We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Reliability of Soil Sampling Method to Assess Visible Biodegradable Mulch Fragments Remaining in the Field after Soil Incorporation
AI summary Read the abstract
This study developed a protocol for quantifying biodegradable mulch fragments remaining in soil after tilling, using a golf hole cutter to collect standardized soil samples across multiple field experiments. Results showed high plot-to-plot variation in mulch fragment recovery and a 59 percent recovery rate for polyethylene reference mulch, indicating sampling limitations to consider when assessing mulch biodegradation.
Biodegradable mulches (BDMs) provide a unique advantage to growers in that they can be tilled into the soil after use, eliminating disposal costs that include time, labor, and equipment needs. Biodegradation of BDMs in the soil can be assessed by the presence of visible mulch fragments; although this is not a direct measure of biodegradation, it provides an initial estimation of mulch biodegradation. We carried out three field experiments to develop a protocol for quantifying BDM fragments in the soil after soil incorporation of mulch. Expt. 1 was done at Mount Vernon, WA, and Knoxville, TN, using five BDMs in four replications, including a polyethylene (PE) mulch reference treatment (three replications and at Mount Vernon only), and a ʽCinnamon Girl’ pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo ) test crop. At the end of the growing season, mulches were tilled into the soil to a depth of 6 inches and within 16 days, five soil samples were collected with a golf hole cutter (4 inches diameter and 6 inches deep). Fifty-nine percent of the PE mulch fragments were recovered from the reference treatment. Among the remaining treatments, there was a high plot-to-plot variation as to the percent of the BDM recovered (3% to 95% at Mount Vernon, 2% to 88% at Knoxville). To exclude the possibility of mulch degradation impacting mulch recovery, in Expts. 2 and 3 (at Mount Vernon only), one BDM was laid, then tilled into the soil and sampled using the same sampling core as in Expt. 1, but all in 1 day. In Expt. 2, 15 soil samples were collected per plot, which recovered 70% of the mulch, and in Expt. 3, the entire plot was sampled by collecting 128 soil samples per plot, which recovered 62% of the mulch. In summary, sampling with a relatively large core recovered less than 70% of tilled-in mulch, there was high variability between plots within each treatment because of uneven distribution of the mulch fragments in the plot, and even 50 samples per plot did not provide an accurate estimate of the amount of mulch remaining in the field. Thus, soil sampling with a large core was ineffective, and new sampling methods are needed to assess the amount of BDM remaining in the field after soil incorporation.
More Papers Like This
Sampling and degradation of biodegradable plastic and paper mulches in field after tillage incorporation.
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Disintegration and mineralization of mulch films and leaf litter in soil
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Degradation Pattern of Five Biodegradable, Potentially Low-Environmental-Impact Mulches under Laboratory Conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Five biodegradable plastic mulch materials were tested under laboratory conditions, with results showing highly variable degradation rates and completeness, raising questions about whether products marketed as biodegradable actually break down fully in field conditions.
Impact of plastic mulch film debris on soil physicochemical and hydrological properties
AI summary Read the abstract
This study compared low-density polyethylene and biodegradable plastic mulch films in agricultural soils, finding that both types left plastic residues that altered soil water infiltration, aggregate stability, and other physicochemical properties relevant to crop productivity.
Plastic debris in plastic-mulched soil-a screening study from western Germany.
AI summary Read the abstract
This study screened agricultural soils under plastic mulch in western Germany for plastic debris and found widespread contamination. Plastic fragments from degraded mulch films were detected at all sampled sites, with most particles in the millimeter size range. The findings confirm that plastic mulch use leads to soil plastic accumulation even in European agricultural contexts.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.