How many papers support this gap analysis?

4 papers from our local library contribute to this synthesis, with an average publication year of 2025.

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agriculture4 papersavg year 2025weak evidence

The gap in knowledge on microplastic distribution

Research gap analysis derived from 4 agriculture papers in our local library.

The gap

The gap in knowledge on microplastic distribution and ecological risk in coastal megacities. The need to investigate microplastics in soil, water, and air-associated dust.

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and abstract and future-work section of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 254 times in total.

Research trend

Established — well-defined area with open sub-problems.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

Microplastic diversity increases the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil (2024) · Nature Communications · cited 166× · doi
The effects of microplastic diversity on soil antibiotic resistance gene dynamics are not well understood. Previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of individual microplastics.
generalstated research gap
Keywords: effects microplastic diversity soil antibiotic resistance gene dynamics
Effect of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on the soil-soybean system: A perspective on rhizosphere microbial community and soil element cycling (2024) · Environment International · cited 88× · doi
As an exogenous carbon input, microplastics (MPs), especially biodegradable MPs, may significantly disrupt soil microbial communities and soil element cycling (CNPS cycling), but few studies have focused on this.
generalabstractevidence 5/5
Keywords: soil cycling exogenous carbon input microplastics especially biodegradable disrupt microbial communities element cnps focused
Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastics Across Air, Water, and Soil in a Coastal Megacity of Southern India (2026) · Water Air & Soil Pollution · doi
The gap in knowledge on microplastic distribution and ecological risk in coastal megacities. The need to investigate microplastics in soil, water, and air-associated dust.
generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
Keywords: gap knowledge microplastic distribution ecological risk coastal megacities
Plant functional traits, but not soil abiotic properties, mediate the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi
The underlying pathways governing the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly are not well understood. The relative contributions of soil abiotic properties and plant functional traits in mediating microplastic legacy effects on community assembly are not well understood.
generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
Keywords: underlying pathways governing legacy effects microplastics plant community
Plant functional traits, but not soil abiotic properties, mediate the legacy effects of microplastics on plant community assembly (2026) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi
Future research should focus on multifactor field experiments that incorporate diverse microplastic types and complex plant communities. The study highlights the need to investigate the underlying mechanisms, specifically soil microbial succession and direct physiological indicators.
generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
Keywords: future research focus multifactor field experiments incorporate diverse

Questions about this gap

The gap in knowledge on microplastic distribution and ecological risk in coastal megacities. The need to investigate microplastics in soil, water, and air-associated dust. This is supported by 5 representative gap statements extracted from 4 papers, rated weak evidence.

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