In this insightful episode of our podcast, we welcome Nayab Gull, a Ph.D. student at Washington State University, to discuss the complex and critical topic of microplastics in agricultural soils. From her unexpected journey into agriculture to her cutting-edge research on microplastics and soil health, Nayab shares both personal stories and professional insights. We explore how microplastics impact soil structure, water retention, microbial life, and even plant root development. Nayab also sheds light on the potential risks microplastics pose to food safety and human health, emphasizing the urgent need for more field-based research and policy action. You will learn about the dual role of microplastics—how they can both disrupt and, in some cases, enrich nutrient cycling—and what farmers and policymakers can do to mitigate these effects. Whether you're a researcher, farmer, student, or simply curious about soil sustainability, this episode offers valuable perspectives on why mulch—and what it leaves behind—truly matters.

This work is supported by Specialty Crops Research Initiative Award 2022-51181-38325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Note: intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-motivational-ident-main-9923/