Environmental and Hydrological Implications of Innovative Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane: First Results

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilim Filipović ◽  
Lana Filipović ◽  
Yusong Wang ◽  
Michael V. Braunack ◽  
Raju Adhikari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodegradable Polymer ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Polymer Membrane ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
First Results ◽  
Mulch Films

<p>Agricultural management techniques like plastic mulch films are widely used to enhance crop production by conserving soil water and increasing temperature with the ability to suppress weeds. However, the use of plastic represents large environmental concern since the recovery of plastics from soils and its persistence in the environment is causing global problems. The EU in leading in policy with ban on single use plastics and it is a matter of time when conventional plastic mulch films will be banned as well. To solve the problem, researchers have turned their attention to biodegradable products while lately sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) technology was introduced. Here, we present first results of glasshouse study and in-field experiments with SBPM technology in Australia where with the use of subsurface drip irrigation we could improve water use efficiency of crops with reducing evaporation. First results indicate that SBPM technology could limit soil evaporation, reduce irrigation needs and prevent weed emergence while at the same time providing environmentally sustainable agricultural practice through its biodegradability, nontoxicity and sprayability nature. This innovative technology shows large potential even at this early development stage with the need for further improvement of SBPM formulation, management and properties.</p>

scholarly journals Initial Experimental Experience with a Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM) Technology in Cotton

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael V. Braunack ◽  
Raju Adhikari ◽  
George Freischmidt ◽  
Priscilla Johnston ◽  
Philip S. Casey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodegradable Polymer ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Polymer Membrane ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Stage Of Development

Preformed biodegradable and next generation sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) formulations, which biodegrade to non-harmful products (water, carbon dioxide and microbial biomass), have been introduced as an alternative to plastic mulch films in order to mitigate plastic pollution of the environment. In this preliminary field study on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a novel SBPM technology was compared to preformed slotted oxo-degradable plastic (ODP) mulch film and no mulch control (CON) in terms of yield, crop water productivity (CWP), and soil temperature. The first results showed higher CWP and crop yield, and increased soil water content under the SBPM cover. This study indicates that SBPM technology could perform at similar level as ODP or comparable films under field conditions and, at the same time, provide environmentally sustainable agricultural cropping practices. Additionally, the fully treated, non-replicated SBPM plot had a wetter soil profile throughout the entire crop season. This innovative technology has shown a high potential even at this early stage of development, indicating that advances in formulation and further testing can lead to significant improvements and thus increased use in crop production systems.

scholarly journals Deterioration of Soil-biodegradable Mulch Films during Storage and Its Impact on Specialty Crop Production

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marife B. Anunciado ◽  
Larry C. Wadsworth ◽  
Shuresh Ghimire ◽  
Carol Miles ◽  
Jenny C. Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Properties ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Average Molecular Weight ◽  
Peak Load ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Mulch Films

Plastic mulch films contribute to improved crop yield and quality for vegetable and small fruit cropping systems. Although the single-season agronomic performance of conventional polyethylene mulches and soil-biodegradable mulches (BDMs) are similar, over time BDMs can begin to break down during storage and subsequently not provide season-long soil coverage. In this study, the changes in physicochemical properties of BDMs were investigated over 3 years of indoor storage (2015–18) under ideal environmental conditions in two laboratories. Mulches evaluated were black, 20–40 µm thick, suitable for annual vegetable production, and included three BDMs: two polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)-enriched mulches that are commercially available in North America, an experimental polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanote-based film, and a conventional polyethylene mulch as a control. Tensile properties, specifically peak load and elongation at maximum tensile stress, decreased during storage, particularly for the PBAT-based BDMs, indicating a loss of strength. During year 3 of storage, the tensile properties declined extensively, suggesting embrittlement. The average molecular weight of PLA and PBAT slightly increased during year 1, perhaps due to release of monomers or oligomers, and then decreased extensively during years 2 and 3 due to hydrolysis of ester bonds (confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis). The structural integrity of BDMs was assessed during years 2 and 3 of the study (2017–18) in field trials at the locations where they were stored, Knoxville, TN, and Mount Vernon, WA, for vegetable production. The degradation of the BDMs during the cropping season was higher in 2018 compared with 2017, suggesting that degradation of mechanical and chemical properties while in storage may have contributed to rapid degradation of mulches in the field. In summary, BDMs undergo degradation even under ideal storage conditions and may perform best if deployed within 2 years of their receipt date. The farmer should verify that proper storage conditions have been used before receipt and that manufacturing date precedes the receipt date by no more than 6 months.

