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A biodegradable oxidized starch/carboxymethyl chitosan film coated with pesticide-loaded ZIF-8 for tomato fusarium wilt control
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Researchers developed a biodegradable mulch film made from starch and chitosan that can replace traditional polyethylene plastic films used in farming. The new film releases a fungicide slowly to protect tomato plants from disease, breaks down naturally in soil, and is safe for earthworms. This offers a practical solution to reduce the massive amount of microplastic pollution caused by conventional plastic mulch films left in agricultural soils.
Film mulching is one of the most important methods to control soil-borne diseases. However, the traditional mulch may cause microplastic pollution and soil ecological damage. Herein, a biodegradable film was developed using oxidized starch and carboxymethyl chitosan and incorporated ZIF-8 carrying fludioxonil to sustainably control soil-borne disease. The microstructure, mechanical properties, optical properties, and water barrier properties of the composite films (Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS) were investigated. The results show that Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS had a smooth and uniform surface and excellent light transmittance. The excellent mechanical properties of the films were verified by tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus. Higher contact angle and lower water vapor permeability indicate water retention capacity of the soil was improved through using Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS. Furthermore, the release properties, biological activity, degradability and safety to soil organisms of Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS was determined. The addition of ZIF-8 significantly improved the film's ability to retard the release of Flu, while the Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS has good soil degradability. In vitro antifungal assays and pot experiments demonstrated excellent inhibitory activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici. Flu@ZIF-8-OS/CMCS caused only 13.33 % mortality of earthworms within 7 d. This research provides a new approach to reducing microplastic pollution and effectively managing soil-borne diseases.
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Researchers created a biodegradable packaging film from chitosan, lignosulfonate and modified starch as an alternative to plastic. Lab tests showed the film repelled water, blocked oxygen and UV light, and kept cherry tomatoes fresh over a 10-day storage test.
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Researchers compared a new biodegradable sprayable mulch film with conventional polyethylene mulches in a greenhouse tomato growing trial. They found that the biodegradable polyester-urethane-urea film provided similar water savings and crop yields as traditional plastic mulches while avoiding the environmental drawbacks of persistent plastic residues. The study suggests that sprayable biodegradable mulches could be a viable alternative to reduce microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
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Researchers evaluated how biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture interact with pesticide residues compared to conventional polyethylene films. The study found that biodegradable films actually retained higher amounts of pesticide residues and released less back into the soil than polyethylene, suggesting that these supposedly greener alternatives may act as more persistent reservoirs for agricultural chemical contaminants.
Biodegradable Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Hymexazol-Loaded Mulch Film for Soybean Root Rot Control
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This study developed biodegradable mulch films from carboxymethyl chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol loaded with the fungicide hymexazol for soybean root rot control. Researchers found that the composite film showed improved mechanical and water barrier properties while providing controlled release of the antifungal agent, offering a potential alternative to conventional plastic mulch films.
Sorption to mulch film decreases bioavailability of two model pesticides for earthworms in soil
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene mulch film microplastics interact with pesticides in agricultural soil and their combined effects on earthworms. The study found that sorption of pesticides to mulch film microplastics actually decreased the bioavailability of two model pesticides to earthworms, suggesting that in some cases microplastics may reduce rather than increase pesticide toxicity to soil organisms.
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