TRACEABILITY OF MICROPLASTICS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND INTERACTIONS WITH RESIDUAL HERBICIDES

• Grant number: 24/08299-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Kassio Ferreira Mendes
• Grantee: Kassio Ferreira Mendes
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Valdemar Luiz Tornisielo
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/11658-4 - Leaching transport of S-metolachlor and hexazinone in soils modified with aged microplastics, BP.MS; 25/06021-7 - Characterization of aged microplastics by ultraviolet light simulator, BP.IC; 25/06446-8 - SORPTION AND DESORPTION PROCESS OF S-METOLACHLOR AND HEXAZINONE IN SOILS MODIFIED WITH AGED MICROPLASTICS, BP.MS; 25/06658-5 - Validation of the chromatographic method for analysis of two residual herbicides in soil contaminated with microplastics, BP.IC

Abstract

Plastics are widely used in agriculture to preserve, transport, package and market agricultural products. However, agricultural activity is one of the main sources of plastic waste in the soil, including microplastics (MPs), which have significant ecological impacts, such as threats to soil fauna and the ability to concentrate organic pollutants. The interaction of MPs with residual herbicides, such as S-metolachlor and hexazinone, can affect weed control by reducing the effectiveness of these herbicides. This project aims to track the contamination of agricultural soil by MPs and how this interacts with residual herbicides. Due to the physicochemical characteristics of these herbicides, they may show different responses when interacting with PMs. Therefore, physicochemical analyses of MPs, sorption and desorption will be carried out in order to understand the behavior of both herbicides with these polymers, as well as leaching studies. Understanding the interaction of these components will make it possible to visualize ways to warn producers and researchers about the consequences of the contamination of these polymers in the environment. In this way, this study will make it possible to create alternatives to reduce the effects generated by MPs contamination, not only in agricultural production areas, but throughout the environment. This can be done by raising awareness among producers about the proper disposal of plastic waste, as well as developing more sustainable methods for the production and packaging of agricultural products. In addition, it is important to study new remediation techniques for removing MPs from the soil. Raising awareness and adopting more sustainable practices are key to reducing the environmental impacts of plastics on agriculture and the entire ecosystem. (AU)