Groundbreaking Research: Limon Measures Plastics in Local Soils

As a fourth-year undergrad, Jackeline Limon designed and led a project to dig up soil and measure tiny bits of plastic pollution in community parks and gardens in Yolo County. Her work – plus the financial award that made it possible and the events where she presented her findings – show the career-developing resources available to students in the Department of Plant Sciences.

“Microplastics are increasingly common in natural systems from soil to water… posing hazards to public health and safety,” Limon wrote about her work. Yet, “despite growing concern, limited data exists on the presence and quantity in local soils.”

Working with mentor Amanda Wong, a Ph.D. candidate in the department, Limon landed a $5,000 grant from the Youth Climate Action Fund, a program of the nonprofit Breathe California-Sacramento Region.

Limon built on Wong’s research to measure microplastics in California agricultural lands and their impact on plant growth. She designed a plan to measure the bits found in 15 locations on and near campus – a step toward understanding their impact on the growth of crop plants. Limon’s grant let her buy equipment, pay for travel and food, and to analyze her samples.

Her plan included managing youth volunteers and presenting her work. Among the events where Limon presented were the recent UC Davis Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference and the Plant Sciences Symposium.

Both Limon and Wong are in the lab of Gail Taylor, a distinguished professor emerita in the department and now dean of Life Sciences, University College London. 

We asked Limon about her research and experiences.

Q: What is the problem you’re trying to solve?

“This project aims to fill a knowledge gap and bring awareness to plastic pollution in small gardens. 

“These findings can be used for community awareness and as a potential guideline for public health decisions that involve community spaces where food production and recreation overlap. The findings also provide a starting point for potential future monitoring.” 

Q: How did the grant from the Youth Climate Action Fund make a difference for you? 

“It showed me there are foundations that care about young scientists and trust us to carry out meaningful projects. It allowed me to design and carry out my own project from start to finish, something that not many undergraduates get to do. This allowed me to gain confidence in my abilities as a researcher.”

Q: Tell us about presenting your research.

“The Undergraduate Research Conference was nerve-wracking at first! It's a huge room with hundreds of people and posters, and you stand there waiting for someone to come up to you so you can give them a crash course on your research…

“Once I got in the groove of things, I really enjoyed the conference, as I was able to reach more people and share with the public. 

“In contrast, the Plant Sciences Symposium was full of familiar faces and allowed me to share with many people who were already aware of the issues of microplastics in the soil. 

“These events helped me get formal experience at oral presentation and were amazing opportunities to share and learn from my peers. I also learned how to pick out the more interesting or important parts of my research… I learned that science, at times, is about collecting all the data you can and then going back to figure out what patterns really matter.”

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Earlier this month, Limon earned her bachelor of science degree with a major in plant sciences and a minor in soil science. She’ll focus on plant breeding during a summer internship with HM.Clause, a global seed development company with a research office in Davis.

Learn more about Wong’s research on microplastics in soil and how they affect plant growth here.