Plastic shrinkage cracks occur when the surface of fresh concrete dries too quickly due to rapid evaporation before the concrete has set, causing the surface to shrink more than the interior. This develops tensile stresses that can exceed the concrete's strength and cause cracking. The risk of plastic shrinkage cracking can be reduced by protecting fresh concrete from direct sun and wind, using a low-slump mix with fine sand, applying curing compounds to prevent evaporation, and timing concrete placement to avoid rapid drying conditions. Proper curing is important to ensure the surface evaporation potential is zero and prevent further cracking.