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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Structurally engineered cellulose-based mulch film with enhanced hydrophobicity and strength for green agriculture
ClearDesign of a Completely Eco-friendly Mulch Foil for Agricultural Production
This paper reviewed the development of eco-friendly mulch films for agriculture, examining biopolymer and composite alternatives to the 2.5 million tons of polyethylene mulch film used annually, with a focus on materials that degrade in soil without leaving persistent microplastic residues.
All-biodegradable soy protein isolate/lignin composite cross-linked by oxidized sucrose as agricultural mulch films for green farming
Researchers developed an all-biodegradable mulch film made from soy protein, lignin, and oxidized sucrose as a green alternative to conventional plastic agricultural films. The film demonstrated improved tensile strength, UV-shielding capability, moisture retention, and controlled fertilizer release properties. Field tests showed higher cabbage seed germination rates compared to traditional polyethylene film, suggesting this bio-based material could reduce microplastic generation from agricultural practices.
Past, present, and future perspectives of biodegradable films for soil: A 30-year systematic review
This systematic review tracks 30 years of research on biodegradable films for agricultural soil use, analyzing trends and future directions. As concerns grow about conventional plastic mulch leaving microplastic residues in farmland, biodegradable alternatives are gaining attention. The review identifies which biodegradable materials show the most promise for replacing traditional plastic films while maintaining crop benefits.
On the quest for novel bio-degradable plastics for agricultural field mulching
This review examined the challenge of developing biodegradable plastic mulch materials suitable for agricultural use, noting that plasticulture consumes about 6.7 million tons of plastic annually, most of which cannot be practically recycled. The authors assessed candidate biodegradable polymers based on their degradation rates in soil, mechanical performance, and cost.
Are mulch biofilms used in agriculture an environmentally friendly solution? - An insight into their biodegradability and ecotoxicity using key organisms in soil ecosystems
Researchers assessed the biodegradation and ecotoxicity of a commercial biodegradable mulch biofilm in soil systems. The study found that while marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic mulch, biodegradable films did not fully degrade under natural soil conditions as certification standards would predict. The results suggest that more rigorous testing under realistic field conditions is needed before assuming these products are safe for soil ecosystems.
Investigating the characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose film as a possible material for green packaging
Researchers developed biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose films from agricultural waste as a potential sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Replacing single-use plastics with biodegradable packaging is directly relevant to reducing the source of microplastic pollution, as conventional packaging is a major contributor to plastic fragmentation in the environment.
Investigating the Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films in Agricultural Soil: A Molecular Approach
Researchers investigated the field degradation of biodegradable mulch films composed of starch and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) over 16 months under Mediterranean climate conditions, using molecular methods to characterize how pristine and UV-aged films break down in agricultural soil.
The Effects of Biodegradable Mulch Film on the Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of Cotton and Maize in an Arid Region
Biodegradable mulch film maintained crop growth and water use efficiency comparable to conventional polyethylene film in Chinese cotton and maize fields for the first 60 days, then began to degrade. Replacing conventional plastic mulch with biodegradable alternatives could reduce microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils.
Sprayable starch films for agricultural mulching
This study developed biodegradable cassava starch films sprayed directly onto agricultural soil as a plastic-free alternative to conventional plastic mulch films. Replacing plastic agricultural mulches with biodegradable alternatives could significantly reduce the microplastic contamination accumulating in farmland soil.
A spray-on environmentally friendly degradable mulch material and its high efficiency in controlling above-ground biomass of weeds in greenhouse experiments
Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops a spray-on biodegradable mulch material from rapeseed oil, starch, and sodium alginate as an alternative to plastic mulch films for weed control, relevant to reducing plastic use in agriculture but not a microplastic study.
Alleviating Heat Stress and Water Scarcity in Cultivation with Biodegradable Radiative Cooling Mulch
Researchers developed a biodegradable ethyl-cellulose mulch film that uses radiative cooling to reduce soil temperatures and cut moisture evaporation by 60% in field tests. Unlike conventional plastic mulches — which persist in soil and fragment into microplastics — this material is fully biodegradable and eliminates the microplastic contamination that traditional agricultural films leave behind. The study shows that sustainable cooling mulches could solve both the heat-water stress crisis in agriculture and the growing problem of microplastic soil pollution.
