Articles
Benefits and drawbacks of soil-biodegradable plastic mulch for soil health
Article number
1465_32
Pages
205 – 212
Language
English
Abstract
Soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are a promising alternative to conventional polyethylene mulches.
Recent work has shown that the horticultural benefits of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) are often equivalent to those of polyethylene mulches.
After harvest, soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are designed to be tilled into the soil and will then be exposed to physical, chemical, and biological degradation, with ultimate conversion to carbon dioxide and microbial biomass.
The soil incorporation of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches leads to the temporary presence of macro- and microplastics in soil from the deterioration of the soil-biodegradable plastic mulches, which may take several years to fully biodegrade depending on soil and climatic conditions.
The presence of these macro- and microplastics can affect various soil properties.
Here, we discuss both beneficial as well as adverse effects of BDMs when tilled into the soil.
Benefits of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches include increased aggregate stability, water infiltration rates, and amount of soil organic carbon.
Adverse effects include reduced amount of microbial biomass carbon and dissolved organic carbon.
Further, there is the potential for nitrogen limitations if the soil has a high C/N ratio due to nitrogen immobilization.
The macro- and microplastics formed during the degradation of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches fragments tilled into the soil have a transitory nature, as they are steadily being degraded.
However, the continuous use of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches will lead to a constant presence of macro- and microplastics in the soil; but, compared to polyethylene mulches, soil-biodegradable plastic mulches do not lead to an accumulation of plastic waste in the soil.
Recent work has shown that the horticultural benefits of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) are often equivalent to those of polyethylene mulches.
After harvest, soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are designed to be tilled into the soil and will then be exposed to physical, chemical, and biological degradation, with ultimate conversion to carbon dioxide and microbial biomass.
The soil incorporation of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches leads to the temporary presence of macro- and microplastics in soil from the deterioration of the soil-biodegradable plastic mulches, which may take several years to fully biodegrade depending on soil and climatic conditions.
The presence of these macro- and microplastics can affect various soil properties.
Here, we discuss both beneficial as well as adverse effects of BDMs when tilled into the soil.
Benefits of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches include increased aggregate stability, water infiltration rates, and amount of soil organic carbon.
Adverse effects include reduced amount of microbial biomass carbon and dissolved organic carbon.
Further, there is the potential for nitrogen limitations if the soil has a high C/N ratio due to nitrogen immobilization.
The macro- and microplastics formed during the degradation of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches fragments tilled into the soil have a transitory nature, as they are steadily being degraded.
However, the continuous use of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches will lead to a constant presence of macro- and microplastics in the soil; but, compared to polyethylene mulches, soil-biodegradable plastic mulches do not lead to an accumulation of plastic waste in the soil.
Publication
Authors
M. Flury, R. Jiang, C. Wang, M. Wilder, H. Sintim
Keywords
biodegradation, microplastics, soil biodegradable plastic mulch film, soil health
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
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