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Vigna unguiculata: a productive option in the face of climate change?
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This field experiment found that organic fertilizers produced significantly taller cowpea plants and greater biomass than unfertilized controls, with cattle manure compost performing best. Plastic mulch color affected soil temperature and macrofauna, and the study is relevant to microplastic concerns because agricultural plastic mulches degrade into microplastics that persist in farmland soils.
Faced with the challenges of extreme climatic events and increasing food demand, cowpea farming offers a viable option for generating grains and foliage while aiding soil preservation. This research aimed to evaluate the impact of diverse organic fertilizers and plastic mulches on cowpea yields and soil macrofauna. A completely randomized block design was employed, with a factorial arrangement of 3 × 3 + 1, encompassing plastic mulch (3.5 mm) color (white, black, and blue), organic fertilizer (compost of chicken manure-agricultural soil-dolomite, island guano, and cattle manure compost), as well as a control (without synthetic mulch and organic fertilization). The study evaluated soil temperature, plant height, area biomass, foliar macronutrients, yield, and soil macrofauna. The findings demonstrate that soil temperature varies based on the color of the plastic mulch. It was observed that using organic fertilizers resulted in significantly taller plants than the control group, with fresh and dry biomass weight also being significantly greater (p<0.05) for cattle manure compost compared to the other treatments. Furthermore, the use of plastic mulches had an impact on soil macrofauna. Cowpea displayed resistance to low soil fertility and fluctuations in soil temperature ranging from <35°C to >40°C. However, high precipitation during the fruiting and harvesting seasons significantly impacted grain yields. Organic fertilizers produced noticeable variances (p<0.05) in the aerial biomass weight of cowpeas, particularly cattle manure compost. The data, indicates that soil macrofauna, like the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus , improved the availability of N, P, and K to the plant during the reproductive stage. Plastic mulches and organic fertilizers were linked to an increase in earthworm weights, specifically P. corethrurus . Additionally, plastic mulches served as a physical barrier against ants and bugs.
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Preserving soil properties and enhancing cauliflower yield with black plastic mulch in Bangladesh
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A field experiment in Bangladesh's Bogura district found that black plastic mulch most effectively improved soil moisture retention, physicochemical properties, and cauliflower yield compared to newspaper, rice husk, straw, and craft paper mulches, though it raises concerns about plastic waste and soil microplastic accumulation.
Cow Dung Liquid Mulch Improves Maize Yields: Beneficial Microorganisms Are Enriched and Environmental Risks Are Reduced and Nutrient Cycling Is Promoted
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Researchers compared cow dung liquid mulch and conventional polyethylene mulch in maize cultivation using metagenomic sequencing, finding that the biodegradable mulch increased maize yield by 30.9%, reduced soil microplastic levels, and enriched beneficial microorganisms including Mycolicibacterium and Pseudomonas. Functional gene analysis showed higher relative abundance of metabolic, nutrient cycling, and organic matter degradation pathways in the cow dung mulch treatment.
Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?
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This study examined plastic mulch use in agriculture, arguing that short-term crop benefits come with long-term costs as mulch fragments accumulate in soil as microplastics and disrupt soil structure, biology, and water dynamics.
Interactions Between High Load of a Bio-based and Biodegradable Plastic and Nitrogen Fertilizer Affect Plant Biomass and Health: A Case Study with Fusarium solani and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.)
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High loads of a bio-based biodegradable plastic mulch film combined with nitrogen fertilizer affected mung bean biomass and increased susceptibility to the soil pathogen Fusarium solani, suggesting that biodegradable plastic residues in agricultural soil can interact with nutrient management to harm crop health. The study calls for caution in assuming biodegradable mulches are without agricultural risk.
Biodegradable and conventional mulches inhibit nitrogen fixation by peanut root nodules – potentially related to microplastics in the soil
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A four-year mulching experiment with peanuts found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable (PLA-PBAT) plastic mulches reduced root nodule nitrogen fixation by 54–59%, with microplastics from the mulch films likely contributing to this suppression. Since biological nitrogen fixation is a key natural process that reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, this finding suggests that agricultural plastic use may have hidden costs for soil fertility and farming sustainability.
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