an official journal of: published by:
an official journal of: published by:
Editor in Chief: RAFFAELLO COSSU

REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF PLASTIC WASTE IN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS BY DEVELOPING NEW OK SOIL BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

  • Carolina Peñalva - Polígono Empresarium, AITIIP, Centro Tecnológico, Spain
  • Marta Pérez - Parque Científico Tecnológico Aula Dei, Spain
  • Francesca Braca - Laboratori ARCHA, Italy
  • Diego Redondo - Estación Experimental de Aula Dei, Spain

Released under CC BY-NC-ND

Copyright: © 2020 CISA Publisher


Abstract

Current intensive farming practices require the use of large quantities of mulching film and fruit protection bags since they prevent the growth of weeds, regulate soil temperature, retain water and nutrients and protect crops from insects. For these practices, single-use conventional non-degradable polymers are used, creating a serious problem of waste management since it is time-consuming, expensive to recycle and, more importantly, is non-environmentally friendly contaminating the environment. By using biodegradable plastics, this problem could be solved by preventing the creation of waste. The objectives of our study were to produce an innovative biobased and biodegradable plastic film that entirely biodegrades in natural conditions on the field within a short time after their usage and to know it effects in tomato and peach crops. For this purpose, films have been produced for biomulching to which specific oligo elements has been added to test in tomato crops and for biobags to protect the fruits from insects and improve quality at harvest in peaches. Tests carried out on tomato showed that, these bioplastics improved soil quality by increasing (up to 13%) the concentration of oligo elements and by decreasing (65%) blossom end rot. In the case of peaches, by using biobags, a uniform colour (without red blush), a required characteristic in this type of commodity (Protected Designation of Origin ‘Calanda’) was obtained, with a decrease in both a* colour coordinate (more than 2 points) and carotenoid content (more than 3 µg g-1 fw). Moreover, bioplastics degrade completely after 6 within the soil.

Keywords


Editorial History

  • Received: 07 Jan 2020
  • Revised: 21 May 2020
  • Accepted: 05 Jun 2020
  • Available online: 05 Oct 2020

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