Are mulch biofilms used in agriculture an environmentally friendly solution? - An insight into their biodegradability and ecotoxicity using key organisms in soil ecosystems

Ferreira-Filipe, Diogo A.; Paço, Ana; Natal-da-Luz, Tiago; Sousa, José Paulo; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, Teresa; Silva, Ana L. Patrício

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154269

Cited by 40 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Concerning the chemical composition of plastics found in cultivated soils, existing published research shows that the main polymer particles were: polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (Ding et al, 2020). Specifically, mulch is produced from PE, a non-renewable petroleumbased polymer (Briassoulis, 2023;Ferreira-Filipe et al, 2022;Haixin et al, 2022;Salama and Geyer, 2023;Yu et al, 2021), irrigation equipment produced from HDPE or PVC (Hofmann et al, 2023) and the coat of slow-release fertilisers is PE or LDPE (Bian et al, 2022;Katsumi et al, 2021). PP and PS are widely used in the packaging of seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers and even for food packaging (Briassoulis, 2023;Ding et al, 2020;Yan et al, 2022).…”

Section: Mps Distribution In Agricultural Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas

Liava,

Golia

2024

Waste Manag Res

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The extensive use of plastic materials and their improper disposal results in high amounts of plastic waste in the environment. Aging of plastics leads to their breakdown into smaller particles, such as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics. This research investigates plastics used in agricultural practices as they contribute to MP pollution in agricultural soils. The distribution and characteristics of MPs in agricultural soils were evaluated. In addition, the effect of MPs on soil properties, the relationship between MPs and metals in soil, the effect of MPs on the fate of pesticides in agricultural soils and the influence of MPs on plant growth were analysed, discussing legume, cereal and vegetable crops. Finally, a brief description of the main methods of chemical analysis and identification of MPs is presented. This study will contribute to a better understanding of MPs in agricultural soils and their effect on the soil-plant system. The changes induced by MPs in soil parameters can lead to potential benefits as it is possible to increase the availability of micronutrients and reduce plant uptake of toxic elements. Furthermore, although plastic pollution remains an emerging threat to soil ecosystems, their presence may result in benefits to agricultural soils, highlighting the principles of the circular economy.

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Section: Mps Distribution In Agricultural Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas

Liava,

Golia

2024

Waste Manag Res

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“…In recent years, the use of biodegradable polymers as an alternative to synthetic materials to cover films has been seen as a sustainable solution, since they can degrade in the field, thus reducing removal and disposal costs [10] . Given this scenario, it is crucial to make changes in the profile of polymeric material usage [11] , to add sustainable value to the development of mulch films, and the addition of agro-industrial residues has demonstrated significant viability [12,13] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of mulch films from biodegradable polymer and agro-industrial waste

França,

Rosa,

Braz

et al. 2024

Polímeros

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Plasticulture improves crop quality and yield through polymeric films, but their improper disposal harms the environment due to humidity and contamination. This study aimed to develop biodegradable mulch films using soybean and peanut hulls and poly (butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). The residues were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and mulch films were evaluated by water absorption, contact angle and mechanical properties. The thermal behavior of the residues indicated stability below 200ºC. The agro-waste improved hydrophobicity but increased the water absorption values of the films by up to 18.5x (PBAT/SH5 after 14 days). Micrographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy indicated an important distribution of residue particles and formation of agglomerates, leading to lower mechanical performance. The study found that agro-industrial residues in powder form can be added to the polymeric matrix to produce biodegradable mulch films through traditional processing techniques. This approach has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable production system.

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“…Only few on-site studies have been performed in freshwaters ( Nguyen et al, 2023 ). Further, the adopted standards and test methods are insufficient to realistically predict the plastic biodegradability in aquatic environments, owing to several shortcomings in experimental procedures ( Harrison et al, 2018 ; Ferreira-Filipe et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial colonization patterns and biodegradation of petrochemical and biodegradable plastics in lake waters: insights from a field experiment

Di Pippo,

Bocci,

Amalfitano

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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IntroductionOnce dispersed in water, plastic materials become promptly colonized by biofilm-forming microorganisms, commonly known as plastisphere.MethodsBy combining DNA sequencing and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), we investigated the plastisphere colonization patterns following exposure to natural lake waters (up to 77 days) of either petrochemical or biodegradable plastic materials (low density polyethylene - LDPE, polyethylene terephthalate - PET, polylactic acid - PLA, and the starch-based MaterBi® - Mb) in comparison to planktonic community composition. Chemical composition, water wettability, and morphology of plastic surfaces were evaluated, through Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and static contact angle analysis, to assess the possible effects of microbial colonization and biodegradation activity.Results and DiscussionThe phylogenetic composition of plastisphere and planktonic communities was notably different. Pioneering microbial colonisers, likely selected from lake waters, were found associated with all plastic materials, along with a core of more than 30 abundant bacterial families associated with all polymers. The different plastic materials, either derived from petrochemical hydrocarbons (i.e., LDPE and PET) or biodegradable (PLA and Mb), were used by opportunistic aquatic microorganisms as adhesion surfaces rather than carbon sources. The Mb-associated microorganisms (i.e. mostly members of the family Burkholderiaceae) were likely able to degrade the starch residues on the polymer surfaces, although the Mb matrix maintained its original chemical structure and morphology. Overall, our findings provide insights into the complex interactions between aquatic microorganisms and plastic materials found in lake waters, highlighting the importance of understanding the plastisphere dynamics to better manage the fate of plastic debris in the environment.

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Are mulch biofilms used in agriculture an environmentally friendly solution? - An insight into their biodegradability and ecotoxicity using key organisms in soil ecosystems

Cited by 40 publications

References 39 publications

Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas

Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas

Development of mulch films from biodegradable polymer and agro-industrial waste

Microbial colonization patterns and biodegradation of petrochemical and biodegradable plastics in lake waters: insights from a field experiment

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