Microplastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Environmental Processes, Ecological Effects and Sustainable Solutions

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic pollution is an increasing concern in terrestrial ecosystems, as agricultural films, organic amendments, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and plastic waste fragmentation continuously introduce microplastics and nanoplastics into soils. Once present, these particles interact with soil aggregates, pore networks, minerals, organic matter, plant roots, and soil organisms, which may alter soil structure, water transport, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, microbial communities, plant performance, and the environmental behaviour of other contaminants.

The effects of microplastics vary widely among ecosystems and experimental conditions. Polymer composition, biodegradability, particle size and shape, ageing, and exposure level can influence their environmental behaviour. Soil properties, climate, vegetation, land use, and agricultural management may further regulate ecological responses. This strong context dependence remains a major challenge for environmental risk assessment and the development of effective management strategies. In particular, more evidence is needed to connect laboratory observations with field-scale processes and to distinguish the environmental benefits and risks of biodegradable plastics from those of conventional polymers.

This Special Issue aims to advance the mechanistic and applied understanding of microplastics and nanoplastics in terrestrial environments, and so we welcome the submission of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological studies addressing their sources, detection, transport, transformation, ecological effects, and management. Relevant topics include soil physical and chemical processes, microbial and plant responses, plastisphere communities, biogeochemical cycling, interactions with co-occurring contaminants, biodegradable plastics, environmental monitoring, ecological risk assessment, remediation technologies, and sustainable plastic management.

We particularly encourage interdisciplinary studies that combine field observations, controlled experiments, modeling, and advanced analytical approaches. Contributions that identify response thresholds, improve methodological standardization, or translate scientific evidence into practical mitigation strategies are especially welcome.

Dr. Ze-Ying Zhao
Guest Editor

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