Agricultural fertilizers significantly contribute to microplastic concentrations in UK soils, according to a study published in Communications Earth & Environment. The research, using a historical time series, found that microplastic concentrations increased at higher rates in soils amended with organic or inorganic fertilizers between 1966 and 2022. This suggests that agricultural fertilizers are a major source of microplastics in agricultural soils over time. The study highlights that agricultural soils act as receptors and reservoirs of microplastic pollution, with the legacy of plastic pollution growing over time. Plastics have revolutionized agriculture, with approximately 450 million tonnes produced annually, of which 12.5 million tonnes are used in agriculture. However, 76% of plastics become waste, with 79% accumulating in landfills and the natural environment. Plastic degrades through various pathways, including chemical weathering, physical fragmentation, and bio-, photo-, and oxidative degradation. Despite being intended to biodegrade, complete degradation does not always occur, leading to persistent microplastic pollution. The study analyzed soil samples from the Broadbalk winter wheat experiment, showing a significant increase in microplastic concentrations from 1966 to 2022, particularly in soils amended with organic or inorganic fertilizers. Microplastics were detected in all samples from 1846 to 2022, with the first detection occurring after the invention of modern plastics. The study found that microplastic concentrations in soils amended with organic and inorganic fertilizers were significantly different from those without amendments, indicating that these fertilizers contribute to microplastic loads in soils. The study also found that microplastic concentrations increased steeply in the N3(P)KMg treatment between 1997 and 2005, and between 2010 and 2022. The study highlights the need to better understand the impacts of microplastic pollution on agricultural productivity, as the effects are largely unquantified and unreliable due to a lack of long-term field trials and unrepresentative concentrations in many studies. The legacy of plastic use in agricultural soils is poorly reversible, posing a direct threat to agricultural productivity and food security. The study calls for a reassessment of plastic use in agriculture and beyond.Agricultural fertilizers significantly contribute to microplastic concentrations in UK soils, according to a study published in Communications Earth & Environment. The research, using a historical time series, found that microplastic concentrations increased at higher rates in soils amended with organic or inorganic fertilizers between 1966 and 2022. This suggests that agricultural fertilizers are a major source of microplastics in agricultural soils over time. The study highlights that agricultural soils act as receptors and reservoirs of microplastic pollution, with the legacy of plastic pollution growing over time. Plastics have revolutionized agriculture, with approximately 450 million tonnes produced annually, of which 12.5 million tonnes are used in agriculture. However, 76% of plastics become waste, with 79% accumulating in landfills and the natural environment. Plastic degrades through various pathways, including chemical weathering, physical fragmentation, and bio-, photo-, and oxidative degradation. Despite being intended to biodegrade, complete degradation does not always occur, leading to persistent microplastic pollution. The study analyzed soil samples from the Broadbalk winter wheat experiment, showing a significant increase in microplastic concentrations from 1966 to 2022, particularly in soils amended with organic or inorganic fertilizers. Microplastics were detected in all samples from 1846 to 2022, with the first detection occurring after the invention of modern plastics. The study found that microplastic concentrations in soils amended with organic and inorganic fertilizers were significantly different from those without amendments, indicating that these fertilizers contribute to microplastic loads in soils. The study also found that microplastic concentrations increased steeply in the N3(P)KMg treatment between 1997 and 2005, and between 2010 and 2022. The study highlights the need to better understand the impacts of microplastic pollution on agricultural productivity, as the effects are largely unquantified and unreliable due to a lack of long-term field trials and unrepresentative concentrations in many studies. The legacy of plastic use in agricultural soils is poorly reversible, posing a direct threat to agricultural productivity and food security. The study calls for a reassessment of plastic use in agriculture and beyond.