Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of different mulch materials on the Photosynthetic Characteristics, yield, and soil water use efficiency of Wheat in Loess tableland

A field experiment on China's Loess Plateau found that liquid mulching film improved wheat photosynthesis, grain number, and water use efficiency compared to conventional mulching. The results support liquid film as an effective technique for high-yield wheat cultivation in drought-prone regions.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Alternative Furrow Irrigation Combined with Topdressing Nitrogen at Jointing Help Yield Formation and Water Use of Winter Wheat under No-Till Ridge Furrow Planting System in Semi-Humid Drought-Prone Areas of China

This paper is not about microplastics; it studies water and nitrogen management strategies for winter wheat production under no-till ridge-furrow farming in drought-prone areas of China.

2023 Agronomy 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of different mulch materials on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and soil water use efficiency of wheat in Loess tableland

Not relevant to microplastics — this agricultural study compares different mulching materials (including plastic film) on wheat yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau of China, with no focus on microplastic pollution from plastic mulch.

2023 Scientific Reports 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Management Strategies on Reducing of Mulching Film Residues Pollution in Arid Regions

Researchers examined the impact of different management strategies — including increased polyethylene film recycling rates and adoption of biodegradable mulch films — on reducing mulching film residue pollution in arid agricultural regions. The study found that combining recycling incentives with biodegradable film adoption significantly reduced soil plastic accumulation, supporting sustainable agricultural development in water-limited dryland farming systems.

2024 Sustainability
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Optimized Farmland Mulching Improves Rainfed Maize Productivity by Regulating Soil Temperature and Phenology on the Loess Plateau in China

A field experiment on the Loess Plateau found that combining plastic film mulch with straw mulch regulated soil temperature and extended the grain-filling period of rainfed maize, preventing premature senescence and improving yields. The study highlights a trade-off in dryland agriculture: plastic mulch conserves moisture but overheats soil, while novel double-mulching patterns can mitigate the temperature problem while still relying on plastic film.

2023 Agronomy 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Combining Straw Mulch with Nitrogen Fertilizer Improves Soil and Plant Physio-Chemical Attributes, Physiology, and Yield of Maize in the Semi-Arid Region of China

Researchers found that combining wheat straw mulching with nitrogen fertilization significantly improved maize yield, soil fertility, and plant physiology compared to nitrogen application alone in semi-arid conditions. The two-year field study showed that full straw mulch plus nitrogen resulted in the greatest improvements in photosynthesis, biomass, and nitrogen use efficiency.

2023 Plants 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Different Mulch Types on Farmland Soil Moisture in an Artificial Oasis Area

Not relevant to microplastics — this study compares how different mulch materials (including conventional polyethylene plastic films) affect soil moisture retention in an arid farming region of China, focusing on water management rather than plastic fragmentation or microplastic contamination.

2023 Land 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Mulching on Maize Yield and Evapotranspiration in the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

This study examined how plastic film mulching affects maize yield and water use in northwest China's Heihe River Basin, finding that mulching increases yields and reduces evaporation. However, widespread plastic mulch use is also a major source of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2022 Remote Sensing 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Straw Return with Biodegradable Film Mulch: A Synergistic Cultivation Measure with Environmental and Economic Benefits Based on Life Cycle Assessment

Researchers used life cycle assessment to evaluate straw return combined with biodegradable plastic film mulch as a cultivation strategy for Chinese farmland, comparing environmental and economic outcomes against conventional practices. The combination reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved soil health while remaining cost-competitive.

2024 Agronomy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Agriculture 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Plastic Membrane and Geotextile Cloth Mulching on Soil Moisture and Spring Maize Growth in the Loess–Hilly Region of Yan’an, China

Researchers conducted a one-year field monitoring experiment in the loess-hilly region of Yan'an, China, comparing plastic membrane mulching, geotextile cloth mulching, and bare soil on soil moisture and spring maize growth. The study found that plastic membrane and geotextile mulching treatments influenced soil moisture dynamics and crop development differently compared to unprotected soil.

2023 Agronomy 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Modeling Spring Maize Grain Filling under Film Mulching and Nitrogen Application in a Cold and Arid Environment

Researchers modeled maize grain-filling under different plastic mulch film and nitrogen fertilizer treatments, finding that degradable plastic film performed similarly to conventional plastic mulch. The comparison of degradable versus conventional agricultural plastic films is relevant to microplastic contamination of soils, as conventional mulch films are a major source of agricultural microplastics.

2023 Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The field mulching could improve sustainability of spring maize production on the Loess Plateau

This study evaluated field mulching impacts on yield stability, soil water storage, nitrogen budget, and soil total nitrogen in spring maize production on the Loess Plateau over multiple years, finding that plastic film mulching improved productivity but raised concerns about microplastic accumulation and nitrogen cycling disruption.

2023 Agricultural Water Management 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: A review

This review examined mulching practices in agriculture as a strategy for improving soil fertility, water retention, and crop yields, while also noting that plastic mulch films generate persistent microplastic contamination in agricultural soils. The authors discussed biodegradable mulch alternatives and best management practices for reducing plastic residues.

2022 Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences 17 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2019 17 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Organic Mulching to Conserve Soil Nutritional Quality and Enhance Wheat Yield

Organic mulching with farm manure and wheat straw preserved soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels while significantly increasing wheat grain and straw yields. Combining both mulch types at higher rates was most effective, offering a practical strategy to maintain soil nutritional quality under intensive farming.

2023 Journal of Agricultural Research
Article Tier 2

Environmental risk of multi-year polythene film mulching and its green solution in arid irrigation region

Researchers found that 19 years of polythene film mulching accumulated up to 2,900 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil along with elevated plasticizer concentrations, and demonstrated that biodegradable film alternatives could significantly reduce this environmental contamination.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 100 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Identifying the Influencing Factors of Plastic Film Mulching on Improving the Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Potato in the Northwest China

This meta-analysis found that plastic film mulching increased potato yield by 25-30% and improved water use efficiency in water-scarce Northwest China. The benefits varied by precipitation level, fertilizer application, and mulching method, providing guidance for optimizing this widely used agricultural practice.

2023 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Nitrogen Management on Wheat Yield, Water and Nitrogen Utilization, and Economic Benefits under Ridge-Furrow Cropping System with Supplementary Irrigation

This paper is not about microplastics; it examines the effects of nitrogen management practices and ridge-furrow cropping systems on wheat yield, water use efficiency, and economic returns.

2023 Agronomy 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Energy budget and carbon footprint in a wheat and maize system under ridge furrow strategy in dry semi humid areas

This agricultural study compared the energy use and carbon footprint of wheat-maize farming systems using different irrigation and planting strategies in semi-arid China. The research has no direct relevance to microplastic research but informs sustainable farming practices that reduce overall environmental impact.

2021 Scientific Reports 11 citations