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Disintegration and mineralization of mulch films and leaf litter in soil
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This field study tracked the physical disintegration of biodegradable mulch films in agricultural soil over time, monitoring how the films fragment and whether they fully disappear. Understanding the fragmentation and fate of agricultural plastic films in soil is important because these films are a significant source of microplastic contamination of farmland.
Biodegradable mulch films are used in agriculture for controlling weeds. The intrinsic biodegradability and safety of the films is proven by using standard test methods in the laboratory. On the other hand, the degradation that occurs in fields after use can be followed by observing the fragmentation and disappearance over time. The disintegration that occurs after use is a relevant process, because persistent shreds can interfere with the subsequent crop and disrupt the agricultural cycle in the long term. Disintegration is not proof of biodegradation. If fragmentation is not followed by ultimate biodegradation, it is just a shift of the pollution from a visible to an invisible state, which is ultimately the source of microplastics. In this article we followed both the “disappearance” of pieces of a conventional mulch film, a biodegradable one, filter paper, and dried maple leaves and their parallel conversion into CO2. The results showed that there was a clear correlation between the visual disappearance of the tested material and the mineralization level. The final mineralization of the biodegradable mulch film was similar to the level reached by filter paper and dried leaves, while the conventional mulch film showed neither fragmentation nor mass loss nor mineralization.
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Dynamics of macroplastics and microplastics formed by biodegradable mulch film in an agricultural field
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Researchers tracked the breakdown of biodegradable mulch film in agricultural fields over four years and found that while the material fragmented into smaller pieces, complete degradation did not occur. Both macro- and microplastic fragments from the biodegradable film persisted in the soil throughout the study period. The findings suggest that biodegradable mulch films, promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic, may still contribute to microplastic accumulation in farmland.
Advances in researches of the mulch-film degradation and the underlying mechanism.
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This review examines how plastic mulch films degrade in agricultural soils, covering the physical, chemical, and biological processes involved. Researchers found that residual plastic fragments accumulate in soils over repeated growing seasons and may affect soil structure, water movement, and microbial communities.
Environmental fate and effects of mulch films on agricultural soil: A systematic review from application to residual impact
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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.
Agricultural mulch films as soil microplastic contamination factor
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This review examines agricultural mulch films as a source of soil microplastic contamination, summarizing evidence on degradation rates, particle accumulation in soil profiles, and impacts on soil properties and biological communities over time.
Sampling and degradation of biodegradable plastic and paper mulches in field after tillage incorporation.
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Field experiments evaluated degradation of biodegradable plastic mulch after tilling into soil over four years, developing a reliable sampling method to track mulch fragment persistence. Incomplete degradation was documented, raising concerns about long-term microplastic accumulation from agricultural mulching practices.
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