Degradation and microplastic generation, with associated soil properties and microbial communities, of mulch films exposed above and below ground over 12 months, North Wales, UK
https://doi.org/10.5285/76322cd6-a420-42e1-9495-5ed929b1c289
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
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This dataset contains measurements from a 12-month field experiment in the UK assessing the degradation, microplastic generation, and environmental impacts of seven plastic mulch films exposed above and below ground, alongside associated soil, environmental, and material property data. Below ground films were either in fine or coarse mesh bags (filled with 20g soil and 5x5 cm plastic piece) to allow only microfauna or micro-, meso-, and macrofauna interaction. The aim of this experiment was to identify the degradation rates of mulch films under UK weather conditions, their microplastic generation rates, and their effect on soil properties and microbial communities (microbial data has been deposited with NCBI: PRJNA1229197). The details can be found in the lineage field and the supporting document.
Publication date: 2026-05-11
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2021-10-29 to 2022-10-26
Provenance & quality
Plastic:
- Film thickness: Measured with a thickness gauge. Data recorded in paper notebook, transferred to Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Film surface roughness: Measured with a surface roughness tester. Data recorded in paper notebook, transferred to Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Chemical spectra (FTIR): Data was recorded using Cary 630 (Agilent) ATR-FTIR, exported as individual spectra csv files. Data was then combined for each plastic type.
Soil:
- Moisture at 5 cm depth: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Temperature at 5 cm depth: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Surface temperature: Data was recorded using iButtons placed on the soil surface. Data was exported as csv file.
- Microplastic concentration: Samples were analysed using 8700 LDIR chemical imaging. Data was exported as Excel files, then exported as csv files.
- pH and electrical conductivity: Soil was analysed in a 1:2.5 soil:distilled water solution using standard electrodes. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, DOC): Soil was analysed in a 1:5 soil:0.5 M K2SO4 solution using colorimetric analysis for ammonium and nitrate, and a TOC analyser for DOC. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
Environmental data:
- Air temperature: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Precipitation: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Wind speed: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Solar radiation: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Film thickness: Measured with a thickness gauge. Data recorded in paper notebook, transferred to Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Film surface roughness: Measured with a surface roughness tester. Data recorded in paper notebook, transferred to Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Chemical spectra (FTIR): Data was recorded using Cary 630 (Agilent) ATR-FTIR, exported as individual spectra csv files. Data was then combined for each plastic type.
Soil:
- Moisture at 5 cm depth: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Temperature at 5 cm depth: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Surface temperature: Data was recorded using iButtons placed on the soil surface. Data was exported as csv file.
- Microplastic concentration: Samples were analysed using 8700 LDIR chemical imaging. Data was exported as Excel files, then exported as csv files.
- pH and electrical conductivity: Soil was analysed in a 1:2.5 soil:distilled water solution using standard electrodes. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, DOC): Soil was analysed in a 1:5 soil:0.5 M K2SO4 solution using colorimetric analysis for ammonium and nitrate, and a TOC analyser for DOC. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
Environmental data:
- Air temperature: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Precipitation: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Wind speed: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Solar radiation: Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Graf, M.; Chadwick, D.R.; Jones, D.L. (2026). Degradation and microplastic generation, with associated soil properties and microbial communities, of mulch films exposed above and below ground over 12 months, North Wales, UK. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/76322cd6-a420-42e1-9495-5ed929b1c289
Related
Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
Bangor University