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Cited by 8Polymer-Based Agricultural EnhancementsIrrigation Practices and Water ManagementAgricultural Engineering and Mechanization

The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 25 of the 27 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Visual Assessments of Biodegradable Mulch Deterioration Are Not Indicative of Changes in Mechanical Properties

Open access
Cowan, Jeremy S., Saxton, Arnold M., Liu, Hang, Leonas, Karen K., Inglis, Debra, Miles, Carol A.·2016·HortScience
DOI 10.21273/hortsci.51.3.245
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Abstract

The functionality of biodegradable mulch can be evaluated in agricultural field settings by visually assessing mulch intactness over time (a measure of deterioration), but it is unclear if mulch deterioration is indicative of mulch degradation as measured by mechanical properties (like breaking force and elongation). This 3-year study (2010–12) examined mulch percent visual deterioration (PVD) during the summer growing season in open-field and high tunnel production systems, and compared these to mulch mechanical properties at mulch installation (12–30 May), midseason (22 July–9 Aug.), and season end (6–25 Oct.), to determine if the field-based measures reliably predict degradation as revealed by changes in mulch mechanical properties. Four different types of biodegradable mulches [two plastic film mulches marketed as biodegradable (BioAgri and BioTelo); one fully biodegradable paper mulch (WeedGuardPlus); and, one experimental spunbonded plastic mulch designed to biodegrade (SBPLA)] were evaluated against a standard nonbiodegradable polyethylene (PE) mulch where tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Celebrity) was planted as the model crop. Each year for the 3 years, PVD increased earlier for WeedGuardPlus than the other mulches in both the high tunnel and open field, and WeedGuardPlus had the greatest PVD in both high tunnels and the open field (6% and 48%, respectively). Mechanical strength of WeedGuardPlus also declined by the end of the season both in the high tunnel (up to 46% reduction) and in the open field (up to 81% reduction). PVD of BioAgri and BioTelo reached a maximum of 3% in the high tunnel and 28% in the open field by the end of the season. Mechanical strength of BioAgri and BioTelo did not change over the course of the season in either the open field or high tunnel, even though the ability of these mulches to elongate or stretch declined 89% in the open field and 82% in the high tunnel. SBPLA and PE mulches did not show a change in PVD or mechanical properties in either the high tunnel or the open field. Overall, PVD was three to six times greater by midseason in the open field than in the high tunnels. Although there were significant relationships between visual assessments and various mechanical properties for each mulch except SBPLA, the relationships differed for each mulch when evaluated separately and had coefficients of determination ( R 2 ) below 30%. Furthermore, PVD overestimated mechanical deterioration of BioAgri and BioTelo. Results of this study indicate that mulch visual assessments may reflect general trends in changes in certain mechanical properties of the mulch; however, visual assessment and mechanical properties provide different information on deterioration. Each should be used as needed, but not as a substitute for each other.

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Crossref · 10.21273/hortsci.51.3.245

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  • Both elongation and breaking force of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) were generally lower (100% to 416% and 18% to 124%, respectively) in the current study than in Cowan et al. [18] and Zhang et al. [23].

    “Although the BDMs in this study were made with the same feedstocks (PLA, PBAT, and starch) and by the same manufacturers as the BDMs used in Cowan et al. [18] and Zhang et al. [23], both the elongation and breaking force of BDMs were generally lower (100% to 416% and 18% to 124%, respectively) in the current study”

    From Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Undergo Minimal in-Soil Degradation in a Perennial Raspberry System after 18 Months (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Materials and Methods and Table 1 (page not available in our copy) identify the mulches, manufacturers, and some feedstocks used by Cowan et al.; the Results report measurements of breaking force and elongation. The copy does not establish that the later study used the same manufacturers and all three stated feedstocks, or verify its claimed 100%–416% and 18%–124% differences. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Mechanical properties are indirect indicators of mulch degradation because the physical integrity of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) will deteriorate during the biodegradation process.

    “Mechanical properties are indirect indicators of mulch degradation, because the physical integrity of BDMs will deteriorate during the biodegradation process [15,18,22].”

    From Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Undergo Minimal in-Soil Degradation in a Perennial Raspberry System after 18 Months (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Discussion treats mechanical properties as measures of mulch degradation and says they reflect the material’s inherent condition. But the paper distinguishes field disintegration from biodegradation after incorporation into soil; it does not establish that the measured loss of physical integrity occurred during biodegradation. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • PSE measurements are not a measure of degradation.

    “Cowan et al. [18] demonstrated, however, that PSE measurements are not a measure of degradation.”

    From Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Undergo Minimal in-Soil Degradation in a Perennial Raspberry System after 18 Months (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Cowan et al. [18] and Zhang et al. [23] sampled mulch treatments five months after application, and mulches were in place only during the summer season.

    “Cowan et al. [18] and Zhang et al. [23] sampled mulch treatments five months after application, and mulches were in place only during the summer season.”

    From Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Undergo Minimal in-Soil Degradation in a Perennial Raspberry System after 18 Months (2020) · cites this paper as [18]

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Metadata

Authors
Cowan, J. S., Saxton, A. M., Liu, H., Leonas, K. K., Inglis, D., & Miles, C. A.
Affiliations
North Carolina State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
HortScience
Publisher
American Society for Horticultural Science
Published
2016-03
Volume
51
Issue
3
Pages
245-254
ISSN
  • 0018-5345 (ISSN-L)
  • 2327-9834
DOI
10.21273/hortsci.51.3.245
OpenAlex
W2340354506
Cited by
8
References
27
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 1
FWCI
0.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
HortScience (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Irrigation Practices and Water Management
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization
Keywords
biodegradable mulch, mechanical properties, breaking strength, elongation, paper mulch, high tunnels, polyethylene mulch, tomato, plastic film mulching, weed control, crop yield and quality, greenhouse gas emissions, soil organic carbon

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