Mechanistic insights into how soil-borne contaminants impair plant physiology and agricultural output

Abstract

Food security depends on agriculture, but excessive use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, has resulted in the loss of soil nutrients and the build-up of new pollutants including microplastics and heavy metals. Reduced crop production and quality result from these pollutants’ disruption of soil microbiota, degradation of soil health, and contribution to residue accumulation. Furthermore, excessive use of agrochemicals has increased production costs, necessitated more chemical inputs, and hastened the emergence of resistant insect populations. These issues are made worse by global climate change, which modifies soil conditions and increases pest pressure, ultimately lowering agricultural output and costing farmers money. Additionally, the presence of contaminant residues in agricultural produce frequently results in export rejection, which affects trade and the livelihoods of farmers. This review looks at how new toxins affect agriculture, emphasizing how they contribute to decreased production, environmental deterioration, and unstable economies.