Model-based analysis of erosion-induced microplastic delivery from arable land to the stream network of a mesoscale catchment

  • Soils are generally accepted as sinks for microplastics (MPs) but at the same time might be an MP source for inland waters. However, little is known regarding the potential MP delivery from soils to aquatic systems via surface runoff and erosion. This study provides, for the first time, an estimate of the extent of soil-erosion-induced MP delivery from an arable-dominated mesoscale catchment (390 km2) to its river network within a typical arable region of southern Germany. To do this, a soil erosion model was used and combined with the potential particular MP load of arable land from different sources (sewage sludge, compost, atmospheric deposition, and tyre wear) from 1950 onwards. The modelling resulted in an annual mean MP flux into the stream network of 6.33 kg MP a−1 in 2020, which was dominated by tyre wear (80 %). Overall, 0.11 %–0.17 % of the MPs applied to arable soils between 1950 and 2020 were transported into the stream network. In terms of mass, this small proportion wasSoils are generally accepted as sinks for microplastics (MPs) but at the same time might be an MP source for inland waters. However, little is known regarding the potential MP delivery from soils to aquatic systems via surface runoff and erosion. This study provides, for the first time, an estimate of the extent of soil-erosion-induced MP delivery from an arable-dominated mesoscale catchment (390 km2) to its river network within a typical arable region of southern Germany. To do this, a soil erosion model was used and combined with the potential particular MP load of arable land from different sources (sewage sludge, compost, atmospheric deposition, and tyre wear) from 1950 onwards. The modelling resulted in an annual mean MP flux into the stream network of 6.33 kg MP a−1 in 2020, which was dominated by tyre wear (80 %). Overall, 0.11 %–0.17 % of the MPs applied to arable soils between 1950 and 2020 were transported into the stream network. In terms of mass, this small proportion was in the same range as the MP inputs from wastewater treatment plants within the test catchment. More MP (0.5 %–1 % of input between 1950 and 2020) was deposited in the grassland areas along the stream network, and this could be an additional source of MP during flood events. Most (5 % of the MP applied between 1950 and 2020) of the MP translocated by tillage and water erosion was buried under the plough layer. Thus, the main part of the MP added to arable land remained in the topsoil and is available for long-term soil erosion. This can be illustrated based on a “stop MP input in 2020” scenario, indicating that MP delivery to the stream network until 2100 would only be reduced by 14 %. Overall, arable land at risk of soil erosion represents a long-term MP sink but also a long-term MP source for inland waters.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Raphael RehmGND, Peter FienerORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1125280
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/112528
ISSN:2199-398XOPAC
Parent Title (English):SOIL
Publisher:Copernicus
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2024
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2024/04/15
Tag:Soil Science
Volume:10
Issue:1
First Page:211
Last Page:230
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-211-2024
Institutes:Fakultät für Angewandte Informatik
Fakultät für Angewandte Informatik / Institut für Geographie
Fakultät für Angewandte Informatik / Institut für Geographie / Professur für Wasser- und Bodenressourcenforschung
Nachhaltigkeitsziele
Nachhaltigkeitsziele / Ziel 6 - Sauberes Wasser und Sanitäre Einrichtungen
Nachhaltigkeitsziele / Ziel 14 - Leben unter Wasser
Dewey Decimal Classification:9 Geschichte und Geografie / 91 Geografie, Reisen / 910 Geografie, Reisen
Licence (German):CC-BY 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung (mit Print on Demand)