A Sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) technology: Effect of band width and application rate on water conservation and seedling emergence
- Authors: Braunack, Michael , Zaja, Adriana , Tam, Kang , Filipović, Lana , Filipović, Vilim , Wang, Yusong , Bristow, Keith
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural water management Vol. 230, no. (2020), p. 105900
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: •Glasshouse experiments on Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane (SBPM) Technology.•Water conservation using SBPM increased with increasing application rate.•Crop emergence decreased with increasing application rate.•The 150 mm width and 0.5 kg m-2 SBPM rate was most effective in reducing weeds.•SBPM band application had positive effects on soil water potential. With a rapidly growing global population, increased agricultural productivity is required to achieve future food security. Efficient use of water and other agricultural inputs such as nutrients and pesticides must underpin agronomic practices to improve crop establishment and increase crop yields. A glasshouse study was conducted to explore the potential of a newly developed sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) applied in bands to reduce soil evaporation and increase soil temperature, thus improving germination, emergence and crop establishment. The aims were two-fold: (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of the SBPM in reducing seedbed water loss and its effect on seedling emergence and (ii) to determine an effective band width (100 vs 150 mm) and application rate of SBPM to conserve seedbed water. Our study demonstrated that a high application rate (1 kg m-2) is effective at reducing soil water loss, but it reduces crop emergence (cotton, sunflower, sorghum, mung bean, carrot, capsicum and rockmelon). All three SBPM application rates (1, 0.5 and 0.25 kg m-2) showed increased soil water content compared to the control plot (bare soil surface). The applied bands, 100 and 150 mm width, limit evaporation and increased soil water potential and temperature compared to the control, however with no significant differences between the two treatments. Crop emergence was proportional to the application rate and decreased with increasing application rate (i.e., control < 0.25 kg m-2 < 0.5 kg m-2 < 1 kg m-2). The SBPM suppressed weed growth similar to conventional mulch film and was most effective at 0.5 kg m-2 and 150 mm width. Future research should focus on the field SBPM application management with an emphasis on crop emergence zones, biodegradability and comparing its effectiveness with other conventional mulches.
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.
Characterization of trace organic compounds in recycled water used for irrigation on turf and comparison with rain
- Authors: Heaven, M. , Verheyen, Vincent , Cruickshank, Alicia , Wild, Karl , Watkins, Mark , Nash, David
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Water Management Vol. 103, no. (2012), p. 176-181
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Wastewaters are increasingly being reused in public spaces to supplant the use of potable water. In this study we investigated possible trace organic contaminants in wastewater from a dairy factory applied to a recreation reserve. Samples were taken of recycled dairy factory wastewater used to irrigate the reserve and from the subsurface drainage system after irrigation and after rainfall. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, it was found that irrigation drainage mostly contained different compounds to those in rainfall drainage. This drainage water was found to contain residues of three agrochemicals (dicamba, 0.4 ± 0.07
Soluble organic components of winery wastewater and implications for reuse
- Authors: Mosse, Kim , Verheyen, Vincent , Cruickshank, Alicia , Patti, Antonio , Cavagnaro, Timothy
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Water Management Vol. 120, no. (2013), p. 5-10
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Sustainable reuse of winery wastewaters (WWW) via land application is of interest given the increasing industrialization of wine production. However, before WWW reuse can become widespread, its chemical composition and consequently its potential long-term impact need to be investigated. In this study, soluble materials in influent and effluent waters from different WWW treatment plants were analyzed at the molecular level using Solid Phase Micro Extraction Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME GC–MS). The analytical focus was on key compound classes with potential for environmental harm, the majority of which were reduced by all treatments considered here. The effluents retained considerable quantities of recalcitrant phenolic compounds, which is of concern due to their potential phytotoxicity and proven resistance to aerobic degradation. This research highlights the importance of understanding the nature of organic material in WWW to ensure sustainable reuse.