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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Development of bio-composite mulch film from cotton gin wastes: Study of pesticide residue and outdoor stability and degradation
ClearSustainable Cotton Gin Waste/Polycaprolactone Bio-Plastic with Adjustable Biodegradation Rate: Scale-Up Production through Compression Moulding
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it explores the development of a biodegradable composite bioplastic made from cotton gin waste and polycaprolactone, aimed at reducing conventional plastic waste through compostable alternatives.
Biodegradable UV-Protective Composite Film from Cellulosic Waste: Utilisation of Cotton Gin Motes as Biocomponent
Researchers developed biodegradable composite films by compounding cotton gin mote waste powder (up to 50% by weight) with polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene glycol plasticizer, using a solvent-free melt extrusion process. The resulting films exhibited UV-shielding properties from lignin in the cotton waste, with 9.5 MPa yield strength and 442% elongation, offering a renewable alternative to non-biodegradable plastic films.
Design 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.
Development and Evaluation of Biodegradable Weed Control Mulch Mats from End-of-Use Cotton Waste
Researchers developed and evaluated biodegradable weed control mulch mats from end-of-life natural fiber materials, assessing their effectiveness at suppressing weeds and their degradation rate in soil as an alternative to plastic mulch films.
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.
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.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance and soil organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic accumulation in topsoil after years of conventional polyethylene versus biodegradable film mulching in Chinese cotton fields. Despite biodegradable films being designed to break down, soils under biodegradable mulching had comparable microplastic counts to conventional mulching after multiple seasons, raising questions about whether bioplastic mulches truly reduce field microplastic pollution.
Impact of long-term conventional and biodegradable film mulching on microplastic abundance, soil structure and organic carbon in a cotton field
Researchers compared microplastic levels in cotton fields after 23 years of plastic film mulching and found that switching to biodegradable film actually produced more total microplastics than continuing with conventional polyethylene film. The biodegradable film broke down into many small particles that also reduced beneficial soil microbes and dissolved organic carbon. This challenges the idea that biodegradable agricultural films are a simple solution to farmland plastic pollution.
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.
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.
Effect of mulching on soil properties, microbial diversity and activities, and crop yield
Researchers examined mulching materials including plastic films and biodegradable hemp fiber alternatives, finding that plastic mulch leaves persistent microplastic fragments in soil with poorly understood consequences, while plant fiber bio-canvas offers a promising biodegradable substitute for weed control.
Structurally engineered cellulose-based mulch film with enhanced hydrophobicity and strength for green agriculture
This paper develops a cellulose-based mulch film coated with starch and a silane compound to mimic the strength and water resistance of conventional plastic agricultural film, achieving a water contact angle of 128 degrees (up from 16 degrees for untreated cellulose) and complete biodegradation in soil within 56 days. Unlike polyethylene mulch films that fragment into persistent microplastics in farmland, this material decomposes within a crop growing cycle, offering a practical biodegradable alternative for agriculture.
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.
Revalorization of Yerba Mate Residues: Biopolymers-Based Films of Dual Wettability as Potential Mulching Materials
This is not about microplastics — it is a materials science study developing biodegradable mulching films from Yerba Mate agricultural residues, cellulose nanofibers, chitosan, and polylactic acid, aimed at replacing conventional plastic mulch films with a compostable alternative.
Impact of plastic mulch film debris on soil physicochemical and hydrological properties
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.
Field test on the biodegradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) based mulch films in soil
Researchers buried four types of supposedly biodegradable plastic mulch films — used in farming to suppress weeds — in agricultural soil for over two years and found that all four still left behind microplastic fragments. This shows that even biodegradable plastics can accumulate in soil if used repeatedly each growing season.
Deep eutectic solvent-mediated extraction of lignin: A novel strategy for producing high-quality biopolymers in controlled-release mulching applications
Researchers developed a biodegradable mulch film made from lignin, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol that can also slowly release fertilizer to crops. The film matched the thermal insulation and water retention properties of conventional plastic mulch while breaking down naturally in soil. The study offers a promising alternative to plastic mulch films, which are a major source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
Degradation of microplastic seed film-coating fragments in soil
Researchers measured degradation rates of seed film-coating microplastic fragments in soil and found highly variable breakdown, ranging from over 48 days for commercial polymer coatings to under 24 days for bioplastic formulations containing Bacillus subtilis spores, with insecticide dissipation accelerating when entrapped in biodegradable coatings compared to direct soil application.
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.
Environmental fate and effects of mulch films on agricultural soil: A systematic review from application to residual impact
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.
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.
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.
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.
Soil burial-induced degradation of cellulose films in a moisture-controlled environment
This study tested how cellulose films made from cotton fibers degrade when buried in soil, finding they completely broke down within 63 to 112 days depending on the season. This is in sharp contrast to synthetic plastic films that persist in soil for decades or centuries, fragmenting into microplastics. The research demonstrates that plant-based alternatives to plastic films are truly biodegradable and could help reduce the flow of microplastics into agricultural soil.