scholarly journals Structural and Functional Responses of Soil Microbial Communities to Biodegradable Plastic Film Mulching in Two Agroecosystems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreejata Bandopadhyay ◽  
Henry Y. Sintim ◽  
Jennifer M. DeBruyn
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Community Structure ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Plastic Film ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Mulch Films

AbstractPolyethylene (PE) plastic mulch films are used globally in crop production but incur considerable disposal and environmental pollution issues. Biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs), an alternative to PE-based films, are designed to be tilled into the soil where they are expected to be mineralized to carbon dioxide, water and microbial biomass. However inadequate research regarding the impacts of repeated incorporation of BDMs on soil microbial communities has partly contributed to limited adoption of BDMs. In this study, we evaluated the effects of BDM incorporation on soil microbial community structure and function over two years in two geographical locations: Knoxville, TN, and in Mount Vernon, WA. Treatments included four plastic BDMs, a completely biodegradable cellulose mulch, a non-biodegradable PE mulch and a no mulch plot. Bacterial community structure determined using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed significant differences by location and season. Differences in bacterial communities by mulch treatment were not significant for any season in either location, except for Fall 2015 in WA where differences were observed between BDMs and no-mulch plots. Extracellular enzyme rate assays were used to characterize communities functionally, revealing significant differences by location and sampling season in both TN and WA but minimal differences between BDMs and PE treatments. Limited effects of BDM incorporation on soil bacterial community structure and soil enzyme activities when compared to PE suggest that BDMs have comparable influences on soil microbial communities, and therefore could be considered an alternative to PE.ImportancePlastic film mulches increase crop yields and improve fruit quality. Most plastic mulches are made of polyethylene (PE), which is poorly degradable, resulting in undesirable end-of-life outcomes. Biodegradable mulches (BDMs) may be a sustainable alternative to PE. BDMs are made of polymers which can be degraded by soil microbial enzymes, and are meant to be tilled into soil after use. However, uncertainty about impacts of tilled-in BDMs on soil health has restricted adoption of BDMs. Our previous research showed BDMs did not have a major effect on a wide range of soil quality indicators (Sintim et al. 2019); here we focus on soil microbial communities, showing that BDMs do not have detectable effects on soil microbial communities and their functions, at least over the short term. This informs growers and regulators about use of BDMs in crop production, paving a way for an agricultural practice that reduces environmental plastic pollution.

scholarly journals Effects of biodegradable plastic film mulching on soil microbial communities in two agroecosystems

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sreejata Bandopadhyay ◽  
Henry Y. Sintim ◽  
Jennifer M. DeBruyn
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Soil Microbial Community Structure ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Mulch Films

Plastic mulch films are used globally in crop production but incur considerable disposal and environmental pollution issues. Biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs), an alternative to polyethylene (PE)-based films, are designed to be tilled into the soil where they are expected to be mineralized to carbon dioxide, water and microbial biomass. However, insufficient research regarding the impacts of repeated soil incorporation of BDMs on soil microbial communities has partly contributed to limited adoption of BDMs. In this study, we evaluated the effects of BDM incorporation on soil microbial community structure and function over two years in two geographical locations: Knoxville, TN, and in Mount Vernon, WA, USA. Treatments included four plastic BDMs (three commercially available and one experimental film), a biodegradable cellulose paper mulch, a non-biodegradable PE mulch and a no mulch plot. Bacterial community structure determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed significant differences by location and season. Differences in bacterial communities by mulch treatment were not significant for any season in either location, except for Fall 2015 in WA where differences were observed between BDMs and no-mulch plots. Extracellular enzyme assays were used to characterize communities functionally, revealing significant differences by location and sampling season in both TN and WA but minimal differences between BDMs and PE treatments. Overall, BDMs had comparable influences on soil microbial communities to PE mulch films.

