Degradation Rate of Bio-based Agricultural Mulch is Influenced by Mulch Composition and Biostimulant Application

Thompson, Ashley A.; Samuelson, M. B.; Kadoma, Ignatius; Soto-Cantu, Erick; Drijber, Rhae A.; Wortman, Sam E.

doi:10.1007/s10924-019-01371-9

Cited by 36 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Moreover, these films are mainly made by low-density polyethylene (LDPE) [3], having a strong resistance and high durability, even though, like all petroleum products, they are non-compostable and non-biodegradable. The presence of LDPE residues in the soil beyond the duration of a crop cycle is associated to soil contamination with phthalate and phthalic acid esters due to thermal degradation [7]. Therefore, farmers must manually or mechanically collect from the field and recycle or dispose them to comply with the legislative directives of each country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appraisal of Biodegradable Mulching Films and Vegetal-Derived Biostimulant Application as Eco-Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Lettuce Crop Performance and Nutritive Value

et al. 2020

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Scientists, extensions specialists, and growers are seeking sustainable agricultural practices that are able to cope with these objectives in order to ensure global food security and minimize environmental damage. The use of mulching films and plant biostimulants in agriculture seems to be a valid solution for tackling these rising concerns. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to elucidate the morpho-physiological and nutritive characteristics of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in response to foliar application of a tropical plant extract (PE) biostimulant and the use of plastic mulches. Two biodegradable mulch treatments (Mater-Bi® 1 and Mater-Bi® 2) were compared to black polyethylene (LDPE) and bare soil. Biodegradable mulch film Mater-Bi® 1 produced a comparable marketable fresh yield to the commercial standard polyethylene (LDPE), whereas Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited the highest crop productivity. When averaged over biostimulant application, lettuce plants grown with biodegradable film Mater-Bi® 2 exhibited superior quality traits in terms of K, Ca, total ascorbic acid, and carotenoids content. The combination of film mulching (LDPE, Mater-Bi® 1 or Mater-Bi® 2) with the tropical plant extract biostimulant exhibited a positive and significant synergistic effect (+30%) on yield. The PE-biostimulant induced higher values of SPAD index and total chlorophyll content when compared to untreated greenhouse lettuce. The mineral content of leaf tissues was greater by 10% and 17% (for P and Ca, respectively) when compared to the untreated lettuce (no PE application). Nitrate content was significantly reduced by 23% in greenhouse lettuce plants receiving PE as compared to the untreated control. The positive effect of Mater-Bi® 2 film on the ascorbic acid content has also been highlighted when combined with the biostimulant application, where a major amplification of total ascorbic acid (+168%) was recorded in comparison to the untreated lettuce. Overall, our work can assist leafy vegetables growers in adopting good agricultural practices, such as biodegradable plastic mulches and vegetal-derived biostimulants, to improve the sustainability of greenhouse production.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appraisal of Biodegradable Mulching Films and Vegetal-Derived Biostimulant Application as Eco-Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Lettuce Crop Performance and Nutritive Value

et al. 2020

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“…Manufactured biomulch films and fabrics can suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture and increase yields relative to bare soil (Wortman et al ., 2015, 2016). However, biomulch use is currently limited on organic farms because any manufactured mulch product must be: (1) 100% biobased (no petroleum-based feedstocks), (2) 90% biodegraded by soil microbes in less than 2 years if incorporated into soil and (3) manufactured without the use of genetically engineered organisms (Thompson et al ., 2019). Paper-based products (e.g., WeedGuardPlus; Sunshine Paper Co., Aurora, CO, USA) are the only commercially available biomulches that currently meet these requirements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the unique physical properties of some biomulches may represent an opportunity for use in higher-density vegetable plantings. Although most agricultural mulch is impermeable by design (e.g., a polyethylene mulch film is impermeable to facilitate chemical soil fumigation), polylactic acid (PLA)-based biofabric mulches are gas and water permeable (Thompson et al ., 2019). Previous studies show that this permeability does not compromise weed suppression (i.e., plants cannot grow through the mulch from below; Wortman et al ., 2015, 2016), but it is not known whether plant roots can grow through this permeable membrane from above.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, PLA-based biofabric mulches can be manufactured with raw agricultural byproducts such as soybean meal embedded in the fiber matrix. These residues could function as starter fertilizers for seedling roots growing through the membrane and also help to accelerate end-of-life biomulch degradation (Thompson et al ., 2019). Our objectives in this proof-of-concept study were to: (1) determine the potential for two direct-seeded, high-density planting vegetable crops to germinate on and grow through prototype-biobased mulch membranes, and (2) measure crop growth changes and yield in response to the prototype mulches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proof of concept for growing lettuce and carrot in a biobased mulch membrane

