Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions
Agricultural plastic mulch films are widely used in specialty crop production systems because of their agronomic benefits. Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch. Unlike PE films, which need to be removed after us...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819/full |
| _version_ | 1828407660545835008 |
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| author | Sreejata Bandopadhyay Lluis Martin-Closas Ana M. Pelacho Jennifer M. DeBruyn |
| author_facet | Sreejata Bandopadhyay Lluis Martin-Closas Ana M. Pelacho Jennifer M. DeBruyn |
| author_sort | Sreejata Bandopadhyay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agricultural plastic mulch films are widely used in specialty crop production systems because of their agronomic benefits. Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch. Unlike PE films, which need to be removed after use, BDMs are tilled into soil where they are expected to biodegrade. However, there remains considerable uncertainty about long-term impacts of BDM incorporation on soil ecosystems. BDMs potentially influence soil microbial communities in two ways: first, as a surface barrier prior to soil incorporation, indirectly affecting soil microclimate and atmosphere (similar to PE films) and second, after soil incorporation, as a direct input of physical fragments, which add carbon, microorganisms, additives, and adherent chemicals. This review summarizes the current literature on impacts of plastic mulches on soil biological and biogeochemical processes, with a special emphasis on BDMs. The combined findings indicated that when used as a surface barrier, plastic mulches altered soil microbial community composition and functioning via microclimate modification, though the nature of these alterations varied between studies. In addition, BDM incorporation into soil can result in enhanced microbial activity and enrichment of fungal taxa. This suggests that despite the fact that total carbon input from BDMs is minuscule, a stimulatory effect on microbial activity may ultimately affect soil organic matter dynamics. To address the current knowledge gaps, long term studies and a better understanding of impacts of BDMs on nutrient biogeochemistry are needed. These are critical to evaluating BDMs as they relate to soil health and agroecosystem sustainability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:28:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d56395bad1c4ab4946af0883f9b7013 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:28:45Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d56395bad1c4ab4946af0883f9b70132022-12-22T01:50:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2018-04-01910.3389/fmicb.2018.00819349830Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem FunctionsSreejata Bandopadhyay0Lluis Martin-Closas1Ana M. Pelacho2Jennifer M. DeBruyn3Department of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Horticulture, Botany and Gardening, School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, SpainDepartment of Horticulture, Botany and Gardening, School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, SpainDepartment of Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United StatesAgricultural plastic mulch films are widely used in specialty crop production systems because of their agronomic benefits. Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch. Unlike PE films, which need to be removed after use, BDMs are tilled into soil where they are expected to biodegrade. However, there remains considerable uncertainty about long-term impacts of BDM incorporation on soil ecosystems. BDMs potentially influence soil microbial communities in two ways: first, as a surface barrier prior to soil incorporation, indirectly affecting soil microclimate and atmosphere (similar to PE films) and second, after soil incorporation, as a direct input of physical fragments, which add carbon, microorganisms, additives, and adherent chemicals. This review summarizes the current literature on impacts of plastic mulches on soil biological and biogeochemical processes, with a special emphasis on BDMs. The combined findings indicated that when used as a surface barrier, plastic mulches altered soil microbial community composition and functioning via microclimate modification, though the nature of these alterations varied between studies. In addition, BDM incorporation into soil can result in enhanced microbial activity and enrichment of fungal taxa. This suggests that despite the fact that total carbon input from BDMs is minuscule, a stimulatory effect on microbial activity may ultimately affect soil organic matter dynamics. To address the current knowledge gaps, long term studies and a better understanding of impacts of BDMs on nutrient biogeochemistry are needed. These are critical to evaluating BDMs as they relate to soil health and agroecosystem sustainability.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819/fullbiodegradable plasticplastic mulchpolyethylenespecialty cropssoil microbiologysoil microclimate |
| spellingShingle | Sreejata Bandopadhyay Lluis Martin-Closas Ana M. Pelacho Jennifer M. DeBruyn Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions Frontiers in Microbiology biodegradable plastic plastic mulch polyethylene specialty crops soil microbiology soil microclimate |
| title | Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |
| title_full | Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |
| title_fullStr | Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |
| title_short | Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films: Impacts on Soil Microbial Communities and Ecosystem Functions |
| title_sort | biodegradable plastic mulch films impacts on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions |
| topic | biodegradable plastic plastic mulch polyethylene specialty crops soil microbiology soil microclimate |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819/full |
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