Articles
The use of plastics in horticulture – on the way to sustainability
Article number
1457_78
Pages
623 – 630
Language
English
Abstract
Background: In view of the dispute on reducing plastics in general, the use of plastics in horticulture is examined with regard to its sustainability.
Seven case studies were chosen for this contribution: 1) hail nets (apple, pears, blueberry), 2) polytunnels, 3) reflective groundcover, 4) asparagus mulch, 5) strawberry mulch, 6) flower pots, and 7) slow-release fertiliser.
Methods: The traditional triple sustainability criteria Rs (re-duce, re-use, and recycling) were applied.
Three further criteria are added: single plastic, degree of contamination (or cleaning effort), and availability of alternatives as a re-place strategy.
Results: hail nets appear sustainable due to their longevity over 8-15 years, single plastic (HD-PE) with little contamination, and a lack of efficient alternatives.
Reflective mulches qualify for sustainability if re-used several times, cleaned and properly stored over winter, single plastics (PP) and little contamination, except for metallised PE with its single use or cases with the possibility of pre-harvest defoliation.
The 8+ year longevity and cleaning machines make double-sided black and white Asparagus foil sustainable without an alternative.
Algae-based carrageen hydrogel may be an alternative to polymer-encapsulated slow-release fertiliser.
Single-use LD-PE mulches in strawberry and vegetable open-field production appear to be the least sustainable option, with the utmost need for non-fossil alternatives and research.
Retrieval schemes such as MAPLA, PolieCo TM, and ERDE collect 30-40% of agricultural foils with an annual increase of ca. 25% in the case of ERDE, a major contribution to the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and horticulture.
Seven case studies were chosen for this contribution: 1) hail nets (apple, pears, blueberry), 2) polytunnels, 3) reflective groundcover, 4) asparagus mulch, 5) strawberry mulch, 6) flower pots, and 7) slow-release fertiliser.
Methods: The traditional triple sustainability criteria Rs (re-duce, re-use, and recycling) were applied.
Three further criteria are added: single plastic, degree of contamination (or cleaning effort), and availability of alternatives as a re-place strategy.
Results: hail nets appear sustainable due to their longevity over 8-15 years, single plastic (HD-PE) with little contamination, and a lack of efficient alternatives.
Reflective mulches qualify for sustainability if re-used several times, cleaned and properly stored over winter, single plastics (PP) and little contamination, except for metallised PE with its single use or cases with the possibility of pre-harvest defoliation.
The 8+ year longevity and cleaning machines make double-sided black and white Asparagus foil sustainable without an alternative.
Algae-based carrageen hydrogel may be an alternative to polymer-encapsulated slow-release fertiliser.
Single-use LD-PE mulches in strawberry and vegetable open-field production appear to be the least sustainable option, with the utmost need for non-fossil alternatives and research.
Retrieval schemes such as MAPLA, PolieCo TM, and ERDE collect 30-40% of agricultural foils with an annual increase of ca. 25% in the case of ERDE, a major contribution to the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and horticulture.
Publication
Authors
M. Blanke
Keywords
climate change, hail net, Asparagus, resource conservation, PLA, polyethylene, polypropylene, mulch, recycling, climate change resilience, slow-release fertiliser, sustainability, sustainable horticulture
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