Polymers in Agriculture and Horticulture

Biodegradable polymers are also used in agricultural plastic items which are designed to be left and biodegraded in the field after their use. The biodegradation of plastics in soil is defined by Norme Fran aise (NF) (French standard), U 52-001 [5], which regulates mulch films used in agriculture and horticulture, and by two Ente Nationale... 

Agricultural and Horticultural Applications of Polymers, J.C. Garnaud, International Committee for Plastics in Agriculture. 

Superabsorbents are superabsorbent polymers, which are loosely crosslinked hydrophilic polymers and have ionic charges in the polymers. They absorb water, swell, and retain aqueous solution above hundred times their own weight. Because of the excellent characteristics, the superabsorbents have been widely used in many applications such as disposable diapers, feminine napkins, soil additives in agricultural or horticultural applications, gel actuators, water-blocking tapes, materials for drug delivery system, absorbent pads, etc., where water absorbency or water retention is important. 

Superabsorbents can also help conserve water in a variety of agricultural and horticultural applications. Mainly, the polymers are used in the same way as... 

But the important sector in which EOs present applications as insect BCAs, still is the area of agriculture, the stored-product storage and feed. Mustard essential oil was used very soon into formulation containing insecticide, microbicide, and repellent substances absorbed onto silica used to prevent infestation of mites in feed [90]. In Europe, pine EOs were also incorporated in the 1990s with polymers into sheets to develop attractant adhesive films or coating materials to enhance the cmitrol of harmful insects in agriculmre, livestock structures, and horticulture [91, 92]. 

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