Microplastic contamination in agricultural soils is a rising problem that risks soil health, crop production, and the general balance of nature. These tiny fragments alter soil structural composition and nutrient cycles while also inhibiting microbial processes, which are, without a doubt, the most vital for soil fertility. The research provides data on the origins and the behaviour of microplastics (MPs) in agroecosystems and tracks their movement through biosolids, plastic mulches, and irrigation. Their binding to soil elements changes porosity, aggregation, water retention, and nutrient availability; at the same time, it also increases the risk of transport of heavy metals, pesticides, and pathogens. The solutions on the table include organic amendments, biodegradable products, phytoremediation, and integrated nutrient management to address contaminant–nutrient relationships. Strengthening soil monitoring systems and advancing circular bioeconomy strategies are the major steps toward alleviating plastic pollution in rural areas. A unified strategy that integrates scientific research, policy measures, and sustainable farming practices is crucial for reducing microplastic pollution, enhancing soil resilience, and promoting the long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.
Microplastic pollution of agricultural land has emerged as one of the more consequential, yet under-regulated, forms of soil contamination confronting global food systems. Plastic debris smaller than five millimetres accumulates in farmland through plastic mulching, sewage sludge and compost application, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric deposition and the breakdown of agricultural equipment, and it now appears to occur at concentrations exceeding those reported for marine surface waters. This review synthesises the current understanding of the sources, distribution, environmental fate and ecological consequences of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils, together with the emerging repertoire of management and remediation options. The available evidence indicates that microplastics alter soil structure, water retention and aggregate stability; disturb microbial community composition and nutrient cycling; impair the growth, physiology and reproduction of soil fauna; and reduce germination, biomass and yield in a range of crop species, with effects that vary strongly according to polymer type, particle shape, concentration and soil texture. Microplastics also act as vectors for co-contaminants, including pesticide residues and persistent organic pollutants, and their detection in edible plant tissue raises unresolved questions about dietary exposure and human health. Remediation approaches under investigation include biochar and mineral amendments, microbial and enzymatic bioremediation, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, phytoremediation and substitution with soil-biodegradable polymers, although none has yet achieved reliable field-scale performance. The review concludes that agricultural microplastic pollution requires coordinated attention from soil science, agronomy, ecotoxicology and policy, and it identifies methodological standardisation, long-term field trials and exposure-realistic toxicology as priorities for future research.
P. D. Kurhade, A. Dademal, M. Kasture et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
Microplastic (MP) and nanoplastics (NP) pollution presents a critical, globally pervasive environmental challenge, fundamentally threatening the sustainability of agricultural soil health and food production. The current state of knowledge regarding the impact of these ubiquitous plastic particles, typically defined as those between 1 μm and 5 mm, in terrestrial ecosystems. The paper identifies key pathways of contamination into farmlands, primarily stemming from the pervasive degradation of plastic mulching films. The extensive land application of sewage sludge (biosolids) as fertilizer and the use of contaminated wastewater for irrigation. The accumulation of MPs/NPs in the soil matrix is shown to induce significant ecological stress. Key findings reveal detrimental effects on soil physicochemical properties, disruption of native microbial communities and a measurable reduction in crop performance, evidenced by compromised nutrient uptake and photosynthetic efficiency. A major concern addressed is the critical evidence of MP/NP translocation from the soil into the edible tissues of agricultural crops, which creates a direct pathway for human exposure and subsequent health risks via the food chain. To combat this rising threat, the paper underscores the urgent need for a cohesive, global response. Sustainable solutions must involve implementing robust policy frameworks, such as the FAO’s Voluntary Code of Conduct, accelerating the transition to certified biodegradable plastic alternatives and drastically improving international waste management, recycling infrastructure and use of biochar in agricultural lands. Future research is essential to quantify the full spectrum of long-term ecological risks, model MP transport dynamics and comprehensively assess the human health implications.