Tofanelli

Kadoma²,

Wortman

2020

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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Manufactured biobased mulch (biomulch) films and fabrics are useful non-chemical weed management tools, but are not typically used for high-density plantings of vegetables such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus). However, it may be possible for crop roots to grow through a permeable biomulch membrane. Our objective was to demonstrate the potential for lettuce and carrot to germinate on and grow through biomulch, and assess changes in crop growth and yield. Biomulches included a 100% polylactic acid (PLA) biofabric and a PLA (37%) + soybean meal (63%) biofabric (PLA + SOY). Seeds were placed directly on biomulch and top-dressed with a soil mix or compost. Crop roots grew through the biomulch (despite visible constriction in carrot), and total yields were either the same or greater than those in the no-mulch control. PLA + SOY increased lettuce yield by 72% and also degraded faster than the PLA mulch. Results hold promise for improving weed control and reducing labor in high-density vegetable plantings.

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“…The slightly lower breaking force and especially the smaller elongation (i.e., less elasticity) of BDMs indicate that these formulations and thicknesses were more susceptible to on-farm activities that can puncture the film and cause damage. Cowan et al (2016) and Thompson et al (2019) reported that bio-based plastic mulches have lower tensile strength and mechanical resistance compared with PE mulch. Dharmalingam et al (2015) and Mendes et al (2016) reported that tensile strength of plastic mulches is reduced when thermoplastic starch [e.g., polylactic acid (PLA)] is included.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Mulches Improved Plant Growth and Suppressed Weeds in Late Summer-planted Floricane-fruiting Raspberry

Zhang¹,

Miles²,

Ghimire³

et al. 2020

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Planting floricane-fruiting red raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.) propagated through tissue culture (TC) is becoming increasingly popular in the Pacific Northwest. However, there is a challenge associated with their establishment compared with traditional planting materials (dormant roots and canes), especially regarding weed management due to their sensitivity to herbicides. In addition, there has been an increased interest in late summer planting compared with traditional spring planting because growers find improved establishment in late summer planting. Although polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) have demonstrated excellent weed control and increased plant growth and yield in spring-planted TC raspberry, their impacts in late summer plantings are still unknown. The overall objective of this study was to investigate whether PE mulch and BDMs have similar effects on weed management and raspberry growth and yield in late summer plantings as in spring plantings. One PE mulch, four BDMs (BASF 0.5, BASF 0.6, Novamont 0.5, and Novamont 0.6), and a bare ground (BG) control were evaluated in a commercial 'WakeHaven' raspberry field planted in Aug. 2017. Mulch performance [percent soil exposure (PSE)], mulch mechanical properties (elongation and breaking force), soil temperature and moisture, plant growth, fruit yield and quality, and weed suppression were measured from 2017 to 2019. Average PSE was 1.4% and 2.0% to 15.0% by Dec. 2017 in the PE and BDM treatments, respectively. PE mulch generally had greater elongation and breaking force than BDMs. All BDMs were removed by Mar. 2018 because of the damage caused by on-farm activities and strong winds. Although average primocane height was greater for plants grown with PE mulch compared with all the other treatments except BASF 0.5 in Sept. 2018, there was no difference in yield between PE and the BG treatments, potentially because of cold damage on the buds in PE plots. There were no weeds in any of the mulched treatments in Sept. and Oct. 2017 and in PE mulch in Sept. 2018. In contrast, the BG plots had 51, 51, and 266 weeds/m 2 , respectively, and required handweeding and herbicide applications. In addition, early season application of herbicides to suppress primocane emergence was not required in the PE plots. Overall, PE mulch could be a viable tool for growers planting raspberry in late summer. The suitability of BDMs with similar thicknesses and formulations as used in this experiment is uncertain for late summer plantings because of the damage caused by on-farm activities and strong winds.

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Degradation Rate of Bio-based Agricultural Mulch is Influenced by Mulch Composition and Biostimulant Application

Cited by 36 publications

References 39 publications

Appraisal of Biodegradable Mulching Films and Vegetal-Derived Biostimulant Application as Eco-Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Lettuce Crop Performance and Nutritive Value

Appraisal of Biodegradable Mulching Films and Vegetal-Derived Biostimulant Application as Eco-Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Lettuce Crop Performance and Nutritive Value

Proof of concept for growing lettuce and carrot in a biobased mulch membrane

Plastic Mulches Improved Plant Growth and Suppressed Weeds in Late Summer-planted Floricane-fruiting Raspberry

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