Environmental and Hydrological Implications of Innovative Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer Membrane: First Results

Agricultural management techniques like plastic mulch films are widely used to enhance crop production by conserving soil water and increasing temperature with the ability to suppress weeds. However, the use of plastic represents large environmental concern since the recovery of plastics from soils and its persistence in the environment is causing global problems. The EU in leading in policy with ban on single use plastics and it is a matter of time when conventional plastic mulch films will be banned as well. To solve the problem, researchers have turned their attention to biodegradable products while lately sprayable biodegradable polymer membrane (SBPM) technology was introduced. Here, we present first results of glasshouse study and in-field experiments with SBPM technology in Australia where with the use of subsurface drip irrigation we could improve water use efficiency of crops with reducing evaporation. First results indicate that SBPM technology could limit soil evaporation, reduce irrigation needs and prevent weed emergence while at the same time providing environmentally sustainable agricultural practice through its biodegradability, nontoxicity and sprayability nature. This innovative technology shows large potential even at this early development stage with the need for further improvement of SBPM formulation, management and properties.