Biodegradable Agricultural Mulches Derived from Biopolymers

Hayes, Douglas G.; Dharmalingam, Sathiskumar; Larry, Connor; Karen, Kawakami; Miles, Carol A.; Debra, A Inglis

doi:10.1021/bk-2012-1114.ch013

Cited by 47 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To address this goal, ''biodegradable'' mulches (BDMs) were developed in the 1980s, and new materials and assessment methods have been developed continually [3,12]. Common polymeric constituents of BDMs include starches, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and PBS-co-adipate (PBSA), with mulches most often containing blends of these [3,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Common polymeric constituents of BDMs include starches, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and PBS-co-adipate (PBSA), with mulches most often containing blends of these [3,12]. Recent studies have demonstrated the loss of mechanical strength and partial conversion into CO 2 for BDMs when buried in soil or placed at the water-air surface [1,3,[13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies have demonstrated the loss of mechanical strength and partial conversion into CO 2 for BDMs when buried in soil or placed at the water-air surface [1,3,[13][14][15][16][17][18]. But, BDMs also have undesirable attributes, including high price (2.5 9 conventional polyethylene mulches) [19], an uncontrollable and unpredictable onset and rate of biodegradation [20], and low biobased content (e.g., PBAT and PBS are mainly derived from fossil fuel feedstocks) [2,12,21]. Due to the inclusion of fossil fuel-based components, BDMs have been labelled as ''synthetics'' and therefore are not allowed for use in US certifiable organic agriculture [8,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches

Hablot

Dharmalingam²,

Hayes³

et al. 2014

J Polym Environ

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effect of simulated weathering on the physicochemical properties and biodegradability of four fully biobased and potentially biodegradable agricultural mulches prepared nonwoven textile technology, consisting of randomly oriented fibers of average diameter 7-16 lm, has been investigated. Two mulches were prepared from polylactic acid (PLA) using spunbond processing, one naturally white and the other black (SB-W and SB-B, respectively), and two via meltblown processing, from 100 % PLA and a 75/25 w/w blend of PLA and polyhydroxyalkanoate [PHA; poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate); MB-PLA and MB-PLA?PHA, respectively]. SB-W and SB-B possessed higher tensile strength than MB-PLA and MB-PLA?PHA (56.2N, 37.1N, 8.96N, and 3.90N, respectively). Simulated weathering introduced minor changes in physicochemical properties of SBs, but enhanced inherent biodegradability, yielding 68-72 % mineralization in 90 days. Simulated weathering greatly affected the physicochemical properties of the MB mulches, particularly MB-PLA?PHA, which underwent a 95 % loss of tensile strength, 32 % decrease of weightaveraged molecular weight (from 95.4 to 70.5 kDa), and breakage of microfibers, during a 21 days weatherometry cycle. Weathering accelerated the biodegradation of both MB mulches, with the time course of biodegradation and final extent of biodegradation (91-93 % in 90 days) nearly matching the value obtained for the cellulosic positive control. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested the SB and MB mulches underwent hydrolysis and photodegradative chain scission (Norrish Type II reaction). SB nonwovens may prove useful as biobased and compostable materials for multi-season mulching, and other longterm agricultural applications, such as for row covers in perennial cropping systems. MB nonwovens may be better suited for more traditional agricultural mulch applications.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches

Hablot

Dharmalingam²,

Hayes³

et al. 2014

J Polym Environ

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A caveat is that used plastics, like the BDMs harvested after the 2010 growing season in this study, may be more weathered than new plastic films used in the in vitro bioassays. Prior microbial attack, UV, wind, abrasion by soil particulates, chemical hydrolysis via inorganic soil components, and soil fauna all contribute to oxidation and fragmentation of polymers, altering the efficiency of enzymatic action on BDM films 11 . A second advantage is that this method can be employed whether or not the individual constituents of proprietary plastic products are known and/or available in pure form for testing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hundreds of thousands of acres in the United States alone are covered with plastic mulches 9 , including mulches composed of biodegradable plastic. Following a crop growing season, the options for disposing of biodegradable mulches (BDMs) include disposal in a landfill, incineration for energy recovery 10 , degradation via composting, or degradation in the soil after tillage 11 . Of these, the least labor-intensive fate is plowing BDMs into the soil, but without efficient degradation and mineralization during non-crop months (generally in the winter), plastic fragments could remain and interfere with agricultural equipment during spring tillage and planting, and persist in the environment where they significantly impact wildlife, plant life, and microbiota 1,2,3,10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Bailes

Lind

Ely

et al. 2013

JoVE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fungi native to agricultural soils that colonized commercially available biodegradable mulch (BDM) films were isolated and assessed for potential to degrade plastics. Typically, when formulations of plastics are known and a source of the feedstock is available, powdered plastic can be suspended in agar-based media and degradation determined by visualization of clearing zones. However, this approach poorly mimics in situ degradation of BDMs. First, BDMs are not dispersed as small particles throughout the soil matrix. Secondly, BDMs are not sold commercially as pure polymers, but rather as films containing additives (e.g. fillers, plasticizers and dyes) that may affect microbial growth. The procedures described herein were used for isolates acquired from soil-buried mulch films. Fungal isolates acquired from excavated BDMs were tested individually for growth on pieces of new, disinfested BDMs laid atop defined medium containing no carbon source except agar. Isolates that grew on BDMs were further tested in liquid medium where BDMs were the sole added carbon source. After approximately ten weeks, fungal colonization and BDM degradation were assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Isolates were identified via analysis of ribosomal RNA gene sequences. This report describes methods for fungal isolation, but bacteria also were isolated using these methods by substituting media appropriate for bacteria. Our methodology should prove useful for studies investigating breakdown of intact plastic films or products for which plastic feedstocks are either unknown or not available. However our approach does not provide a quantitative method for comparing rates of BDM degradation. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

show abstract

Biodegradable mulch performed comparably to polyethylene in high tunnel tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) production

Cowan

Miles

Andrews

et al. 2014

J. Sci. Food Agric.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Biodegradable Agricultural Mulches Derived from Biopolymers

Cited by 47 publications

References 48 publications

Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches

Effect of Simulated Weathering on Physicochemical Properties and Inherent Biodegradation of PLA/PHA Nonwoven Mulches

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Biodegradable mulch performed comparably to polyethylene in high tunnel tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) production

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About