Mulches/mulching agricultural materials

Olsen, J.K. and Gounder, R.K. 2001. Alternatives to polyethylene mulch him - a held assessment of transported materials in capsicum Capsicum annuum L.). Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41(1) 93-103. 

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. 

Starch from surplus corn has been converted into a superabsorbent material known as SUPER SLURPER. This is being marketed under license by several companies for use in removing water from refined petroleum products and as an absorbent in bandages and diapers. Biodegradable plastic films of starch mixed with other polymers find application as mulches in agriculture and as a... 

According to the French norm NFU 52001 Biodegradable materials in agriculture and horticulture - mulching films - AFNOR 2005, the definition of biodegradation is as follows ... 

Until now, BMs have only established niche markets, for example as tableware or plastic forks, knives and spoons for mass events, or in agricultural applications as pots or mulch foils. The technical and economic conditions in these areas are promising for BMs. Such advantages have not yet been realized fully, for example in substitution of BMs for mass-produced plastics, especially since they have some drawbacks as waste material. For instance, mixing BMs with mass-produced plastics is problematical due to incompatibilities. 

---