- Title
- Initial experimental experience with a sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) technology in cotton
- Creator
- 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
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/190103
- Identifier
- vital:17548
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040584
- Identifier
- ISSN:2073-4395
- Abstract
- 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.
- Publisher
- Basel: MDPI AG
- Relation
- Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 10, no. 4 (2020), p. 584
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright authors
- Subject
- Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Carbon dioxide; Cotton; Crop production; Crop production systems; Crop productivity; Crop water productivity; Crop yield; Crops; Developmental stages; Gossypium hirsutum; Irrigation; Mechanical properties; Membranes; Microorganisms; Moisture content; Plant growth; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Polyethylene; Polymers; Preformed plastic mulch film; Productivity; Quality; Sensors; Soil profiles; Soil properties; Soil temperature; Soil water; Soils; Spray-on mulch; Sustainable agriculture; Technology; Water content; Water pollution; Water use efficiency; 3002 Agriculture, land and farm management; 3004 Crop and pasture production
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