Impact of plastic pollution on the quality of arable soils in the Sava and Danube river valleys (Serbia)

Abstract

Plastic pollution is fast becoming a serious global environmental problem with the increase in plastic waste over recent decades. Plastic pollutants in the soil environment have an impact on the cycling of organic matter, global СО2 production, crop production, and soil properties. Crop production in plastic greenhouses is one of the serious sources of plastic pollution in the environment all over the world and particularly in Serbia. One of the first investigations of plastic and microplastic materials in the soil on the territory of Serbia is currently underway and is being carried out within the project „Evaluation of the Microplastic in the Soils of Serbia – EMIPLAST – SoS“ funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the research was to reveal the impact of the presence of plastic materials on soil’s main chemical, physical and biological properties. Soil sampling was carried out in 2022 from two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm), side by side from the plastic greenhouse and non-greenhouse agricultural production as a control in the first project year. The research sites are located on the alluvial plains of the two largest rivers in Serbia, the Danube and the Sava. The following chemical parameters were determined on all samples: electrical conductivity, pH, CEC, total C, as well as nutritional status of the soil (N, P2O5, K2O, Cu, Zn, Mn and CaCO3). Concentrations of some microelements were also analyzed. Physical parameters determined were: particle size distribution, volumetric mass, specific mass and porosity. Microbial respiration, which serves as an indicator of enzymatic microbial activity in the soil, was measured by the alkaline trap method from surface soil.