Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis
Growers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/10/1618 |
| _version_ | 1827703822292615168 |
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| author | Mauro B. D. Tofanelli Sam E. Wortman |
| author_facet | Mauro B. D. Tofanelli Sam E. Wortman |
| author_sort | Mauro B. D. Tofanelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Growers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, and the variability of performance results relative to PEM may be contributing to this perceived knowledge gap. Our objective was to use data available in the scientific literature to provide the first quantitative performance benchmark of BDMs against PEM. We extracted data from 66 articles for meta-analysis. Response ratios were calculated for comparison of BDMs relative to black PEM, and differences among categorical groups were determined using 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Overall, BDMs reduced soil temperature by 4.5% ± 0.8% (±one standard error) compared to PEM, and temperatures were coolest beneath paper-based BDM. Starch-polyester BDM was less effective than PEM for weed control, but paper-based BDM reduced weed density and biomass by 85.7% ± 9.2%. Paper-based BDMs were particularly useful for controlling <i>Cyperus</i> spp. weeds. Despite differences in soil temperature and weed suppression, crop yields were not different between BDMs and PEM. Future research should focus on reducing costs, adding functional value, and increasing the biodegradability of BDMs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:26:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1587a128bf6547e9a642e7d11c6adc02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:26:16Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-1587a128bf6547e9a642e7d11c6adc022023-11-20T17:59:27ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-10-011010161810.3390/agronomy10101618Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-AnalysisMauro B. D. Tofanelli0Sam E. Wortman1Agricultural Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Cabral 80035-050, Curitiba-PR, BrazilDepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 279 Plant Sciences Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, USAGrowers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, and the variability of performance results relative to PEM may be contributing to this perceived knowledge gap. Our objective was to use data available in the scientific literature to provide the first quantitative performance benchmark of BDMs against PEM. We extracted data from 66 articles for meta-analysis. Response ratios were calculated for comparison of BDMs relative to black PEM, and differences among categorical groups were determined using 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Overall, BDMs reduced soil temperature by 4.5% ± 0.8% (±one standard error) compared to PEM, and temperatures were coolest beneath paper-based BDM. Starch-polyester BDM was less effective than PEM for weed control, but paper-based BDM reduced weed density and biomass by 85.7% ± 9.2%. Paper-based BDMs were particularly useful for controlling <i>Cyperus</i> spp. weeds. Despite differences in soil temperature and weed suppression, crop yields were not different between BDMs and PEM. Future research should focus on reducing costs, adding functional value, and increasing the biodegradability of BDMs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/10/1618biomulchmulchingsustainable agriculturebiobased products |
| spellingShingle | Mauro B. D. Tofanelli Sam E. Wortman Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis Agronomy biomulch mulching sustainable agriculture biobased products |
| title | Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | benchmarking the agronomic performance of biodegradable mulches against polyethylene mulch film a meta analysis |
| topic | biomulch mulching sustainable agriculture biobased products |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/10/1618 |
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