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Agriculture
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Impact of Plastics on Agriculture
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Impact of Plastics on Agriculture

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 August 2024) | Viewed by 8481

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Douglas Hayes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Interests: biobased and biodegradable agricultural plastics; impact of micro- and nanoplastics on agricultural ecosystems; surfactants and colloidal systems; small-angle scattering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural plastics are important implements for the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of vegetables and other specialty crop production systems. Mulch films, low and high tunnels, silage films, and other plastic materials help increase crop production by controlling the cultivation environment, extending the growing season, preventing weeds, and reducing the use of irrigation water, fertilizer, and other inputs. However, increased plastic use has led to the stockpiling of poorly biodegradable conventional plastics such as polyethylene on farms or other improper disposal, which leads to the formation of microplastics that can induce “plastic pollution” in soil and nearby waterways, having a negative impact on soil health and water quality, thereby posing a threat to food production systems. Even the employment of biodegradable plastics, particularly in mulch films, which provides more sustainable plastic disposal options (biodegradation in soil or by composting), produces microplastics that can reside for several months.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the current state of the art of agricultural plastics. We welcome research, perspectives, and review articles pertaining to agricultural plastics: new products and applications, improved best practices for their deployment and disposal, the upcycling of plastics after the completion of their service life, and their impacts on agricultural ecosystems and farmers.

Prof. Dr. Douglas Hayes
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mulch films
  • biodegradable mulch films
  • high and low tunnels
  • silage film
  • sustainable disposal of agricultural plastics
  • impacts on soil health
  • microplastics in agricultural soils
  • upcycling of agricultural plastics

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 126 KiB  
Editorial
Impact of Plastics in Agriculture
by Douglas G. Hayes
Agriculture 2025, 15(3), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030322 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2025
Viewed by 138
Abstract
Plastics are an integral part of crop cultivation, a practice often referred to as “plasticulture” [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)

