Evaluation of a sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) Technology for soil water conservation in tomato and watermelon production systems
- Authors: Braunack, Michael , Filipović, Vilim , Adhikari, Raju , Freischmidt, George , Johnston, Priscilla , Casey, Phil , Wang, Yusong , Šimůnek, Jiří , Filipović, Lana , Bristow, Keith
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural water management Vol. 243, no. (2021), p. 106446
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: •Field scale experiments on Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM) Technology.•SBPM application rate of 1 and 3 kg m−2 showed significant soil water conservation.•Soil temperature increase was significant in 3 kg m−2 and under 55 cm width SBPM.•SBPM outperformed plastic mulch film (PMF) treatment in the absence of crop.•Results proved effectiveness of SBPM technology under field conditions. Reducing soil evaporation, especially in temperate climate zones, increases crop production. Plastic mulch films (PMFs) are very efficient in conserving soil water conservation however, plastic pollution is raising environmental and human health concerns. Therefore, a newly developed Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM) Technology was tested for its ability to conserve soil water, suppress weeds, modify soil temperature, and improve crop yields. Two-year field experiments were performed in tomato and watermelon cropping systems, where SBPM was compared to no mulch and PMF controls. SBPM loadings were 3.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 kg m−2, with fumigation (F) and without fumigation (NF) in tomato, and 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 kg m−2 in watermelon. In tomato, the soil volumetric water content (VWC) in the topsoil was significantly higher for all treatments compared to the control, in the following order: 1 kg m−2 F > 0.5 kg m−2 NF > 1 kg m−2 NF > 0.5 kg m−2 F > Control in 2016/17 and 3 kg m-2 NF > Control > 0.5 kg m−2 F > 3 kg m−2 F > 0.5 kg m−2 NF in 2018. With watermelon in 2017, VWC was lower in the topsoil of the SBPM treatments than with PMF, but higher during the 2018 trial when no crop was grown. The amount of conserved soil water appeared to be determined by the physical integrity (unevenness/holes/tears) of the SBPM and PMFs. Soil salinity increase/decrease was associated with the volume of infiltrating water in the different treatments. Soil temperature increased significantly under the highest SBPM loading of 3 kg m−2 NF, using a 55 cm width of polymer coverage. The yield responses across treatments were not significant. Field experiments proved the effectiveness of the SBPM technology, but also highlighted some limitations of it when compared with conventional PMFs. The SBPM technology needs ongoing refinement to improve its sprayability, durability, biodegradability, and cost-effectiveness.
Initial experimental experience with a sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) technology in cotton
- Authors: Braunack, Michael , Adhikari, Raju , Freischmidt, George , Johnston, Priscilla , Casey, Philip S. , Wang, Yusong , Bristow, Keith , Filipović, Lana , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 10, no. 4 (2020), p. 584
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Preformed biodegradable and next generation sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) formulations, which biodegrade to non-harmful products (water, carbon dioxide and microbial biomass), have been introduced as an alternative to plastic mulch films in order to mitigate plastic pollution of the environment. In this preliminary field study on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a novel SBPM technology was compared to preformed slotted oxo-degradable plastic (ODP) mulch film and no mulch control (CON) in terms of yield, crop water productivity (CWP), and soil temperature. The first results showed higher CWP and crop yield, and increased soil water content under the SBPM cover. This study indicates that SBPM technology could perform at similar level as ODP or comparable films under field conditions and, at the same time, provide environmentally sustainable agricultural cropping practices. Additionally, the fully treated, non-replicated SBPM plot had a wetter soil profile throughout the entire crop season. This innovative technology has shown a high potential even at this early stage of development, indicating that advances in formulation and further testing can lead to significant improvements and thus increased use in crop production systems.