Effects of Tensile Stress and Soil Burial on Mechanical and Chemical Degradation Potential of Agricultural Plastic Films

Yanan Han, Min Wei, Xiaoyan Shi, Dong Wang, Xulong Zhang, Yangyang Zhao, Meng Kong, Xin Song, Zhongkui Xie and Fengmin Li
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Yanan Han: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Min Wei: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xiaoyan Shi: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Dong Wang: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xulong Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yangyang Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Meng Kong: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Xin Song: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Zhongkui Xie: Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 320 West Donggang Road, Lanzhou 730000, China
Fengmin Li: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Institute of Arid Agroecology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: Plastic film mulching is widely practiced in arid and semiarid farming systems, but the accumulation of plastic residues in soils can negatively affect soil properties. Therefore, efficient means of plastic film degradation are urgently needed to mitigate its unfriendly environmental impacts for sustainable land use. Here, we characterized the effects of tensile stress (TS) and soil burial (SB) on potential degradation properties of three film types: Polyethylene film (PEF), oxo-biodegradable film (OBDF), and biodegradable film (BDF). Weight loss, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, functional groups, and crystallinity were recorded after TS and SB treatments. The results indicated that: (1) Weight loss of plastic films was associated with SB, although the extent of weight loss depended on film type and was highest in BDF, (2) application of TS before SB weakened the mechanical properties of the films and increased their hydrophilicity, creating favorable conditions for the settlement of microorganisms on the film surface, (3) PEF treated with TS and SB had higher functional group indices and lower crystallinity. Our results highlighted that the combination of TS and SB has the potential to accelerate plastic film degradation.

Keywords: tensile stress; soil burial; polyethylene film; oxo-biodegradable film; biodegradable film; plastic degradation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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