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KUPAS: an innovation in biocomposite sheet mulch based on cassava peel (Manihot esculenta) and PCL (polycaprolactone) for optimising agricultural productivity
Original title: KUPAS Inovasi Mulsa Lembaran Biokomposit Berbasis Kulit Singkong (Manihot esculenta) dan PCL (Polycaprolactone) untuk Optimalisasi Produktivitas Pertanian
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Scientists created a new plant-based mulch (a covering used to protect crops) made from cassava peels and a biodegradable plastic, designed to replace the plastic mulch farmers currently use. Unlike regular plastic mulch, which breaks down into microplastics that pollute soil and can enter our food supply, this new material passed safety tests for water absorption, soil pH, and biodegradation, meaning it works well and breaks down safely without harming soil health. This matters because reducing microplastics in farmland could mean less of these tiny plastic particles ending up in the food we eat.
Conventional polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch has long been used in agricultural practices, but it leaves behind microplastic residues that threaten soil quality and environmental sustainability. The abundant availability of cassava peel in Indonesia and its high cellulose content, as well as PCL as a biodegradable polymer matrix that can increase the flexibility and stability of mulch, make these two materials suitable for mulch production. This study aims to test the effectiveness of KUPAS in improving soil quality in agricultural land. The study employed an experimental method with a quantitative approach. The study consisted of three main tests: water absorption test, pH test, and soil biodegradation test. The results showed that KUPAS mulch had a water absorption capacity of 20.11%, in accordance with SNI 7188.7:2022 (≥20%), a pH value of 7.6, which is within the safe range according to SNI 06-3730-1995, and a biodegradation rate of 14.94% in four weeks based on SNI 7188.15:2018. Overall, KUPAS mulch demonstrated good physical characteristics, chemical stability that is safe for soil microorganisms, and adequate biodegradability without leaving harmful residues. Thus, cassava peel–PCL-based sheet mulch has the potential to serve as a more sustainable alternative solution compared to conventional plastic mulch and supports agricultural productivity optimization.
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