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A Review on Research of Mechanized Residual Film Recovery Technologies and Equipment
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This review paper takes stock of technologies designed to clean up plastic mulch film left behind in farm fields after use, a growing problem since these leftover plastic scraps break down into microplastics that can contaminate soil, crops, and water supplies. While machines that remove plastic film after harvest are already working well, tools that catch stray plastic earlier in the growing season and turn recovered plastic into new products still need improvement, meaning cleaner farmland and reduced microplastic contamination in our food system remain a work in progress.
Agricultural plastic mulch films have significantly increased crop yields but have also caused severe residual film pollution. This review summarizes the research progress in residual film recovery machinery, intelligent monitoring systems, film–impurity separation technologies, and resource utilization methods, while analyzing the advantages, limitations, and development trends of different technologies. Post-harvest recovery equipment has been widely applied due to its strong adaptability and broad application range, whereas seedling-stage and pre-sowing recovery technologies still require improvements in automation and environmental adaptability. Intelligent monitoring technologies can enhance the evaluation of recovery processes, but their application is restricted by complex field environments. Vibrating, pneumatic, and water-washing separation technologies exhibit advantages in processing capacity, film purity, and impurity removal, respectively. Recycled pelletizing and wood–plastic composites are important resource utilization pathways, but they still face challenges related to cost and performance. In the future, residual film management will develop toward intelligent, efficient, and high-value utilization.
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This review examines the design and operation of mechanized agricultural residual film recycling equipment in China, identifying the reduction of soil impurity content in recovered polyethylene film and improving downstream resource utilization as the most pressing technical challenges requiring further innovation.
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This systematic review traces the full lifecycle of plastic mulch films used in farming, from application to breakdown in soil. While these films boost crop yields, they leave behind persistent residues that fragment into microplastics, potentially contaminating soil and groundwater. The review highlights the need for biodegradable alternatives to reduce long-term microplastic accumulation in agricultural land.
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This systematic review examines how plastic mulch films used in agriculture break down over time and release microplastics into farm soil. The films improve crop growth but create lasting environmental damage as plastic fragments accumulate and alter soil properties. The findings underscore the importance of developing truly biodegradable alternatives to protect farmland from microplastic pollution.
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This review examines how plastic mulch films used in farming break down into microplastics and nanoplastics that contaminate soil, harm soil organisms, and can enter the human body through the food chain. While developed countries are making progress with recycling and biodegradable alternatives, the health effects of nanoplastics from agricultural plastic remain largely unknown. Better collection, recycling, and alternative materials are needed to reduce this growing source of plastic pollution.
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This review examines how plastic mulch films used in agriculture break down into microplastics over time, making farmland a major source of soil microplastic pollution. The accumulated microplastics can alter soil properties, affect plant growth, and be taken up by crops that humans eat. The study highlights the need for better end-of-life management of agricultural plastics and more research on how farm-sourced microplastics enter the food chain.
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