scholarly journals Reducing Fumigant Application Rates and Soil Emissions with Plastic Mulch Technology

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Noling
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Time Of Application ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Soil Emissions ◽  
Mulch Films ◽  
Soil Fumigants ◽  
Gas Tight

With the new fumigant regulations and rising cost of crop production, including fumigants, it would be desirable to reduce the standard use rate of soil fumigants. The use of higher-barrier, gas-impermeable mulches may make it possible to reduce fumigant application rates by helping to contain the fumigant longer within the soil and reduce overall emissions into the atmosphere. The results of field studies show that fumigant application rates can be reduced by 20 to as much as 40% through the use of virtually impermeable or the more gas-tight TIF mulch films at the time of application. This 5-page fact sheet was written by J. W. Noling and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, March 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in403

Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films for Sustainable Specialty Crop Production

2019 ◽  
pp. 183-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Hayes ◽  
Marife B. Anunciado ◽  
Jennifer M. DeBruyn ◽  
Sreejata Bandopadhyay ◽  
Sean Schaeffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Specialty Crop ◽  
Mulch Films

The questions of methodology of field experiments in agriculture and crop production

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (94) ◽  
pp. 38-44
Author(s):  
А.M. Malienkо ◽  
N.E. Borуs ◽  
N.G. Buslaeva
Keyword(s):  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
High Accuracy ◽  
Experimental Plot ◽  
Increase Labor Productivity ◽  
Biometric Parameters ◽  
Field Crops ◽  
High Condition

In the article, the results of research on the methodology for conducting studies with corn culture under various methods of sowing and weather conditions. The aim of the research was to establish and evaluate the reliability and high accuracy of the experiment, with a decrease in the area's acreage and taking one plant per repetition. Based on the results of the analysis of biometric parameters and yields, the possibility of sampling from 5 to 108 plants was established statistically and mathematically to establish the accuracy of the experiment. The established parameters of sites in experiments with maize indicate the possibility of obtaining much more information from a smaller unit of area, that is, to increase labor productivity not only with tilled crops. This is the goal of further scientific research with other field crops taking 1 plant of repetitions, observing the conditions of leveling the experimental plot according to the fertility of the soil and sowing seeds with high condition. The data obtained give grounds for continuing research on the minimum space required and the sample in the experiments.

scholarly journals Insulative effect of plastic mulch systems and comparison between the effects of different plant types

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-324
Author(s):  
Kayla Snyder ◽  
Christopher Murray ◽  
Bryon Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Tomato Plants ◽  
Black Film ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Mulch Film ◽  
Mulch Films ◽  
Zone Temperature

AbstractTo address agricultural needs of the future, a better understanding of plastic mulch film effects on soil temperature and moisture is required. The effects of different plant type and mulch combinations were studied over a 3.5-month period to better grasp the consequence of mulch on root zone temperature (RZT) and moisture. Measurements of (RZT) and soil moisture for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum) and carrot (Daucus carota) grown using polyolefin mulch films (black and white-on-black) were conducted in Ontario using a plot without mulch as a control. Black mulch films used in combination with pepper and carrot plants caused similar RZTs relative to uncovered soil, but black mulch film in combination with tomato plants caused a reduction in RZT relative to soil without mulch that increased as plants grew and provided more shade. White-on-black mulch film used in combination with tomatoes, peppers or carrots led to a reduction in RZT relative to soil without mulch that became greater than the temperature of soil without mulch. This insulative capability was similarly observed for black mulch films used with tomato plants. Apart from white-on-black film used in combination with tomatoes, all mulch film and plant combinations demonstrated an ability to stabilize soil moisture relative to soil without mulch. RZT and soil moisture were generally stabilized with mulch film, but some differences were seen among different plant types.

