Agricultural Plastic Mulching as a Source of Microplastics in the Terrestrial Conditions

The use of plastics in agriculture has been intensified due to the associated benefits in diverse aspects such as crop yield, water saving and protection against weeds or plagues. Although there is a long list of plastic elements used in agriculture, their main use is for mulching and for covering greenhouses. The mulching plastics pose a hazard due to the intimate contact with the soil. The complete elimination of mulching is laborious and costly due to the hardly biodegradable nature, mainly low-density polyethylene, which takes a long time for complete degradation. However, the partial degradation and distribution of plastic mulching leads to the release of the microplastics that pose a hazard to the environment. This chapter reviews the effects of plastic film mulching in the environment related to the release of microplastics or other substances used as additives such as heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants. Also, new emerging alternatives more respectful toward the environment are covered, such as biodegradable formulas or the use of alternatives like paper or wool.