Unravelling the emerging threats of microplastics to agroecosystems

• Published in: Reviews in environmental science and biotechnology Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 771 - 798
• Main Authors: Yadav, Shweta, Gupta, Ekta, Patel, Anju, Srivastava, Suchi, Mishra, Virendra Kumar, Singh, Poonam C., Srivastava, Pankaj Kumar, Barik, Saroj Kanta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-09-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural ecosystems; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic environment; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological properties; Contaminants; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Ecological function; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Homeostasis; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Microplastics; Plant growth; Plant physiology; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Review Paper; Rhizosphere; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Soil properties; Soils; Sustainable agriculture; Terrestrial ecosystems; Urban sprawl; Urbanization; Waste management; Water absorption; Terrestrial ecosystem; Microplastics; Ecosystem functioning; Agroecosystem
• ISSN: 1569-1705; 1572-9826
• DOI: 10.1007/s11157-022-09621-4

In the past few decades, pollution from microplastics has emerged as an important issue on a global scale. These plastic particles are mainly the result of anthropogenic activities. Urban sprawl, industrialization, indiscriminate use and poor waste management of plastic products are the main factors responsible for the accumulation of microplastics in different ecosystems of the environment. The presence of microplastics in the soil matrix is considered an emerging threat to agroecosystems. Since most of the studies on microplastics have been done in the aquatic environment. The understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of these contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems is still limited, especially in agroecosystems. The negative effects of microplastics on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil are now revealing. But the effects of microplastics on plant growth and yield are largely unexplored. Microplastic contamination in the soil can alter the functioning of plants by affecting the microbial community of the rhizosphere and disturbing the homeostasis of the agroecosystem. Furthermore, it may transfer into the plant system through nutrient and water absorption channels and affect plant physiology. The pervasive nature of microplastics in the soil is considered a barrier to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem functioning. The present review gives an overview of the sources, dissipation and effects of microplastics with reference to the soil–plant system, highlights the research gaps, and deciphers the possible future threats to agroecosystems.
Graphical abstract