Modification and Properties of Cellulose Nonwoven Fabric—Multifunctional Mulching Material for Agricultural Applications

Abstract

The paper describes a method of modifying a commercial viscose nonwoven fabric and its use as a modern mulching material in agriculture. The conducted research confirmed that the proposed modification of the viscose nonwoven fabric could be successfully used as a multipurpose and, above all, completely biodegradable nonwoven crop cover, which will eliminate the problem of disposal after the harvest period. Modified cellulose nonwoven fabric was obtained by staining with NB—BT helion brown, then padding with potassium nitrate (KNO3) solution (used as a fertilizer) and finally coating with polylactide (PLA) solution. The characterisation of the nonwoven fabric included structural analysis, physicochemical properties and mechanical tests. The modified cellulose nonwovens were used in the tunnel cultivation of tomatoes as a heat-retardant, water-absorbing, antiweed mulching material that prevents soil infestation and slowly releases fertilizers.

Biodegradable Nonwoven Agrotextile and Films—A Review

“…Initially, before the biodegradation process, air permeability was 2758 dm −3 m −2 s −1 , the perpendicular water permeability 72 × 10 −3 m s −1 , breaking force and elongation were 11.48 N and 7.78 mm. After 14 weeks of exposure, air permeability (2965 dm −3 m −2 s −1 ) and perpendicular water permeability (178 × 10 −3 m s −1) increase, while breaking force decreases to 1.87 N. After 14 weeks of study, the nonwoven sample was quite degraded and the elongation took the value of 10 mm [ 85 ].…”

“…The weight loss of the mulches was 74% in 12 weeks and 88% in 14 weeks, and the tests were completed in the 15th week. The proposed modification of viscose nonwoven mulches can be successfully used as a multi-purpose and biodegradable nonwoven crop cover, eliminating the problem of post-harvest mulches disposal [ 85 ].…”

“…For this and other reasons, textile waste is of great interest. Textile waste primarily means polysaccharide fibres, such as cotton, flax, hemp, jute, and wool as protein fibre [ 85 ].…”

Biodegradation properties of natural fibers for agro textile nonwovens production

“…Despite the fact that synthetic polymers last century were considered the fibers of the future, today they represent a major environmental problem. A major disadvantage of synthetic polymers is the long-term decomposition process and the problem of removing their waste that accumulates in the environment [1,2].…”

The fire hazard potential of thermally thin cellulose nonwovens with different overlap configurations

“…Textiles are hygroscopic, soft, biodegradable, easy to process, 1 and have a wide range of applications in apparel, decoration, medicine, agriculture, 2 and other fields. 3,4 With the outbreak of COVID-19, demand for disposable products such as masks and sterile sheets exceeded supply, which led to a sharp increase in the production of nonwovens as a raw material for certain disposable products.…”