Research

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21 pages, 5229 KiB  
Article
Sprayable Biodegradable Polyester-Urethane-Urea Mulching Treatment Increases Abundance of Soil Microbes
by Cuyler K. Borrowman, Raju Adhikari, Kei Saito, Karen Little, Stuart Gordon and Antonio F. Patti
Agriculture 2024, 14(11), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14112093 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 755
Abstract
The paper investigates for the first time the impact of a novel sprayable, biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea (PEUU) mulch on the microbial community composition of an agricultural soil. In this study changes to the composition of the soil microbial community and in soil enzyme activity [...] Read more.
The paper investigates for the first time the impact of a novel sprayable, biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea (PEUU) mulch on the microbial community composition of an agricultural soil. In this study changes to the composition of the soil microbial community and in soil enzyme activity involved in nutrient cycling were monitored on tomato plants grown under controlled greenhouse conditions. Particular attention was given to impacts on the relative changes in abundance of soil microbes. The PEUU mulch reduced the abundance of a small number of soil microbe taxa, but also provided an environment in which some taxa, which were comparatively rare in initial and unmulched soils, thrived. Importantly, the relative abundances of Azospirillum, Noviherbaspirillum, Exophiala, Phoma, Chaetomium and Clonostachys species all increased in soils treated with PEUU mulch. Principal coordinates analysis revealed the microbial community composition on PEUU films alone and in PEUU treated soil were most similar, while the PEUU films’ microbial community differed the most from the initial soil’s microbial community. These results indicate that from an agricultural productivity and an environmental safety standpoint the use of PEUU mulch may be preferable to PE and could provide additional plant growth benefits by increasing the abundance of soil microbes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)
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14 pages, 3533 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Impact of Soil Characteristics and Field Management Strategies on the Degradation of a Sprayable, Biodegradable Polymeric Mulch
by Cuyler K. Borrowman, Raju Adhikari, Kei Saito, Stuart Gordon and Antonio F. Patti
Agriculture 2024, 14(11), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14112062 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 611
Abstract
The use of non-degradable plastic mulch has become an essential agricultural practice for increasing crop yields, but continued use has led to contamination problems and in some cropping areas decreases in agricultural productivity. The subsequent emergence of biodegradable plastic mulches is a technological [...] Read more.
The use of non-degradable plastic mulch has become an essential agricultural practice for increasing crop yields, but continued use has led to contamination problems and in some cropping areas decreases in agricultural productivity. The subsequent emergence of biodegradable plastic mulches is a technological solution to these issues, so it is important to understand how different soil characteristics and field management strategies will affect the rate at which these new materials degrade in nature. In this work, a series of lab-scale hydrolytic degradation experiments were conducted to determine how different soil characteristics (type, pH, microbial community composition, and particle size) affected the degradation rate of a sprayable polyester–urethane–urea (PEUU) developed as a biodegradable mulch. The laboratory experiments were coupled with long-term, outdoor, soil degradation studies, carried out in Clayton, Victoria, to build a picture of important factors that can control the rate of PEUU degradation. It was found that temperature and acidity were the most important factors, with increasing temperature and decreasing pH leading to faster degradation. Other important factors affecting the rate of degradation were the composition of the soil microbial community, the mass loading of PEUU on soil, and the degree to which the PEUU was in contact with the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)
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17 pages, 8412 KiB  
Article
The Distribution and Pollution Pathway Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in a Typical Agricultural Plastic Greenhouse for Cultivated Vegetables
by Yiran Zhou, Mingzhen Wang, Junhong Xin, Yongning Wu and Minglin Wang
Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081321 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 959
Abstract
Plastic greenhouses play an important role in vegetable cultivation in China. While evaluations have attributed perfluoroalkyl acid contamination in greenhouse vegetables primarily to irrigation water, the potential contribution from greenhouse plastic films has consistently been overlooked, despite PFAAs’ long-standing use as anti-fogging agents. [...] Read more.
Plastic greenhouses play an important role in vegetable cultivation in China. While evaluations have attributed perfluoroalkyl acid contamination in greenhouse vegetables primarily to irrigation water, the potential contribution from greenhouse plastic films has consistently been overlooked, despite PFAAs’ long-standing use as anti-fogging agents. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of PFAA contamination was conducted in greenhouses at the Shouguang vegetable base in China, based on extensive environmental and crop sample collection, followed by analysis using LC-MS/MS. PFAAs are still used in greenhouse plastic film, and their migration to the surface water mist and the air inside the greenhouse was also observed. Elevated levels of PFAA pollution were found near the corner areas of greenhouses with longer service times, leading to further pollution of the soil and nearby vegetables. This is considered as the primary source which may have been caused by PFAAs migrating with condensation from the plastic film and accumulating for decades. However, polluted irrigation water still remains the dominate source of PFAAs in other areas inside the greenhouse. Based on our analysis, we conclude that PFAAs present in plastic films could be the primary contaminant source for vegetables in specific zones. This underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance towards environmental pollution within agricultural facilities, which currently represent the most prevalent mode of intensive vegetable cultivation in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)
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20 pages, 5585 KiB  
Article
Cost–Benefit Analysis of Mulch Film Management and Its Policy Implications in Northern China
by Aibo Hao, Changbin Yin, Angélique Léonard and Thomas Dogot
Agriculture 2024, 14(7), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071081 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1456
Abstract
Agricultural white pollution is a pressing concern in China. However, the efficiency and rationality of the government’s subsidies for mulch film management remain ambiguous. To formulate reasonable policies for mulch film management and optimize fiscal resource allocation, the study employs cost–benefit analysis to [...] Read more.
Agricultural white pollution is a pressing concern in China. However, the efficiency and rationality of the government’s subsidies for mulch film management remain ambiguous. To formulate reasonable policies for mulch film management and optimize fiscal resource allocation, the study employs cost–benefit analysis to evaluate the economic performance of mulch film management. Two environmentally friendly measures being primarily proposed in China, namely the application of thicker mulch film (hereinafter referred to as thicker film) and the substitution of biodegradable mulch film (hereinafter referred to as biodegradable film), are selected for analysis, with conventional mulch film (hereinafter referred to as conventional film) serving as the benchmark for comparison. Primary data obtained through field surveys, supplemented by secondary data from national statistics, industry reports, and literature reviews, are used for the study. Results show that thicker film application is cost-effective, with a net benefit of CNY 3208.8/ha (USD 449.2/ha; 1 CNY = 0.14 USD), which is CNY 253.8/ha (USD 35.5/ha) higher than that of conventional film. The net benefit for biodegradable film application is lower than that for conventional film, at CNY 2244.6/ha (USD 314.2/ha). The results reveal the significant potential of promoting the use of thicker film due to its recycling and economic advantages. Findings imply that the further promotion of its use lies in improving farmers’ cognition and optimizing subsidy dimensions to allocate government financial resources more effectively. On the contrary, biodegradable film utilization is unprofitable and relies on continuous external subsidies. The government can optimize the subsidy standard based on the cost–benefit performance of different mulch films applied and provide incentives to promote cost reductions and efficiency increases. Further analysis indicates that sustainable mulch film management entails developing mechanisms to internalize the external benefits of management and innovating a new governance landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)
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Review

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16 pages, 3373 KiB  
Review
Characteristics and Migration Dynamics of Microplastics in Agricultural Soils
by Yuxin Deng, Zijie Zeng, Weiying Feng, Jing Liu and Fang Yang
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010157 - 21 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3816
Abstract
The risks brought by microplastics (MPs) to agricultural soil structure and crop growth in the agricultural system are the focus of global debate. MPs enter the soil through various routes, such as through the use of agricultural mulch and atmospheric deposition. Here, we [...] Read more.
The risks brought by microplastics (MPs) to agricultural soil structure and crop growth in the agricultural system are the focus of global debate. MPs enter the soil through various routes, such as through the use of agricultural mulch and atmospheric deposition. Here, we review the research on MP pollution in the soil during the last 30 years. This review focuses on (i) the sources, types, and distribution characteristics of MPs in agricultural soils; (ii) the migration and transformation of MPs and their interactions with microorganisms, organic matter, and contaminants in agricultural soils; and (iii) the effects of environmental factors on the composition and structure of MPs in agricultural soils. This review also proposes key directions for the future research and management of MPs in the agricultural soil. We aim to provide a theoretical basis for the fine management of agricultural farmland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Plastics on Agriculture)
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