Land-use patterns determine the distribution of soil microplastics in typical agricultural areas on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Zhang Haixin; Huang Yimei; An Shaoshan; Li Haohao; Deng Xiaoqian; Wang Pan; Fan Mengyuan

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127806

Land-use patterns determine the distribution of soil microplastics in typical agricultural areas on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Mar 15:426:127806. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127806. Epub 2021 Nov 16.

Authors

Zhang Haixin¹, Huang Yimei², An Shaoshan³, Li Haohao¹, Deng Xiaoqian³, Wang Pan⁴, Fan Mengyuan¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100 Shaanxi, China.
² Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and The Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100 Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: ymhuang1971@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.

PMID: 34802828
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127806

Abstract

Land-use patterns may affect the distribution characteristics of soil microplastics (MPs), but the effects in the agricultural areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are still unknown. This study investigated the abundance of MPs in facility, farmland, grassland, and orchard soils in the Qaidam basin and Hehuang valley of Qinghai Province and analyzed its shape, size, color, and polymer composition distribution characteristics from 105 sites. The average abundance of MPs in facility, farmland, and grassland soils in the Hehuang valley were 2795.7, 1860.5, and 910.9 items kg^-1, which were 1.33, 4.84, and 1.50 times higher than those in the Qaidam basin, respectively. Orchard soils had 1322.2 items kg^-1 MPs. Soil MPs abundance in grassland and farmland was positively correlated with precipitation and 0 cm ground temperature; and negatively correlated with average wind speed (p < 0.05). Both the particle size of < 1 mm and pellet-shape MPs abundance showed a positive correlation with SOC (p < 0.05). Land-use patterns had the most significant affecting force (51.35%) on soil MPs abundance (p < 0.0001). Hence, land-use patterns, regional climate, and soil properties influence the distribution characteristics of soil MPs; besides, the land-use patterns were dominant.

Keywords: Land-use patterns; Microplastics; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; Regional climate; Soil physicochemical properties.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Agriculture
Microplastics*
Plastics
Soil*
Tibet

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Soil