Testing Biodegradable Films as Alternatives to Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhancing the Yield and Economic Benefits of Processed Tomato in Xinjiang Region

Anwar Abduwaiti, Xiaowei Liu, Changrong Yan, Yinghao Xue, Tuo Jin, Hongqi Wu, Pengcheng He, Zhe Bao and Qin Liu
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Anwar Abduwaiti: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Agricultural Resources and Environmental Protection Station, Urumqi 830049, China
Xiaowei Liu: College of Grass and Environmental Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Changrong Yan: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Yinghao Xue: Rural Energy and Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
Tuo Jin: Rural Energy and Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
Hongqi Wu: College of Grass and Environmental Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Pengcheng He: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Agricultural Technology Extension Station of Ulanqab, Ulanqab 012000, China
Zhe Bao: Rural Energy and Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China
Qin Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: The extensive application of plastic-film mulching (PFM) has brought a series of environmental pollution due to the lack of awareness of plastic-film rational use and absence of plastic residues recycling in China. In addition, the use of degradable film instead of common polyethylene plastic film (PE film) can effectively alleviate this situation. The substitution of PE film with biodegradable film in the agricultural production of processed tomato in Xinjiang region was investigated in this study. Using bare soil as the control, we compared the effects of PE film and biodegradable film mulching on crop growth, yield, and economic benefits in processed tomato. The results indicated that: (1) Biodegradable film with a thickness of about 8 μm can meet the mechanical operation requirements, and the effect of biodegradable film mulching was completely consistent with that of PE film; (2) Four kinds of biodegradable film can meet the requirements of processed tomato growth and development, although slightly different from PE film in increasing temperature and water retention; (3) Plastic-film planting can ensure a net profit of 1.14–1.64 ten thousand CNY per hectare under the current production conditions and mode of Xinjiang region, and biodegradable film planting was observed to be essentially equal to those of PE film; (4) Nearly 50%–70% of the biodegradable film was ruptured and degraded during processed tomato harvesting, which avoided the occurrence of the winch of the plastic-film winding harvester and improves the efficiency and commodity rate of the processed tomato harvest operation. As the biodegradable film mulching causes no residual pollution, it is accepted to be an alternative to plastic-film mulching for agricultural applications and supports the sustainable development of agroecosystems in Xinjiang region.

Keywords: biodegradable film; degradation rate; yield; economic benefit; processed tomato; Xinjiang region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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