IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v272y2022ics0378377422004152.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is biodegradable film an alternative to polyethylene plastic film for improving maize productivity in rainfed agricultural areas? — Evidence from field experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Huang, Fangyuan
  • Liu, Zihan
  • Li, Zhaoyang
  • Wang, Bingfan
  • Zhang, Peng
  • Jia, ZhiKuan

Abstract

Due to increasing concerns regarding plastic pollution throughout the world, biodegradable mulch is considered a promising alternative to polyethylene film and its suitability has been verified in some crops. However, it is unclear whether the long-term continuous use of biodegradable mulch as a substitute for polyethylene film is sustainable in rainfed agricultural areas, and whether its effect is consistent under different climatic conditions. Therefore, we conducted 7-year (2013–2019) and 4-year (2015–2018) field experiments in two regions with different precipitation levels (semiarid and semi-humid regions) on the Loess Plateau in China. We compared the effects of polyethylene film mulching (PM), biodegradable film mulching (BM), and traditional flat planting without film mulching (TF) on the soil temperature, soil moisture, grain yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit (EB). The results showed that compared with TF, the grain yields under BM and PM increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, respectively, WPc increased by 2.1–93.3% and 7.6–34.6%, and EB increased by –16.6–131.5% and –7.8–27.0%. The differences in these indexes under the two mulching methods mainly occurred in the dry years with less precipitation in the semiarid region, whereas there were no significant differences in the grain yield, WPc, and EB under BM and PM in the semi-humid region. Therefore, the decision regarding whether BM can replace PM to improve maize productivity is significantly affected by the annual precipitation in rainfed areas. Furthermore, the univariate quadratic equation model was used to simulate that BM can obtain a higher crop yield and EB than PM when the precipitation is more than 600 mm and less than 800 mm, so as to achieve a win–win situation with continuous yield and income increases, and environmental friendliness in the Loess Plateau of China. However, the yield increase effect of plastic film mulching is also related to crop types, mulch types and farming practices except for climate. In addition, reducing the production cost will still be important for encouraging farmers to use biodegradable film instead of polyethylene film.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Fangyuan & Liu, Zihan & Li, Zhaoyang & Wang, Bingfan & Zhang, Peng & Jia, ZhiKuan, 2022. "Is biodegradable film an alternative to polyethylene plastic film for improving maize productivity in rainfed agricultural areas? — Evidence from field experiments," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:272:y:2022:i:c:s0378377422004152
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107868
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377422004152
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107868?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fernández, J.E. & Alcon, F. & Diaz-Espejo, A. & Hernandez-Santana, V. & Cuevas, M.V., 2020. "Water use indicators and economic analysis for on-farm irrigation decision: A case study of a super high density olive tree orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    2. Wang, Zhenhua & Wu, Qiang & Fan, Bihang & Zheng, Xurong & Zhang, Jinzhu & Li, Wenhao & Guo, Li, 2019. "Effects of mulching biodegradable films under drip irrigation on soil hydrothermal conditions and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 477-485.
    3. 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.
    4. Brodhagen, Marion & Goldberger, Jessica R. & Hayes, Douglas G. & Inglis, Debra Ann & Marsh, Thomas L. & Miles, Carol, 2017. "Policy considerations for limiting unintended residual plastic in agricultural soils," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 81-84.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bingfan Wang & Zhaoyang Li & Zihan Liu & Jinwen Pang & Peng Zhang & Zhikuan Jia, 2023. "Effects of Future Climate Change on Spring Maize Yield and Water Use Efficiency under Film Mulching with Different Materials in the LOESS Plateau Region of China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Baoqing Chen & Jixiao Cui & Wenyi Dong & Changrong Yan, 2023. "Effects of Biodegradable Plastic Film on Carbon Footprint of Crop Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-9, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhiwen Song & Lei Zhao & Junguo Bi & Qingyun Tang & Guodong Wang & Yuxiang Li, 2024. "Classification of Degradable Mulch Films and Their Promotional Effects and Limitations on Agricultural Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Gao, Xuhua & Xie, Dong & Yang, Chong, 2021. "Effects of a PLA/PBAT biodegradable film mulch as a replacement of polyethylene film and their residues on crop and soil environment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Liyuan Bo & Xiaomin Mao & Yali Wang, 2022. "Assessing the Applicability of Biodegradable Film Mulching in Northwest China Based on Comprehensive Benefits Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Zhao, Xiao & Gu, Xiaobo & Yang, Zhichao & Li, Yuannong & Zhang, Li & Zhou, Jiaming, 2022. "Effects of soil preparation and mulching practices together with different urea applications on the water and nitrogen use of winter wheat in semi-humid and drought-prone areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    5. Cheruiyot, Wesly Kiprotich & Zhu, Shuang-Guo & Indoshi, Sylvia Ngaira & Wang, Wei & Ren, Ai-Tian & Cheng, Zheng-Guo & Zhao, Ze-Ying & Zhang, Jin-Lin & Lu, Jun-Sheng & Zhang, Xu-Cheng & Munyasya, Alex , 2023. "Shallow-incorporated straw returning further improves rainfed maize productivity, profitability and soil carbon turnover on the basis of plastic film mulching," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    6. Chen, Ning & Li, Xianyue & Shi, Haibin & Zhang, Yuehong & Hu, Qi & Sun, Ya’nan, 2023. "Modeling effects of biodegradable film mulching on evapotranspiration and crop yields in Inner Mongolia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    7. 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).
