Study: Microplastics found in Agriculture Clog Soil Pores, Prevent Aeration, and Cause Plant Roots to Die
Microplastics Suffocating Crops by Clogging Soil
A concerning new study has revealed that microplastic pollution in agricultural soils can have devastating impacts on plant growth and crop yields. Researchers found that when microplastics accumulate in soil, they clog the pores and prevent proper aeration, effectively suffocating plant roots and causing them to die off.
The alarming findings come from an experiment conducted by Dr. Mary Kirkham at Kansas State University, where she grew wheat plants in soil contaminated with different levels of microplastics. Just 16 days into the experiment, the wheat plants exposed to microplastics began yellowing and wilting.
“The particulate plastic appeared to clog the soil pores, prevent aeration of the soil, and cause the roots to die,” explained Dr. Kirkham. “It was the plastics that were controlling the growth more than the cadmium contamination we also tested.”
