The study investigated the abundance, mass, and accumulation areas of plastic residue (PR) of mulch film (MF) and non-MF (NMF) in a large vegetable field in Northeast China. Geostatistics and classical statistics were used to understand how pollution sources and migration factors affect PR heterogeneity in farmlands. Results showed that the MF type was polyethylene (PE), accounting for 79.1% of total PR, while NMF accounted for 20.9%. NMF-polypropylene and NMF-PE accounted for 45.3% and 39.7% of total NMF, respectively. The spatial autocorrelation of mass and accumulation areas of MF was positive, with clustering in the 0-20 cm soil layer. Landfill and residential areas were critical sources of PR. To reduce PR pollution, farmland tillage should be avoided during strong wind speeds, especially near the pollution source.
The current study examines the contamination of microplastics in three greenhouse types: abandoned, normal, and simple. The findings revealed that the abundance of microplastics was found to be the highest in the abandoned greenhouse, followed by the normal greenhouse and simple greenhouse. The mean abundance of microplastic organic fertilizer and irrigation water was also high.[…]
The study examines the distribution of residual film after eight years of film mulching in mid-April 2018. Results from the study revealed that eight years of mulching significantly increased the quantity of agricultural mulch film residues in the soil. The size of residual film fragments was found to vary from 0.25 cm2 to 109 cm2,[…]
A study in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, investigated microplastic pollution in different land uses, including facility farmland, traditional farmland, orchard, grassland, and woodland. Results showed a significant difference in microplastic abundance and characteristics between different land use types. Facility farmlands, traditional farmlands, and orchard lands had higher microplastic abundance than grasslands and woodlands. The main[…]
The study analysed 225 soil samples from maize planting zones in northern China, revealing that long-term plastic film mulching increases microplastic pollution in agricultural soils. The abundance of microplastics was significantly higher in mulched soils (754 ± 477 items kg-1) than in non-mulched soils (376 ± 149 items kg-1). The length of time with film[…]
The study examined the relative abundances and morphological distributions of microplastics (MPs) in water, sediments, and farmland soils in the Caohai Lake region. The estuary in the study area was considered a potential sink for MP transportation. Transparent and black MPs accounted for a large proportion of MPs in the five environments, with possible sources[…]