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Adaptation and mechanisms of biodegradable mulching films in Jerusalem artichoke cultivation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: crop-soil-microbe synergistic effects
Summary
Researchers tested a biodegradable plastic mulch (a film farmers use to cover soil and boost crops) as an alternative to traditional plastic mulch on high-altitude farms in China, and found it broke down almost completely in one season while still helping plants grow bigger and produce a beneficial fiber compound. This matters because conventional plastic mulches often leave behind plastic fragments that break down into microplastics in soil — and from there, potentially into our food and water supply — so a mulch that actually degrades could help reduce that contamination while still supporting good harvests. That said, this was a single-season study at one location, so more research is need
Introduction Conventional polyethylene (PE) mulching can promote crop growth in high-altitude areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau but may also contribute to residual plastic and microplastic pollution in soil. Biodegradable mulch film (BDM) has been proposed as a promising alternative, yet its agronomic performance and ecological effects in alpine agroecosystems remain insufficiently understood. Methods We conducted a field experiment in a high-altitude agro-pastoral ecotone of Qinghai Province, using Jerusalem artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L.) as the test crop. Four treatments were established: BDM, black PE film, white PE film, and a no-mulch control. Soil hydrothermal conditions, apparent field mass loss, crop growth and tuber quality, soil nutrient status, and rhizosphere bacterial communities were evaluated. Results BDM increased soil temperature by 2.04 °C at the seedling stage and maintained relatively high soil water content during the rapid growth stage, reaching 79.80%. The apparent field mass loss of BDM reached 84.20%, far exceeding that of PE films (<7%). Compared with the no-mulch control, BDM increased plant height by 43.68% and tuber fructan content by 22.73%, whereas tuber yield showed only a non-significant increasing trend. BDM also increased soil alkali-hydrolyzablenitrogen by 19.44%. Proteobacteria dominated the rhizosphere bacterial community, and BDM enriched indicator genera, including Devosia , Pseudarthrobacter , and Cellvibrio . These genera were associated with crop growth traits, soil pH, and nitrogen-phosphorus dynamics. Discussion These findings indicate that BDM can provide dual benefits in cold alpine environments by supporting crop growth and quality while reducing recoverable residual film accumulation. This study provides scientific support for the use of biodegradable mulches as a green alternative to conventional PE mulches on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, the single-site, one-season design and the recoverable-film mass-loss method limit inference regarding long-term agronomic stability and complete biodegradation. Future studies should combine multi-year, multi-site trials with direct mineralization assays and functional validation of microbial processes to assess the long-term sustainability of BDM in alpine agroecosystems.