    8. Anwar Abduwaiti & Xiaowei Liu & Changrong Yan & Yinghao Xue & Tuo Jin & Hongqi Wu & Pengcheng He & Zhe Bao & Qin Liu, 2021. "Testing Biodegradable Films as Alternatives to Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhancing the Yield and Economic Benefits of Processed Tomato in Xinjiang Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Arbizu-Milagro, Julia & Castillo-Ruiz, Francisco J. & Tascón, Alberto & Peña, Jose M., 2023. "Effects of regulated, precision and continuous deficit irrigation on the growth and productivity of a young super high-density olive orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    10. Wang, Haidong & Cheng, Minghui & Liao, Zhenqi & Guo, Jinjin & Zhang, Fucang & Fan, Junliang & Feng, Hao & Yang, Qiliang & Wu, Lifeng & Wang, Xiukang, 2023. "Performance evaluation of AquaCrop and DSSAT-SUBSTOR-Potato models in simulating potato growth, yield and water productivity under various drip fertigation regimes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    11. Darouich, Hanaa & Karfoul, Razan & Ramos, Tiago B. & Moustafa, Ali & Shaheen, Baraa & Pereira, Luis S., 2021. "Crop water requirements and crop coefficients for jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.) using the SIMDualKc model and assessing irrigation strategies for the Syrian Akkar region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    12. Feng, Z.Y. & Qin, T. & Du, X.Z. & Sheng, F. & Li, C.F., 2021. "Effects of irrigation regime and rice variety on greenhouse gas emissions and grain yields from paddy fields in central China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    13. Bopp, Carlos & Jara-Rojas, Roberto & Bravo-Ureta, Boris & Engler, Alejandra, 2022. "Irrigation water use, shadow values and productivity: Evidence from stochastic production frontiers in vineyards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    14. Wu, Lihong & Quan, Hao & Wu, Lina & Zhang, Xi & Feng, Hao & Ding, Dianyuan & Siddique, Kadambot H.M., 2023. "Responses of winter wheat yield and water productivity to sowing time and plastic mulching in the Loess Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    15. Xing, Yingying & Zhang, Teng & Jiang, Wenting & Li, Peng & Shi, Peng & Xu, Guoce & Cheng, Shengdong & Cheng, Yuting & Fan, Zhang & Wang, Xiukang, 2022. "Effects of irrigation and fertilization on different potato varieties growth, yield and resources use efficiency in the Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    16. Agüero Alcaras, L. Martín & Rousseaux, M. Cecilia & Searles, Peter S., 2021. "Yield and water productivity responses of olive trees (cv. Manzanilla) to post-harvest deficit irrigation in a non-Mediterranean climate," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    17. Siakou, M. & Bruggeman, A. & Eliades, M. & Zoumides, C. & Djuma, H. & Kyriacou, M.C. & Emmanouilidou, M.G. & Spyros, A. & Manolopoulou, E. & Moriana, A., 2021. "Effects of deficit irrigation on ‘Koroneiki’ olive tree growth, physiology and olive oil quality at different harvest dates," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    18. Wang, Rong & Huang, Guanhua & Xu, Xu & Ren, Dongyang & Gou, Jiachao & Wu, Zhangsheng, 2022. "Significant differences in agro-hydrological processes and water productivity between canal- and well-irrigated areas in an arid region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    19. Martínez-Gimeno, M.A. & Zahaf, A. & Badal, E. & Paz, S. & Bonet, L. & Pérez-Pérez, J.G., 2022. "Effect of progressive irrigation water reductions on super-high-density olive orchards according to different scarcity scenarios," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    20. Gołębiewska, Barbara & Grontkowska, Anna & Gębska, Monika, 2020. "Education As The Differentiating Factor In Applying Sustainable Development Principles On Farms," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(3).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:272:y:2022:i:c:s0378377422004152. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.