Sedat GündoğduSedat Gündoğdu • 1stVerified • 1stMercator IPC Fellow at Sabancı University / Professor at Cukurova University | Head of Microplastic Research Group | Marine Pollution Researcher | Waste ColonialismMercator IPC Fellow at Sabancı University / Professor at Cukurova University | Head of Microplastic Research Group | Marine Pollution Researcher | Waste Colonialism1w • 1 week ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn
Our recent open-access study reveals that prolonged hashtag#plastic mulching in agricultural systems leads to the silent accumulation of hashtag#microplastics in hashtag#soils, with measurable consequences for soil health and ecosystem functioning.
By examining agricultural fields subjected to 5, 10, and 30 years of plastic mulching in the Mediterranean region, we demonstrate that long-term plastic use significantly increases microplastic loads and drives a progressive decline in soil quality. Key physical and biological indicators — including aggregate stability, microbial biomass, nitrogen mineralization, and bulk density — deteriorate as plastic residues persist and migrate through the soil profile.
Using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), we show that soil quality indices decrease by up to 17% under long-term mulching, highlighting that plastics do not simply remain inert fragments but actively interfere with soil structure, water dynamics, and microbial processes.
These findings serve as an early warning:
- Plastic mulching delivers short-term agronomic benefits, but its long-term ecological costs are accumulating beneath our feet.
- Understanding and managing plastic residues in agricultural soils is essential if we aim to protect soil as a living system and safeguard sustainable food production.
The full article is freely available as open access.
Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
god, if RFK Jr. really cares about regenerative agriculture, this is the least he can do…
that, and trash bags - seriously can’t we find a non-plastic alternative?