Micro- and Nanoplastics: Impact on Crop Plants and Agricultural Practices
摘要
Micro and nanoplastic debris in soil, aquatic, terrestrial and groundwater resources have jeopardized the food production system and human health and increased the vulnerability of the environmental ecosystem. The recent COVID pandemic has accelerated the pace of plastic debris infestation. The penetration of plastic debris through plastic mulch, fertilizer, sewage sludge, atmospheric deposition and illegal dumping ultimately culminates in the soil. The soil is the main reservoir due to its linkage with agricultural activities, microbial growth, food chain and human health. These particles interfere with the plant growth metabolism and development of beneficial soil microbes, significantly affecting their performance and susceptibility. Thus, it is imperative to understand the dynamics associated with the migration of micro and nanoplastics in soil, the environment, and the food chain. Most of the literature is directed to short-term lab-based studies, and the long-term field evaluation of plastic is essential to assess its impact on soil, plant metabolism, and human health. The remedial measures in the form of technological interventions or finding a biodegradable alternative to plastic can help to tackle the global problem of plastic pollution in general and micro/nano plastic pollution in particular. Accordingly, this chapter will address the impact of micro and nano plastics on soil, crops, the environment and associated agricultural practices, along with appropriate remedial measures in an articulate manner.