Reducing the effects of plastic waste in agricultural applications by developing new ok soil biodegradable plastics

Abstract

Current intensive farming practices require the use of large quantities of mulching film and fruit protection bags since they prevent the growth of weeds, regulate soil temperature, retain water and nutrients and protect crops from insects. These practices use single-use conventional non-degradable polymers which create a serious problem of waste management since this management is time-consuming, expen-sive to recycle and, more importantly, non-environmentally friendly. By using biodegradable plastics, this problem could be solved by preventing the creation of waste. The objectives of this study were to produce an innovative biobased and biodegradable plastic film that entirely biodegrades in natural conditions on the field within a short time after its usage and to know its effects on tomato and peach crops. For this purpose, two types of films were produced: biomulching and biobags. Specific oligo elements have been added to the films in order to test the biomulching in tomato crops and to protect the fruits from insects and improve quality at harvest in peaches (biobags). Tests carried out on tomatoes showed that, these bioplastics improved soil quality by increasing (up to 13%) the concentration of oligo elements and by decreasing (65%) blossom end rot. By using biobags in peaches, a uniform colour (without red blush), required characteristic in this type of commodity (Protect-ed Designation of Origin ‘Calanda’), was obtained, with a decrease in both a* colour coordinate (more than 2 points) and carotenoid content (more than 3 µg g-1 fw). Moreover, bioplastics degrade completely after 6 months within the soil.