The synchronized dynamic release behavior of microplastics during farmland soil erosion process

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in farmland soil. However, the risks associated with their loss through soil erosion remain unknown. This study investigates the occurrence and behavior of MPs in farmland soil in a southeastern coastal area of China, focusing on their synchronized dynamic release during soil erosion scenarios. The results showed that the abundance of MPs in the tested farmland soil ranged from 2.40 × 10⁴ to 1.04 × 10⁵ items·kg^-1. MPs predominantly appear as fragments and particles, with sizes concentrated between 30 and 100 μm. During the process of soil erosion, characterized by rapid soil subsidence, the amount of MPs released into water bodies initially decreases, averaging a reduction of 1.08 × 10⁴ items·kg^-1. This is followed by an average increase of 1.89 × 10⁴ items·kg^-1. The competition between the adsorption, collision, and sedimentation of soil particles and the desorption and release of settled particles, determines this behavior. This pattern is strongly related to the physicochemical properties and mechanical composition of the soil. Deep learning predictions revealed that, without external influences, 49.42% of MPs in farmland soil could be synchronously released into water bodies during erosion. The analysis shows that MPs exhibit dynamic behavior in time and space, posing serious threats to aquatic ecosystems. Controlling soil erosion in farmland is crucial for the source management of MP migration.