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The Use of Biodegradable Film in the Cultivation of Soybean with a Short Growing Season as an Example of Agro-Innovation in a Sustainable Agriculture System
Summary
A three-year field experiment in Poland found that biodegradable film mulch improved soybean yields by warming soil during early growth, with effects varying by cultivar and sowing date. This research directly addresses the microplastic problem by testing biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic mulch, which fragments into microplastics that persist in agricultural soils.
The aim of the study was to assess the yield of three soybean varieties of different earliness classes (Merlin, Coraline, and Viola) grown using two sowing dates (early vs. optimal) and different technologies (soil protected with biodegradable film vs. without soil protection–conventional cultivation). A three-year (2019–2021) field experiment was conducted at the Bayer Technical Advisory Center in Chechło, Poland (50°23′ N 18°44′ E). The three-factor experiment was set up in a randomized split-plot design in three replicates. The experimental factors were (i) sowing date, (ii) cultivar, and (ii) cultivation technology. The effect of agrotechnical factors and their interaction with the weather on selected biometric traits and seed yield was assessed. The results indicated that the weather conditions and its interaction with agrotechnical factors significantly influenced the biometric traits and seed yield of soybean. Optimal hydrothermal conditions significantly increased analyzed parameters and seed yield. However, too much rainfall in August had negative effects on biometric traits. It was proved that, early sowing adversely affected soybean yield. Sowing at the optimal date, i.e., the end of April, resulted in a yield of 3.8 t ha−1. The use of biodegradable film in the year with more rainfall increased soybean yield by 1 t ha−1 compared to the year with less rainfall. The early ‘Merlin’ cultivar grown in the system with biodegradable film produced significantly more pods and seeds per plant and a higher pod weight per plant. The cultivars with a longer growing season (‘Viola’ and ‘Coraline’) responded negatively to cultivation in the modern technology. The use of biodegradable film is recommended for cultivars with a short growing season, sown at the optimal time and in regions with moderate to high rainfall totals during the growing season.
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