Microplastics in rice-based farming systems and their connection to plastic waste management in the Chicoral district of Espinal-Tolima

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils is a growing concern, especially in rice cultivation systems, where information is limited, particularly in Latin America. Given the economic importance of this crop in Colombia and the generation of plastic waste from some associated practices, it is crucial to determine the presence of MPs related to agricultural activities in soils dedicated to this activity. This study evaluated the presence of MPs in soils and irrigation water of rice crops in Chicoral, Tolima, Colombia, during two contrasting seasons. Soil samples from seven plots (upper, middle, and lower zones) and water samples from seven points along the irrigation canal were collected. MPs were found in all samples, with similar concentrations in water samples collected in the rainy and dry seasons (0.11 ± 0.10 vs. 0.10 ± 0.06 items/m3, respectively), and higher abundance in soil samples during the rainy season (4 ± 2.71 vs 3.62 ± 1.92 items/50 g). Fragments and fibers were the most abundant forms of plastics (53 % water, 55 % soil), predominantly larger than 100 μm and blue in color. Polypropylene (PP) was the most abundant polymer (50 %) in the meso- and macroplastic samples. Our results suggested that MPs contamination in rice crop soils at Chicoral is influenced by irrigation water transport and improper plastic waste management, highlighting the need for further research on their effects on agricultural systems.

• Autores: Zapata Restrepo, Lina María; Muñoz Yustres, Jorge Leonardo; García Chaves, María Carolina; Gómez Mendez, Luis David
• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2025
• Institución: Universidad de Antioquia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UdeA
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:bibliotecadigital.udea.edu.co:10495/45769
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/10495/45769
• Palabra clave: Riego Agrícola; Agricultural Irrigation; Agricultura; Agriculture; Colombia; Monitoreo del Ambiente; Environmental Monitoring; Microplásticos - análisis; Microplastics - analysis; Oryza - crecimiento y desarrollo; Oryza - growth and development; Suelo - química; Soil - chemistry; Contaminantes del Suelo - análisis; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Administración de Residuos; Waste Management; Contaminantes Químicos del Agua - análisis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D057914; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D000383; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D003105; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D004784; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D000080545; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D012275; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D012987; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D012989; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D018505; https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D014874; ODS 6: Agua limpia y saneamiento. Garantizar la disponibilidad y la gestión sostenible del agua y el saneamiento para todos; ODS 12: Producción y consumo responsables. Garantizar modalidades de consumo y producción sostenibles
• Rights: openAccess
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/