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Agronomy
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agroecosystems: Strategies to Mitigate Plastic Pollution...
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agroecosystems: Strategies to Mitigate Plastic Pollution for Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 473

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhimin Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
Interests: soil microorganisms and element geochemical cycling; eco-environmental behavior and health risks of emerging pollutants
Dr. Yifan Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113–8657, Japan
Interests: bioenrichment mechanisms of microplastics; molecular biology of functional bacteria

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agroecosystems: Strategies to Mitigate Plastic Pollution for Sustainable Agriculture” addresses the growing concern of plastic contamination in agricultural environments. Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) from sources such as plastic films, irrigation systems, and packaging are increasingly found in soils, water, and crops, posing risks to soil health, crop productivity, water quality, and food safety. These pollutants are persistent, accumulate in the food chain, and threaten the sustainability of agricultural systems.

This call invites manuscripts exploring the transport, transformation, and environmental fate of MPs and NPs in agroecosystems, with a focus on their impacts on soil microbiota, nutrient cycling, and plant health. We also seek innovative strategies with which to mitigate plastic pollution, including biodegradable alternatives, sustainable farming practices, and advanced remediation techniques for contaminated environments.

In summary, this topic aims to gather research that addresses the risks of microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in agriculture and proposes actionable solutions to reduce their impact, supporting the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems and protecting public health.

Dr. Zhimin Xu
Dr. Yifan Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microplastics
  • nanoplastics
  • agroecosystems
  • plastic pollution
  • sustainable agriculture
  • environmental remediation
  • pollution mitigation strategies

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 8203 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Microplastics and Heavy Metals Individually and in Combination on the Growth of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) and Rhizosphere Microorganisms
by Jing-Yi Wang, Meng Wang, Jian-Wei Shi, B. Larry Li, Ling Liu, Peng-Fei Duan and Zhao-Jin Chen
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061319 - 28 May 2025
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals are commonly present in soil at significant concentrations and can interact in complex ways that pose serious threats to environmental and ecological systems. The effects of combined contamination by different types of heavy metals and microplastics on plants, [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals are commonly present in soil at significant concentrations and can interact in complex ways that pose serious threats to environmental and ecological systems. The effects of combined contamination by different types of heavy metals and microplastics on plants, as well as on soil microbial communities and their functions, remain largely unexplored. In this study, a series of pot experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of composite contamination involving two heavy metals (Cd and Pb) and two types of microplastics polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) at varying concentrations (0.1% and 0.5%, w/w). The impacts on water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) growth and heavy metal accumulation were evaluated, and the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community structure and diversity were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. The presence of Cd, Pb, and microplastics significantly inhibited the growth of water spinach, reducing both its length and biomass. Under combined microplastic–heavy metal contamination, phytotoxicity increased with rising concentrations of PLA and PBS. Microplastics were found to alter the mobility and availability of heavy metals, thereby reducing their accumulation in plant tissues and decreasing the levels of available potassium and phosphorus in the soil. Furthermore, microplastic–heavy metal interactions significantly influenced the composition and diversity of soil microbial communities, leading to an increased abundance of heavy-metal-tolerant and potential plastic-degrading microorganisms. A strong correlation was observed between microbial community structure (both bacterial and fungal), soil physicochemical properties, and plant growth. Functional predictions using PICRUSt2 suggested that the type and concentration of microplastics significantly affected rhizosphere microorganisms’ metabolic functions. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that combined microplastic and heavy metal contamination exerts a detrimental effect on soil nutrient availability, resulting in alterations to soil microbial community composition and function. Furthermore, this study shows that these contaminants can inhibit plant growth and heavy metal uptake. The findings provide a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge on the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastic–heavy metal composite pollution in terrestrial ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agroecosystems: Strategies to Mitigate Plastic Pollution for Sustainable Agriculture)
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15 pages, 4218 KiB  
Article
Potential Impacts of Microplastic Particle Size and Type on Soil Properties and Buckwheat Performance
by Lei Zhou, Junqi Chu, Yufen Zhang, Yi Zhou, Qi Wang and Baoping Zhao
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051064 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 234
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging pollutants, have elicited global concerns. However, few studies have evaluated MPs with varying sizes and their adverse effects on plant growth in farmland soils. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of polyethylene [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging pollutants, have elicited global concerns. However, few studies have evaluated MPs with varying sizes and their adverse effects on plant growth in farmland soils. In this study, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of polyethylene (PE) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) with two particle sizes (100 μm and 1000 μm) on the growth, photosynthetic properties, and antioxidant enzyme activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), as well as soil properties. Overall, the results showed that MPs had a certain inhibitory effect on buckwheat growth, especially with the PE treatment of 100 μm particle size. The addition of PE and PBAT inhibited photosynthesis, induced oxidative stress, and decreased soil nutrient availability (specifically ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus content), reducing above and belowground biomass. In addition, we observed that the type and size of MPs had a significant effect on buckwheat growth parameters. Degradable MPs (PBAT) showed less toxicity than non-degradable MPs (PE), and MPs with a smaller microplastic particle size (100 μm) displayed a greater inhibitory effect than larger ones (1000 μm). In conclusion, MPs showed significant inhibitory effects on the growth of buckwheat plants, highlighting the necessity for further research in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Agroecosystems: Strategies to Mitigate Plastic Pollution for Sustainable Agriculture)
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