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Modeling the effect of biodegradable paper and plastic mulch on soil moisture dynamics

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  • Saglam, Mustafa
  • Sintim, Henry Y.
  • Bary, Andy I.
  • Miles, Carol A.
  • Ghimire, Shuresh
  • Inglis, Debra A.
  • Flury, Markus

Abstract

Plastic mulch films are often used in agriculture to conserve soil moisture. Most of the plastic mulch currently used worldwide is made of non-biodegradable polyethylene, which has to be removed and disposed after harvest, incurring significant environmental costs. Biodegradable paper or plastic mulch could offer a valuable alternative to polyethylene. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of biodegradable mulches and standard polyethylene mulch on soil moisture dynamics during a growing season. A field experiment was carried out with pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), which were irrigated and grown on raised beds covered with the following mulch treatments: no mulch, biodegradable paper, biodegradable plastic, and polyethylene. Soil moisture was measured at 10- and 20-cm depths. A numerical model (HYDRUS-2D) was used to simulate the moisture dynamics under the different mulch treatments, each represented by different boundary conditions at the soil surface. Polyethylene mulch, which created an impermeable surface layer, effectively reduced evaporation and maintained highest water content among the treatments. Biodegradable paper mulch, which was partially permeable to evaporation and rainfall throughout the growing season, resulted in soil moisture that was intermediate between that obtained for no mulch and polyethylene. Biodegradable plastic mulch, which was similar to that of polyethylene mulch initially in terms of effects on soil moisture, disintegrated during the growing season and allowed rainfall to penetrate and water to evaporate from the soil surface. Field data and model simulations both indicate that the biodegradable paper and plastic mulches provide comparable soil moisture dynamics as polyethylene mulch.

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  • Saglam, Mustafa & Sintim, Henry Y. & Bary, Andy I. & Miles, Carol A. & Ghimire, Shuresh & Inglis, Debra A. & Flury, Markus, 2017. "Modeling the effect of biodegradable paper and plastic mulch on soil moisture dynamics," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 240-250.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:193:y:2017:i:c:p:240-250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2017.08.011
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    10. Yin, Tao & Yao, Zhipeng & Yan, Changrong & Liu, Qi & Ding, Xiaodong & He, Wenqing, 2023. "Maize yield reduction is more strongly related to soil moisture fluctuation than soil temperature change under biodegradable film vs plastic film mulching in a semi-arid region of northern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    11. Chen, Baoqing & Liu, Enke & Mei, Xurong & Yan, Changrong & Garré, Sarah, 2018. "Modelling soil water dynamic in rain-fed spring maize field with plastic mulching," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 19-27.
    12. Leng, Xu & Li, Xianyue & Chen, Ning & Zhang, Jinjun & Guo, Yu & Ding, Zongjiang, 2021. "Evaluating the effects of biodegradable film mulching and topdressing nitrogen on nitrogen dynamic and utilization in the arid cornfield," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    13. Yin, Minhua & Li, Yuannong & Fang, Heng & Chen, Pengpeng, 2019. "Biodegradable mulching film with an optimum degradation rate improves soil environment and enhances maize growth," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 127-137.
    14. Yu, Qihua & Kang, Shaozhong & Zhang, Lu & Hu, Shunjun & Li, Yunfeng & Parsons, David, 2023. "Incorporating new functions into the WAVES model, to better simulate cotton production under film mulching and severe salinity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    15. Yang, Yonghui & Ding, Jinli & Zhang, Yunhong & Wu, Jicheng & Zhang, Jiemei & Pan, Xiaoying & Gao, Cuimin & Wang, Yue & He, Fang, 2018. "Effects of tillage and mulching measures on soil moisture and temperature, photosynthetic characteristics and yield of winter wheat," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 299-308.
    16. Zhao, Ying & Zhai, Xiafei & Wang, Zhaohui & Li, Huijie & Jiang, Rui & Lee Hill, Robert & Si, Bing & Hao, Feng, 2018. "Simulation of soil water and heat flow in ridge cultivation with plastic film mulching system on the Chinese Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 99-112.

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