M. Hayat, Muhammad Arif, Ferzat Turan et al.· Discover Soil· 0 citations
Microplastics are persistent contaminants of agricultural soils and may affect soil structure, microbial activity, nutrient cycling, crop growth, and the quality of plant-derived foods. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deserves specific attention because it is a major staple crop, develops an extensive fibrous root system in cultivated soil, and produces grain that is consumed directly by humans. These characteristics create a close connection among soil contamination, rhizosphere processes, crop performance, and possible food-chain exposure. Unlike broader reviews of microplastics in crops, this review follows the pathway from particle entry into wheat-growing soils to transport, transformation, rhizosphere interactions, wheat responses, and possible contamination of edible grain. The movement and effects of microplastics depend on particle size, shape, polymer type, density, surface properties, aging, soil texture, mineral composition, organic matter, water movement, root activity, and soil organisms. Available studies show that plastic particles can alter root development, nutrient acquisition, oxidative balance, photosynthesis, biomass, and yield, although the direction and magnitude of these effects differ among experimental conditions. Evidence for root internalization and vascular transport is strongest for nanoplastics and submicrometer particles under controlled conditions. Direct field evidence for the accumulation of larger microplastics in mature wheat grain remains limited. Important research gaps include the scarcity of field measurements, the use of unrealistic exposure concentrations, poor separation of microplastic and nanoplastic evidence, uncertain root-to-grain transfer, and the lack of standardized analytical methods. Future research should combine realistic field exposure, aged and mixed-polymer particles, multi-season experiments, advanced particle tracing, and contamination-controlled analysis of wheat tissues and grain.
Umair Sarfraz, Quan Ma, Min Zhu et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, microplastics, and pesticides exhibit mutagenic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, and teratogenic properties, leading to significant changes in the soil’s physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics. This poses a substantial threat to overall ecosystem health. Consequently, addressing soil contamination requires the prompt adoption of sustainable physico-chemical and bio-based remediation approaches. This review provides a systematic analysis of current soil remediation methods that utilise green technologies. Particular attention is given to phytoremediation techniques, the use of soil conditioners such as biochar, hydrochar, and biopolymers, as well as the application of layered double hydroxides. The mechanisms by which these technologies mitigate pollutants such as heavy metals, organic contaminants, and nutrients are analysed, highlighting their role in enhancing soil health while minimising ecological impact. By integrating these green approaches, sustainable soil remediation can be achieved, supporting environmental restoration and agricultural productivity. This review offers valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in advancing eco-friendly soil rehabilitation strategies.
E. Kravchenko, Zi-Long Li, Tatiana Minkina et al.· Environmental Geotechnics· 0 citations
Sustainable agriculture is increasingly challenged by soil degradation, environmental pollution, and climate change, necessitating the pragmatic and eco-friendly approach. This review systematically synthesizes the role of biochar as multifunctional soil management strategy in enhancing soil health and sustainable environmental management, with particular emphasis on the critical roles of feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions in governing biochar performance. To address existing knowledge gaps, we comprehensively evaluate recent available literature on biochar-based environmental remediation, focusing on key indicators of agricultural sustainability, including nutrients availability, soil biological activity, climate change mitigation, biochar-assisted phytostabilization, and crop productivity. Current evidence indicates that biochar application can achieve a net negative carbon footprint, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal contamination, and improve soil structure, fertility, and overall crop productivity on sustainable-basis. However, these benefits largely depend upon the various important biochar production factors including feedstock source, pyrolysis temperature, biochar stability, residence time, rate of application, and soil pH. Beyond its function as a soil amendment, biochar also serves as a multifunctional resource contributing to bioenergy production, waste reduction, and long-term carbon sequestration. At the same time, this review identifies critical research gaps, including the long-term field performance of biochar, mechanisms underlying the interactions between biochar and agronomic practices, and the environmental and human health risks associated with large-scale agricultural applications. Overall, this work highlights the importance of feedstock selection and pyrolysis parameters in designing biochar for environmental remediation and outlines future research directions to refine biochar engineering, application guidelines, and risk assessment frameworks for its sustainable use.
Ismail Khan, Faming Wang, Abdul Rehman et al.· International journal of phy...· 0 citations
