The characteristics and influencing factors of farmland soil microplastic in Hetao Irrigation District, China

Microplastic pollution, a major global concern, has garnered increasing attention in agricultural ecosystem research. China's Hetao Irrigation District, vital for grain production in the Yellow River Basin, lacks sufficient research on microplastic pollution of agricultural soils. This study, based on a detailed background investigation and testing of 47 samples, is the first to elucidate the characteristics and potential influencing factors of microplastics in the Hetao Irrigation District. The abundance of microplastics in the farmland soil ranged from 1810 to 86331 items/kg, with 90% measuring below 180 µm and mainly in film and fragment forms. Predominant polymers were polyethylene (PE, 43.0%) and polyamide (PA, 27.8%). Key pollution influencers were identified as agricultural inputs, with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) being the most extensively used plastic type. The carbonyl index and hydroxyl indices of the detected LDPE microplastics ranged from 0.041 to 0.96 and 0.092 to 1.20, respectively. The study highlights the significance of mulching management and agronomic practices in shaping microplastic characteristics. Potential pollution sources include agricultural inputs, irrigation equipment, domestic waste, and tire wear. Proposed effective strategies include responsible plastic use, robust waste management, and irrigation system upgrades, establishing a foundation for future ecological risk assessments and effective management approaches in the Hetao Irrigation District. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The harmful substances studied in this paper are microplastics, which are widely distributed in the environment and have potential ecological risks. This study is the first to investigate the characteristics of microplastics in farmland soil within the Hetao Irrigation Area, a region that is of critical importance to agricultural production in the Yellow River Basin of China. The study provides comprehensive insights into the factors influencing the characteristics of microplastics and speculates on their sources. These findings offer a novel perspective on the assessment of microplastic contamination in the area and provide valuable recommendations for prevention and control measures.