Effects of Biodegradable Film and Polyethylene Film Residues on Soil Moisture and Maize Productivity in Dryland
Researchers found that biodegradable agricultural films are a viable alternative to conventional polyethylene mulch films, with higher degradation rates and less impact on soil moisture and maize root growth, ultimately improving grain yield and water use efficiency over a two-year field experiment.
From crop to compost: Sonali Bag ®—The biopolymer revolutionizing sustainable agriculture
Researchers evaluated Sonali Bag, a cellulose-based biopolymer film derived from jute, as a sustainable alternative to conventional agricultural plastic films. The study found that the material completely biodegrades within 100 days leaving no toxic residue, while offering beneficial properties like high porosity for soil aeration and thermal stability up to 250 degrees Celsius.
Evaluation of the sorption/desorption processes of pesticides in biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture
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.
Soil Bioplastic Mulches for Agroecosystem Sustainability: A Comprehensive Review
This review comprehensively assesses biodegradable plastic mulches as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based films in agriculture, examining their soil degradation, effects on microorganisms, weed control efficacy, and soil property impacts.
Study on the Rapid Degradation Performance of Salix/Wheat Straw Fiber Degradable Film
Researchers prepared a biodegradable cellulose mulch film from Salix and wheat straw fibers using wet papermaking, then tested its degradation behavior under UV exposure and acid-base conditions as an alternative to non-degradable agricultural plastic mulch. Results showed the film degraded at measurable rates under UV conditions over 40 days, with the degradation mechanism analyzed through the cellulose fiber structure.
The effects of biodegradable mulch film on the growth, yield, and water use efficiency of cotton and maize in an arid region
Researchers compared biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films in Chinese agriculture, finding that biodegradable films improved water use efficiency and crop yield comparably to conventional plastic while reducing long-term plastic accumulation in soil. Degradable mulch films represent a promising strategy to reduce agricultural microplastic pollution.
Development of bio-composite mulch film from cotton gin wastes: Study of pesticide residue and outdoor stability and degradation
Researchers developed biodegradable mulch films made from cotton gin waste — an agricultural byproduct — combined with polycaprolactone, and showed they can remain stable during a growing season while degrading more readily than conventional plastic films. Replacing non-degradable plastic mulch, which fragments into soil microplastics, with truly biodegradable alternatives is an important step toward reducing agricultural plastic pollution.
Biodegradable Mulch for Vegetable Production. A Review
This review examined biodegradable plastic mulches as alternatives to conventional polyethylene mulch films in vegetable production, summarizing yield benefits and degradation performance. Replacing conventional plastic mulch with truly biodegradable alternatives could reduce the large amounts of agricultural microplastics shed by mulch film fragmentation.
Potentials of synthetic biodegradable mulch for improved livelihoods on smallholder farmers: a systematic review
This systematic review evaluates biodegradable mulch as an alternative to conventional plastic mulch in farming, which is a major source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. Switching to biodegradable options could help reduce the buildup of microplastics in the soil where food crops are grown.
Effect of silane modifiednano‐SiO2on the mechanical properties and compatibility ofPBAT/lignin composite films
This study developed biodegradable PBAT/lignin composite films reinforced with silane-modified silica nanoparticles, aiming to improve mechanical strength while maintaining UV-blocking properties useful for agricultural film applications. Developing high-performance biodegradable agricultural plastics is important for reducing the plastic mulch that is a major source of microplastic contamination in farmland soils.
Deep insights into biodegradability mechanism and growth cycle adaptability of polylactic acid/hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystal composite mulch
Researchers developed biodegradable polylactic acid mulch films reinforced with hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystals, demonstrating tunable degradation rates under soil burial, seawater, and UV aging conditions alongside enhanced mechanical strength and crop yield — offering a viable petroleum-free alternative to conventional agricultural plastic mulch.
A spray-on environmentally friendly degradable mulch material and its weed suppressing effect in greenhouse experiments
Researchers developed a spray-on biodegradable mulch material from rapeseed oil, starch, and alginate as an alternative to plastic mulch films, one of the largest sources of agricultural microplastic contamination. The spray-on material suppressed weeds effectively in greenhouse tests, demonstrating a viable plastic-free alternative for farmers.
Effect of Long-Term Biodegradable Film Mulch on Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties
Long-term use of biodegradable mulch film was compared to conventional plastic and no-mulch controls in terms of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties, with results showing that biodegradable mulch altered soil structure and microbial diversity in ways differing from both conventional plastic and bare soil. The findings raise questions about the cumulative effects of biodegradable plastic residues on agricultural soil health.