
Farmers cultivating soybeans use lots of pesticides that pose high risks to human health and terrestrial ecosystems. To increase yields, plastic mulch films are often used in soybean farming. Over time, this plastic becomes fragmented which leads to the formation of microplastics (MPs). There is growing concern regarding the combination of these aging microplastics and pesticides in the soil matrix. This project will examine the potential influences of aged microplastics and pesticides on soil function and soybean growth in order to reveal the combined effects of these two contaminants on the soil ecosystem.