Agricultural Mulches

Plastic films are used with field mulches by growers since they help in the growth of plants and then photodegrade in the fields without the cost of removal. We can control the moisture, reduce weeds, and increase the soil temperature this improves the rate of growth in plants. For example, in a 6 ha melon farm, the yield increased by two- to threefold. Also ripening was controlled by using black polyethylene mulch (Sullivan, 2011). 

By removing weeds and eliminating soil compaction, mulch eliminates the need for cultivation. By this we further avoid damage to roots and stunting or killing of plants. Not only this, fertilizer and water requirements of the field get controlled. To trap heat, transparent polyethylene is more effective compared to black or smoke-grey films. Due to clear films, soil temperature may rise to 5.58°C, but under black Alms, it is 1.7-2.78°C. The temperature of the atmosphere will be maintained by the polymer bags. 

Generally, low-density polyethylenes, poly(vinyl chloride), potybutylene, or copol3miers of ethylene with vinyl acetate are used for plastic mulches, and their ratio is adjusted to provide protection for specific growing periods. The photodegradation of 

Natural polymers such as starch, cellulose, chitin, alginic acid, and lignin have been used in controlled release systems. These are abundant, relatively inexpensive, and biodegradable. 

The plastics used for mulch films are mainly low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polybutylene or ethylene copolymer, and vinyl acetate. Especially 

Effective fumigant mulches need films of decreased porosity that reduce the potential escape of volatile chemicals (insecticides, herbicides) and therefore let lower doses be applied. 

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The promising market segments of Bionolle in the future are compostable bags and agricultural mulching film applications, where better processability (equivalent to conventional resin) and further cost reduction are required. 

Agricultural mulching film is one of the typical applications for biodegradable plastics. Currently, Bionolle mulching film is commonly used in Japan, and is an important market for us. However, some farmers are anxious about the effects of repeated use of biodegradable plastic on the farm. We, as a manufacturer of Bionolle, need to accumulate knowledge on such usage in the farm. 

Plastic Bag Manufacturer Bag Dispensers Agricultural Mulch Film Vehicle Bed Liners Printing Services... 

Several years ago, Princeton Polymer Labs. contracted with a client to develop a degradable agricultural mulch film. A first generation additive system was developed and some 12,000 sq. ft. of polyethylene film containing the additive was tried out in 14 states in the U.S.A. Both black and clear films... 

A second generation, and far more effective photo-degrading additive system was later developed and extensive indoor and outdoor testing was done. With such an effective system it was obvious that its use could go much further than just agricultural mulch films. 

Realistic uses for Degradable Plastics include those applications where materials are used outdoors for a limited time only and it is not economically desirable to collect the residual materials after use. Examples are agricultural mulch, films and cordage, twine, etc. Another application is that of packaging which is stored and used indoors and discarded outdoors, in other words litter for which manual collection is not practicable. 

Ecoten LDPE embrittled in 2210 hrs in the Weather-Ometer and 11 months outdoors. This sample of Ecoten does not appear to be a satisfactory Degradable Plastic because of the high level of Ti02 added to the film. Clear Ecoten film without the titanium dioxide pigment was tested outdoors in Israel as agricultural mulch and found to embrittle in less than four months ( ). 

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