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Are biodegradable plastic mulch films an effective way to solve residual mulch film pollution in farmland?

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Abstract

Aim

The pollution caused by agricultural plastic mulch film and the resulting microplastics has garnered significant attention. The partial application of biodegradable plastic mulch film (BPM) appears to be a promising method for reducing plastic pollution in agricultural soil.

Methods

However, there is currently limited information available on the impact of BPM and the resulting microplastics on agricultural ecosystems. Many mechanisms and conclusions regarding this issue remain uncertain. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding of the limitations of BPM applications is crucial for assessing the potential ecological risks and guiding future research.

Results

Problematically, the actual environmental conditions of agricultural soil, climatic conditions, degradability, market price, and acceptance by farmers all significantly limit the implementation of BPM. Due to the faster and easier degradation of BPM compared to conventional plastic mulch film (CPM), a larger amount of microplastics may be generated within the same time frame. In addition, the implementation of BPM can result in significant alterations in soil microbial diversity, thereby affecting the emissions of CO2, N2O, and CH4. These changes can ultimately have unpredictable consequences on the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

Conclusion

The price, uncertainty of degradation in soil, and potential negative impact on the soil environment also restrict the wide application of BPM. Overall, considering the existing knowledge gap and potential issues, further research is needed to determine whether BPM can effectively address the problem of residual mulch film and microplastic pollution in farmland. There is still a long way to go before BPM can completely replace CPM in agricultural production.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

The study is financially supported by the Program for Shanghai Tongji Gaotingyao Environmental Science & Technology Development Foundation.

Funding

The study is financially supported by the Program for Shanghai Tongji Gaotingyao Environmental Science & Technology Development Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. Shiwei Liu, Ruixin Jin and Tianhao Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People’s Republic of China

    Shiwei Liu, Ruixin Jin, Tianhao Li, Shengxin Yang & Maocai Shen

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Contributions

Shiwei Liu: Writing, analysis and original draft

Ruixin Jin: Original draft, review and editing

Tianhao Li: Review and editing

Shengxin Yang: Review and editing

Maocai Shen: Analysis, review and editing

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Correspondence to Maocai Shen.

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Liu, S., Jin, R., Li, T. et al. Are biodegradable plastic mulch films an effective way to solve residual mulch film pollution in farmland?. Plant Soil 494, 85–94 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06287-x

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