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Vertical profiling of micro-plastics in agricultural soils: polymer types, metal interactions, and implication on crop rooting zones.

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Title: Vertical profiling of micro-plastics in agricultural soils: polymer types, metal interactions, and implication on crop rooting zones.
Authors: Kumari, Akanksha1 (AUTHOR) yadavakanksha671@gmail.com, Chakraborty, Sukalyan1 (AUTHOR) sukalyanchakraborty@bitmesra.ac.in
Source: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment. Apr2026, Vol. 198 Issue 4, p1-20. 20p.
Subject Terms: *Microplastics, *Depth profiling, *Polymers, *Metal absorption & adsorption, *Plant roots, *Soil pollution, *Soil quality, *Soils
Geographic Terms: Ranchi (India)
Abstract: Microplastics are emerging pollutants of interest in agricultural soils, as they are persistent and may have significant ecological effects. The paper examined the occurrence, properties, and distribution of microplastics in peri-urban agricultural soils in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Soil samples (n = 165; 11 sites × 3 depths × 5 replicates) were collected from ten agricultural fields and one control area at three depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–45 cm). Microplastics were isolated using density separation and oxidation methods, and then morphologically categorized. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyze the polymer composition. Quantification of associated metals was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) after acid digestion, while physicochemical parameters of the soils were measured following the protocols of APHA to establish their relationships with the presence of microplastic. The findings showed that fibers had the highest prevalence at all depths (80 ± 8 to 3320 ± 36 particles kg−1 dry soil) with the highest concentration in the surface layers. Fragments, films, and microbeads were found to decrease significantly with depth, suggesting a lack of vertical migration, except in finer fibers. Polymers were mainly polypropylene (34.3%), polyethylene (16.7%), polypropylene diene rubber (14.7%), LDPE and polyethylene-based foaming material (11.8% each), and polypropylene copolymer (10.8%). The Microplastic Pollution Load Index (MPPLI) was used to identify pollution hotspots associated with the intensive use of plastics. The interrelations between microplastic abundance and soil organic matter, as well as electrical conductivity, suggest the potential impact of microplastic on soil quality and properties (Supplementary Figs. 1, 2, and 3). Vertical distribution of microplastics shows that shallow-rooted crops face surface microplastics, while deep-rooted crops interact with finer particles in soil highlighting the need to enhance the management of plastic waste to protect soil health and sustainability in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 193282997
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Vertical profiling of micro-plastics in agricultural soils: polymer types, metal interactions, and implication on crop rooting zones.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kumari%2C+Akanksha%22">Kumari, Akanksha</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yadavakanksha671@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chakraborty%2C+Sukalyan%22">Chakraborty, Sukalyan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sukalyanchakraborty@bitmesra.ac.in</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environmental+Monitoring+%26+Assessment%22">Environmental Monitoring & Assessment</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 198 Issue 4, p1-20. 20p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microplastics%22">Microplastics</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Depth+profiling%22">Depth profiling</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymers%22">Polymers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metal+absorption+%26+adsorption%22">Metal absorption & adsorption</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+roots%22">Plant roots</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+pollution%22">Soil pollution</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+quality%22">Soil quality</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soils%22">Soils</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ranchi+%28India%29%22">Ranchi (India)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Microplastics are emerging pollutants of interest in agricultural soils, as they are persistent and may have significant ecological effects. The paper examined the occurrence, properties, and distribution of microplastics in peri-urban agricultural soils in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Soil samples (n = 165; 11 sites × 3 depths × 5 replicates) were collected from ten agricultural fields and one control area at three depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–45 cm). Microplastics were isolated using density separation and oxidation methods, and then morphologically categorized. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyze the polymer composition. Quantification of associated metals was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) after acid digestion, while physicochemical parameters of the soils were measured following the protocols of APHA to establish their relationships with the presence of microplastic. The findings showed that fibers had the highest prevalence at all depths (80 ± 8 to 3320 ± 36 particles kg−1 dry soil) with the highest concentration in the surface layers. Fragments, films, and microbeads were found to decrease significantly with depth, suggesting a lack of vertical migration, except in finer fibers. Polymers were mainly polypropylene (34.3%), polyethylene (16.7%), polypropylene diene rubber (14.7%), LDPE and polyethylene-based foaming material (11.8% each), and polypropylene copolymer (10.8%). The Microplastic Pollution Load Index (MPPLI) was used to identify pollution hotspots associated with the intensive use of plastics. The interrelations between microplastic abundance and soil organic matter, as well as electrical conductivity, suggest the potential impact of microplastic on soil quality and properties (Supplementary Figs. 1, 2, and 3). Vertical distribution of microplastics shows that shallow-rooted crops face surface microplastics, while deep-rooted crops interact with finer particles in soil highlighting the need to enhance the management of plastic waste to protect soil health and sustainability in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193282997
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10661-026-15148-w
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Microplastics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Depth profiling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polymers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Metal absorption & adsorption
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plant roots
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soil pollution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soil quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soils
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ranchi (India)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Vertical profiling of micro-plastics in agricultural soils: polymer types, metal interactions, and implication on crop rooting zones.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Kumari, Akanksha
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            NameFull: Chakraborty, Sukalyan
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 01676369
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              Value: 198
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              Value: 4
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            – TitleFull: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
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