Degradability of biodegradable plastic films and its mulching effects on soil temperature and maize yield in northeastern China

• DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201302.5360
• Publication Date: 2020-04-22T00:45:19Z
• Authors: Wangwang Zhang; ; Lihong Wang; Jiaqi Zhou; Kunlun Zhu; Shijun Sun
• Keywords: Plastic film; Biodegradable plastic; Degradation; Elongation; Environmental Pollution

Plastic film is an important resource in agricultural production, but it takes hundreds of years to degrade completely natural environment. The large-scale use plastic will inevitably lead serious environmental pollution. One way solve the problem develop a substitutable mulching film, such as biodegradable that can ultimately be decomposed water, carbon dioxide, and soil organic matter by micro-organisms. In this study, 2-year experiment was conducted determine degradation properties including rate, surface microstructure, tensile strength elongation at break, effects different treatments on temperature maize yield. with three films rates, using common non-mulched treatment control. With addition additives for films, rates increased significantly, which were 7.2%-17.8% 2017 18.1%-35.2% 2018 after harvesting. However, occurred mainly ridge side. decrease proportional rate degradable film. SEM results indicated microstructures loose heterogeneous Biodegradable depths 5 cm, 15 25 over maize's entire growth period, 3.1°C-3.2°C 1.2°C-2.1°C compared treatment. yield 10.4%-14.3% 11.6%-24.7% 2018. increases statistically significant; however, respect qualities, there no significant among five treatments. This study shows used substitute ingredients should improved further ensure they degraded crop harvest. Keywords: mulching, properties, temperature, DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201302.5360 Citation: Zhang W W, Wang L H, Zhou J Q, Zhu K L, Sun S J. Degradability its northeastern China. Int Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(2): 146–153.