Microplastics in the Soil–Plant Systems: Ecological Feedbacks, Nutrient Dynamics and Sustainable Remediation

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as persistent and pervasive pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, with agricultural soils serving as their primary global reservoir. Recent evidence demonstrate that MPs not only alter soil physicochemical properties, including porosity, water retention and aggregate stability, but also disrupt microbial community structure; interfere with carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling and impair plant physiological functions from germination to reproductive fitness. The rhizosphere, as the critical interface for plant–microbe–soil interactions, is particularly vulnerable to MP-induced perturbations that can cascade through the food chain via crop uptake and accumulation.

Despite rapid advances, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the mechanistic pathways through which MPs mediate soil–plant feedbacks, their interactions with co-occurring pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides) and the long-term consequences for agricultural productivity and food security. Furthermore, while biodegradable plastics are promoted as alternatives, their degradation products and ecological impacts remain poorly understood.

This Special Issue aims to assemble cutting-edge research that addresses these critical gaps, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue among environmental scientists, agronomists, ecotoxicologists and policy makers. By consolidating global expertise, we will advance the scientific foundation for mitigating MP pollution and safeguarding soil–plant ecosystem health.

This Special Issue will focus on the following thematic areas:

1. Sources, Pathways and Environmental Fate of MPs in Agroecosystems

• Identification and quantification of MP sources: Agricultural plastic films, sewage sludge, wastewater irrigation, compost and atmospheric deposition
• Aging processes and degradation mechanisms of MPs in soil environments
• Transport and transformation of MPs and nanoplastics in the soil–plant system

2. Impacts of MPs on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Nutrient Cycling

• Effects of MPs on soil structure, aggregate stability and water dynamics
• MP-mediated alterations in soil C, N and P pools and enzyme activities
• Greenhouse gas emissions (CH₄, N₂O) associated with MP-contaminated soils

3. Plant–Microbe–Soil Interactions in the Rhizosphere

• Disruption of beneficial microbial communities and symbiotic relationships (e.g., mycorrhizal associations)
• Plant physiological responses: germination, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems and nutrient uptake
• Uptake, translocation and accumulation of MPs in edible plant tissues

4. Interactive Effects with Co-occurring Pollutants

• Combined toxicity of MPs with heavy metals, pesticides and persistent organic pollutants
• Carrier effects: MPs as vectors for adsorbed contaminants in the soil–plant system

5. Remediation and Mitigation Strategies

• Biochar amendments for MP-contaminated soil remediation
• Biodegradable alternatives and sustainable agricultural practices
• Bioremediation approaches: Microbial and fungal degradation of MPs
• Green plastic products for agricultural use

6. Methodological Advances and Risk Assessment

• Novel analytical techniques for MP detection and characterization in soil and plant tissues
• Standardization of toxicity assessment protocols
• Life cycle assessment and risk modeling for MP pollution

Dr. Babar Iqbal
Dr. Amir Abdullah Khan
Guest Editors

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