About This Project

This Woman Horticultural Garden was established in 1996. The garden is about 23 hectares of land and hosts about 500 women whose livelihood depends on their harvest. However, the long use of plastic mulching and compost material has raised many questions related to microplastics, and plastic contamination, arising from plastic mulching and compost which has microplastic materials. The study is aimed to assess the cause of this distress by The Soil Solution (NGO)

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What is the context of this research?

The Banjulinding Women Community Horticultural Garden was re-established by the second President of the Gambia in 1996 after initial support from the World Bank. The Garden is about 23 hectares of land and is customarily the main source of income for most women in this community. However, with the use of plastic mulching and the intensive use of compost material, there has been a decline in production in the garden. Many scientists and researchers believe that the decline is due to soil distress by microplastic contamination, arising from plastic mulching and the use of compost which has microplastic materials. This study aims to assess the cause and impact of this distress by “The Soil Solution” (NGO). Reference Citation

What is the significance of this project?

The findings will inform strategies to:

1. Reduce microplastic contamination in the Garden by; composting wisely to avoid adding commercially produced compost or yard waste containing plastic fragments to their garden beds Opt for homemade compost made with organic materials and ensure to remove any plastic bits before adding them to the pile and to mulch consciously.

2. Promote sustainable practices for healthy soil and safe food production by adopting sustainable soil management practices which are the foundation for safe food production these include practices such as; crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting food scraps and yard waste create a nutrient-rich amendment that improves soil health.

What are the goals of the project?

Objectives:

1. Assess the level of microplastic contamination: To quantify microplastic presence and type in the soil and evaluate the impact of microplastics on this particular community garden and soil health indicators likewise the potential effects on plant growth (yield, height, biomass).

2. Understand the impact on soil health: Investigate how microplastics affect soil properties and microbial activity, which are crucial for plant growth and equally evaluate potential risks to food safety if microplastics are being taken up by plants and potentially pose a risk to human consumption

3. Inform best practices: The findings can inform recommendations for alternative mulching materials and practices to minimize microplastic contamination in community gardens.