Mineralization by Influencing Soil Aggregate Distribution and Microbial Community Structure in Cultivated Soil: Evidence from a One-Year Pot Experiment
Researchers conducted a one-year pot experiment to study how different types and concentrations of microplastics affect soil carbon cycling and aggregate stability. They found that microplastics significantly altered soil aggregate size distribution and decreased organic carbon mineralization rates regardless of polymer type. The study suggests that microplastic contamination may slow the natural breakdown of organic carbon in agricultural soils by changing soil structure and microbial communities.
Microplastics trapped in soil aggregates of different land-use types: A case study of Loess Plateau terraces, China
Researchers measured microplastic abundance in soil aggregates from four land-use types on China's Loess Plateau, finding MPs trapped in aggregates across all land uses with farmland soils having the highest concentrations. Woodland soils had the lowest MP content and the most stable aggregate structure, suggesting land use substantially controls both MP accumulation and aggregate integrity.
Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain of Hangzhou Bay, east China: Multiple sources other than plastic mulching film
Researchers analyzed agricultural soils from the Hangzhou Bay coastal plain and found microplastic concentrations of 571 pieces/kg in mulched soils versus 263 pieces/kg in non-mulched soils, with irrigation water identified as an additional major source alongside mulch films. The findings point to multiple input pathways for microplastic accumulation in Chinese farmland soils.
The microplastics distribution characteristics and their impact on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities in food legumes farmland in northern China
Researchers surveyed farmland soil across five provinces in northern China and found microplastic contamination ranging from 1,600 to over 36,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Most of the microplastics were small fibers and fragments, primarily from agricultural plastic film and organic fertilizer use. The study found that microplastic presence altered soil properties and shifted bacterial community composition, suggesting these particles may affect soil health in food-growing regions.
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.
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.
Small-size polyethylene and polylactic microplastic alterations on soil aggregate formation with soil sterilization
Researchers tested how small polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics affect the formation of soil clumps, called aggregates, which are important for healthy soil structure. The microplastics changed aggregate stability through physical interactions rather than by harming soil microbes. This matters because soil structure affects how well crops grow, and widespread microplastic contamination in agricultural fields could subtly alter soil quality.
Soil aggregation alterations under soil microplastic and biochar addition and aging process
An eight-month experiment found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics disrupted soil structure by breaking apart soil clumps, and this damage worsened as the plastics aged over time. Surprisingly, adding biochar, which is often proposed as a soil improvement, actually made some of the microplastic damage worse for certain soil aggregate sizes. This research shows that microplastic contamination in agricultural soil can degrade soil health in ways that may be difficult to reverse.
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 Microplastics on Soil Health: Soil-Water Retention, Shrinkage and Holding Properties
A review of research on microplastics in soil found that plastic particles can alter water retention, shrinkage, and structural properties in ways that could reduce agricultural productivity. Because microplastics are as prevalent in soils as in oceans, their terrestrial impacts warrant much greater research attention.
Microplastics in agricultural soils in China: Sources, impacts and solutions
This review examines microplastic contamination in Chinese agricultural soils, finding abundances ranging from about 5 to over 40,000 items per kilogram depending on location. The study identifies plastic mulching films as the most significant source, followed by abandoned greenhouses and organic fertilizers, and recommends sustainable agronomic practices to reduce soil microplastic pollution.
Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China
This review examines plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soils, finding that agricultural practices like mulch film use and sewage sludge application are major sources of both macro- and microplastics that accumulate over time.
Spatial distribution of microplastics in Mollisols of the farmland in Northeast China: the role of field management and plastic sources
Researchers investigated how farmland management practices affect the distribution of microplastics in vegetable fields in Northeast China. They found seven types of plastic polymers in soil layers down to 30 centimeters, with larger macroplastic fragments being the primary source of microplastic contamination. Higher fertilization doses contributed more to microplastic generation than tillage frequency.