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Microplastics in Agricultural Lands

Agricultural lands are increasingly identified as an important contributor of microplastics.

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Updated:

September 15, 2025

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Microplastics in soil. Photo: Piyaset

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Microplastics—plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters—are now recognized as an emerging contaminant in soils, waterways, and even the food system. Studies have shown that these particles can alter soil health, carry other pollutants, and threaten aquatic life once carried into streams and rivers. While much of the attention has focused on urban sources such as wastewater and stormwater, agricultural lands are increasingly identified as another important contributor.

What Are Microplastics—and Why Do They Matter on Farms?

Microplastics are plastic fragments, fibers, films, pellets, or foams smaller than 5 mm. In agriculture, plastics are indispensable for productivity. Plasticulture describes the integration of plastic materials into crop production systems to enhance crop growth and management. Common applications include plastic mulch films, drip irrigation lines, greenhouse coverings, and protective row covers. These practices help conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, limit plant diseases, extend the growing season, and boost yields. But despite these benefits, their widespread use also poses challenges, such as the release of microplastics into soils and waterways through weathering and field operations.

Mulch film, drip tape, greenhouse/high-tunnel covers, silage bags, and bale wrap are ubiquitous. Their retrieval is often difficult, and residues can persist and fragment in place (Waste Plastics as Fuel). Other sources of microplastics on farms are:

(a) Land-applied biosolids that can carry and accumulate these particles in soil with repeated applications (Adhikari et al., 2024)

(b) Compost and manure/digestate that contain plastics from feed, bedding, and packaging

(d) Irrigation water that contains microplastics

(e) Atmospheric deposition from the air (fibers, tire-wear particles) (USGS, 2025)

Illustration of sources of microplastics on agricultural soils — Figure 1. Sources of microplastics on agricultural soils (Credit: Moeck et al., 2022)

Microplastic Impacts on Soil and Water

Although we can’t see them with the naked eye, microplastics can affect the very foundation of healthy soils and clean water. When microplastic particles build up in fields, they may change how soil “works.” For example, they can influence how soil clumps together (aggregation), how water moves through it (porosity), and how living organisms such as microbes and earthworms function. These changes could, in turn, affect crop growth and soil fertility. The type of plastic polymer, its size, and how much is present all determine whether the impact is small or significant (Sajjad et al., 2022).

Heavier amounts of microplastics have been linked to slower root development, changes in how nutrients cycle through the soil, and altered interactions with other contaminants like pesticides or heavy metals. While many of these findings come from greenhouse or laboratory studies, field-scale understanding is just beginning to emerge (Seo et al., 2024). Another concern is that microplastic surfaces provide a home for bacteria and fungi, sometimes called the “plastisphere.” In some cases, this can include harmful organisms that pose risks to crops or human health. This makes good manure-handling and produce-safety practices even more important (Quilliam et al., 2023).

Microplastics don’t stay put in soils—they can be washed away during storms, carried through drainage tiles, or blown off fields by wind (especially film fragments and light fibers). Once they leave farm fields, they become part of the wider water pollution problem. Research shows that stormwater and farm runoff can carry high microplastic loads, and tile drains can export these particles to ditches and streams (McGinnis, 2021). A recent U.S. Geological Survey study, for example, found that microplastics are now common in wadable streams in farming regions across the country (USGS, 2025). Recognizing this, the Chesapeake Bay Program has issued a framework for monitoring microplastics in the Bay watershed and recommends linking this work to existing water-quality programs and evaluations of conservation practices (Southerland et al., 2024).

Microplastic Impacts on Crops and Livestock

Research has shown that very small particles, especially nanoplastics, can be taken up by plant roots and transported into shoots, leaves, and even edible parts of crops (Seo et al., 2024). While the levels detected so far are low, this raises concerns about the potential for microplastics to enter the food chain directly from farm soils. Some studies also suggest that microplastics in the root zone can change nutrient availability or affect how plants respond to stress. However, much remains unknown, and further research is needed to clarify their true effects on crop productivity and the potential implications for people and animals consuming these crops.

Farm animals are also exposed to microplastics if they consume contaminated feed, water, or even soil particles while grazing. Once ingested, plastics may accumulate in the digestive tract or move into tissues. Though the long-term health impacts are still being studied, microplastics in animal products could represent another route of entry into the human food system. Water troughs, streams, and ponds used by livestock can serve as pathways, particularly when runoff carries plastics into farm waterways. Good practices such as fencing livestock from surface waters, maintaining vegetated buffers, and keeping feed and bedding clean of plastic debris can help reduce risks.

What Producers Can Do

Farmers can take practical steps to reduce the risks associated with plastic use and microplastic contamination. A good starting point is to inventory and reduce plastic use at the source. Whenever possible, choose durable or reusable materials. If considering biodegradable mulch films, be sure to check certifications and understand that complete biodegradation depends heavily on field conditions; residues may still need to be managed carefully (Sanchez-Hernandez et al., 2020). Equally important is to procure better products, for example, thicker films that are easier to retrieve can make a big difference, and some vendors now offer take-back programs or products with recycled content.

Another key practice is to keep plastics out of the water through conservation practices. Measures that reduce erosion—such as cover crops, grassed waterways, and buffer strips—can help keep plastic fragments from moving off-site. Features like farm ponds, sediment basins, or constructed wetlands can intercept runoff before it reaches streams. Early research also suggests that filtration media such as biochar may provide an extra layer of protection (Olubusoye et al., 2024).

With land-applied organics, it is important to know the source and history of biosolids, and to follow the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) agronomic loading rate (PDF) and siting rules while carefully considering the timing of applications to minimize runoff risk. Compost, manure, and digestates can also carry microplastics if screening and contamination controls are inadequate. Routine plastic retrieval and housekeeping can go a long way toward prevention. Removing mulch and drip lines promptly after harvest while they are still intact, and steering clear of mowing over film all help minimize plastic residues. Trimming areas for silage bags or bale wrap should also be managed so fragments do not spread across fields.

Key Takeaways

Microplastics are an emerging contaminant in soils, streams, and food systems, with farms as an important source.
Agricultural plastics, biosolids, compost, and runoff all contribute to their presence in the environment.
Particles can affect soil health, crop growth, livestock, and water quality, though field-scale impacts are still being studied.
Farmers can reduce risks by using plastics wisely, retrieving them promptly, managing organics carefully, and keeping runoff under control.