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Policy considerations for limiting unintended residual plastic in agricultural soils

Author

Listed:
  • Brodhagen, Marion
  • Goldberger, Jessica R.
  • Hayes, Douglas G.
  • Inglis, Debra Ann
  • Marsh, Thomas L.
  • Miles, Carol

Abstract

Growing crops under high-intensity agriculture entails the use of numerous plastic products, especially polyethylene plastic films used as crop mulches. As a result, some of the world’s most productive agricultural soils are now being affected by plastic pollution, seriously threatening soil health and food security. Plastic film mulches designed to biodegrade in soil provide an appealing alternative to polyethylene films. What may be surprising, however, is that biodegradable plastic films do not necessarily represent a long-term solution to the problem of contaminating soil with plastic residues. Transformative science and policies are needed to mitigate uncertainty of biodegradable plastic residue accumulation in agricultural soils.

Suggested Citation

  • Brodhagen, Marion & Goldberger, Jessica R. & Hayes, Douglas G. & Inglis, Debra Ann & Marsh, Thomas L. & Miles, Carol, 2017. "Policy considerations for limiting unintended residual plastic in agricultural soils," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 81-84.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:69:y:2017:i:c:p:81-84
    DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Guoqun Ma & Minjuan Li & Yuxi Luo & Tuanbiao Jiang, 2023. "Agri-Ecological Policy, Human Capital and Agricultural Green Technology Progress," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Jessica R. Goldberger, 2018. "2018 AFHVS presidential address," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 35(4), pages 899-904, December.
    3. Gołębiewska, Barbara & Grontkowska, Anna & Gębska, Monika, 2020. "Education As The Differentiating Factor In Applying Sustainable Development Principles On Farms," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(3).
    4. Yang, Zhiyuan & Zhu, Yuemei & Zhang, Xiaoli & Liao, Qin & Fu, Hao & Cheng, Qingyue & Chen, Zongkui & Sun, Yongjian & Ma, Jun & Zhang, Jinyue & Li, Liangyu & Li, Na, 2023. "Unmanned aerial vehicle direct seeding or integrated mechanical transplanting, which will be the next step for mechanized rice production in China? —A comparison based on energy use efficiency and eco," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    5. Jorge Mongil-Manso & Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta & Juan Manuel Trujillo-González & Ana San José Wery & Alexandra Díez Méndez, 2023. "A Comprehensive Review of Plastics in Agricultural Soils: A Case Study of Castilla y León (Spain) Farmlands," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Huang, Fangyuan & Liu, Zihan & Li, Zhaoyang & Wang, Bingfan & Zhang, Peng & Jia, ZhiKuan, 2022. "Is biodegradable film an alternative to polyethylene plastic film for improving maize productivity in rainfed agricultural areas? — Evidence from field experiments," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    7. Martin Henseler & Micheal Bernard Gallagher & Peter Kreins, 2022. "Microplastic pollution in agricultural soils and abatement measures – a model-based assessment for Germany," Post-Print hal-03176598, HAL.
    8. Zhao, Zhiyuan & Zheng, Wei & Ma, Yanting & Wang, Xianling & Li, Ziyan & Zhai, Bingnian & Wang, Zhaohui, 2020. "Responses of soil water, nitrate and yield of apple orchard to integrated soil management in Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    9. Jieru Yu & Samuel Adingo & Xuelu Liu & Xiaodan Li & Jing Sun & Xiaoning Zhang, 2022. "Micro plastics in soil ecosystem - A review of sources, fate, and ecological impact," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(1), pages 1-17.
    10. Rong Xu & Yating Zhan & Jialan Zhang & Qiang He & Kuan Zhang & Dingde Xu & Yanbin Qi & Xin Deng, 2022. "Does Construction of High-Standard Farmland Improve Recycle Behavior of Agricultural Film? Evidence from Sichuan, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Yuxin Deng & Zijie Zeng & Weiying Feng & Jing Liu & Fang Yang, 2024. "Characteristics and Migration Dynamics of Microplastics in Agricultural Soils," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, January.
    12. Anwar Abduwaiti & Xiaowei Liu & Changrong Yan & Yinghao Xue & Tuo Jin & Hongqi Wu & Pengcheng He & Zhe Bao & Qin Liu, 2021. "Testing Biodegradable Films as Alternatives to Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhancing the Yield and Economic Benefits of Processed Tomato in Xinjiang Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, March.
    13. Deepak Agrawal & Armin Bashashati, 2024. "Hospitals Should Offer Straws Only on Demand to the Public and Patients—An Environmental and Patient Care Imperative," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-8, January.
    14. Tobias D. Nielsen & Jacob Hasselbalch & Karl Holmberg & Johannes Stripple, 2020. "Politics and the plastic crisis: A review throughout the plastic life cycle," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(1), January.
    15. Ji Chen & Xiao Chen & Jin Guo & Runyun Zhu & Mengran Liu & Xixi Kuang & Wenqing He & Yao Lu, 2021. "Agricultural, Ecological, and Social Insights: Residual Mulch Film Management Capacity and Policy Recommendations Based on Evidence in Yunnan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    16. Liu, Zihan & Cai, Lu & Dong, Qinge & Zhao, Xiaoli & Han, Jianqiao, 2022. "Effects of microplastics on water infiltration in agricultural soil on the Loess Plateau, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    17. Jaime Villena & Marta M. Moreno & Sara González-Mora & Jesús A. López-Perales & Pablo A. Morales-Rodríguez & Carmen Moreno, 2022. "Degradation Pattern of Five Biodegradable, Potentially Low-Environmental-Impact Mulches under Laboratory Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Brenda Madrid & Huan Zhang & Carol A. Miles & Michael Kraft & Deirdre Griffin-LaHue & Lisa Wasko DeVetter, 2022. "Humic and Acetic Acids Have the Potential to Enhance Deterioration of Select Plastic Soil-Biodegradable Mulches in a Mediterranean Climate," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, June.
    19. Shengnan Huang & Ehsan Elahi, 2022. "Farmers’ Preferences for Recycling Pesticide Packaging Waste: An Implication of a Discrete Choice Experiment Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, October.
    20. Chen, Ning & Li, Xianyue & Shi, Haibin & Zhang, Yuehong & Hu, Qi & Sun, Ya’nan, 2023. "Modeling effects of biodegradable film mulching on evapotranspiration and crop yields in Inner Mongolia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).

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