The presence of microplastics in soil has been reported to alter soil organic matter content, pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon storage. It is estimated that 8000 tonnes of polymers are used annually in the EU in polymer coated fertilisers (PCF). PCF can be used as additives to improve physical properties of fertilisers or to produce slow/controlled release fertilisers (SRF/CRF). CRFs help synchronise nutrients release according to crop needs, increasing efficiency and reducing losses to the environment. Non-biodegradable plastics accumulate in the ecosystem, can be assimilated by animals and can be ultimately consumed as food by humans. Each year around 42000 tonnes of microplastics end up in the environment. Polymer coated fertilisers have been identified by FAO as high priority in terms of risk of microplastic release. Bio-based biodegradable polymers may be an alternative to conventional non-biodegradable plastics. However, more research is needed to develop such biodegradable delivery systems and validate them while assessing improvements associated to microplastics release prevention.