scholarly journals Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat® under Stress Conditions

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1161
Author(s):  
Roland Gerhards ◽  
Fructueuse N. Ouidoh ◽  
André Adjogboto ◽  
Vodéa Armand Pascal Avohou ◽  
Berteulot Latus Sètondji Dossounon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Treatment ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Winter Barley ◽  
Block Designs ◽  
Crop Response ◽  
Yield Data

Although clear evidence for benefits in crop production is partly missing, several natural compounds and microorganisms have been introduced to the market as biostimulants. They are supposed to enhance nutrient efficiency and availability in the rhizosphere, reduce abiotic stress, and improve crop quality parameters. Biostimulants often derive from natural compounds, such as microorganisms, algae, and plant extracts. In this study, the commercial plant extract-based biostimulant ComCat® was tested in two field experiments with maize in the communities of Banikoara and Matéri in Northern Benin and six pot experiments (four with maize and two with winter barley) at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Maize was grown under nutrient deficiency, drought, and weed competition, and winter barley was stressed by the herbicide Luximo (cinmethylin). ComCat® was applied at half, full, and double the recommended field rate (50, 100, and 200 g ha−1) on the stressed and unstressed control plants as leaf or seed treatment. The experiments were conducted in randomized complete block designs with four replications. The above-ground biomass and yield data of one experiment in Benin were collected. The biostimulant did not promote maize and winter barley biomass production of the unstressed plants. When exposed to stress, ComCat@ resulted only in one out of eight experiments in higher barley biomass compared to the stressed treatment without ComCat® application. There was a reduced phytotoxic effect of cinmethylin after seed treatment with ComCat®. Crop response to ComCat® was independent of the application rate. Basic and applied studies are needed to investigate the response of crops to biostimulants and their mechanisms of action in the plants before they should be used in practical farming.

scholarly journals The interaction of seasonal rainfall and nitrogen fertiliser rate on soil N2O emission, total N loss and crop yield of dryland sorghum and sunflower grown on sub-tropical Vertosols

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 604 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Schwenke ◽  
B. M. Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
N Loss ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Impact

Summer crop production on slow-draining Vertosols in a sub-tropical climate has the potential for large emissions of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) from denitrification of applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser. While it is well established that applying N fertiliser will increase N2O emissions above background levels, previous research in temperate climates has shown that increasing N fertiliser rates can increase N2O emissions linearly, exponentially or not at all. Little such data exists for summer cropping in sub-tropical regions. In four field experiments at two locations across two summers, we assessed the impact of increasing N fertiliser rate on both soil N2O emissions and crop yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Vertosols of sub-tropical Australia. Rates of N fertiliser, applied as urea at sowing, included a nil application, an optimum N rate and a double-optimum rate. Daily N2O fluxes ranged from –3.8 to 2734g N2O-Nha–1day–1 and cumulative N2O emissions ranged from 96 to 6659g N2O-Nha–1 during crop growth. Emissions of N2O increased with increased N fertiliser rates at all experimental sites, but the rate of N loss was five times greater in wetter-than-average seasons than in drier conditions. For two of the four experiments, periods of intense rainfall resulted in N2O emission factors (EF, percent of applied N emitted) in the range of 1.2–3.2%. In contrast, the EFs for the two drier experiments were 0.41–0.56% with no effect of N fertiliser rate. Additional 15N mini-plots aimed to determine whether N fertiliser rate affected total N lost from the soil–plant system between sowing and harvest. Total 15N unaccounted was in the range of 28–45% of applied N and was presumed to be emitted as N2O+N2. At the drier site, the ratio of N2 (estimated by difference)to N2O (measured) lost was a constant 43%, whereas the ratio declined from 29% to 12% with increased N fertiliser rate for the wetter experiment. Choosing an N fertiliser rate aimed at optimum crop production mitigates potentially high environmental (N2O) and agronomic (N2+N2O) gaseous N losses from over-application, particularly in seasons with high intensity rainfall occurring soon after fertiliser application.

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