Plastic pollution is global concern, affecting most aspects of global food production systems. Plasticulture, a practice used in agriculture to improve crop quality and quantity, among other factors, is a significant ...Plastic pollution is global concern, affecting most aspects of global food production systems. Plasticulture, a practice used in agriculture to improve crop quality and quantity, among other factors, is a significant source of plastic pollution. This review examines the extent of plasticulture in China, the implications of the practice across decades of use and the legislative instruments used to resolve those issues. It briefly assesses the effectiveness of these policies and proposes possible future innovations to promote increases in long-term food and eco-security, where sustainable plasticulture is a key agent for change. While plasticulture has increased agricultural productivity in growth-limiting conditions, plastic pollution in agricultural soils has become acute in China. Consequently, plastic pollution is having deleterious effects on soil health and in turn, crop productivity in China. Plastic pollution in agriculture is a multifaceted issue and so proposed solutions should be informed by this complexity. Current measures do not reflect a holistic approach to solving this socioecological challenge and adopt a top-down approach, with little or no supportive mechanisms. Future recommendations need to consider the particular set of conditions that influence the production, use and end-of-life management of agriplastics,specific to the environmental, economic and social conditions in each location.展开更多
High tunnels have been used in the United States for more than 50 years, and growers are encouraged to use them more frequently through government cost-share programs. Research on fruits and vegetable production syste...High tunnels have been used in the United States for more than 50 years, and growers are encouraged to use them more frequently through government cost-share programs. Research on fruits and vegetable production systems has focused on high value crops such as tomato, salad greens, and several fruit crops. Maintaining soil quality and controlling insects and diseases are all issues that growers face. This review looks at current research on these issues as well as economic considerations addressed in the scientific literature. Global statistics and reports are also reviewed that complement the North American studies. Gaps in our understanding are identified, and directions for future research are suggested.展开更多
In organic lettuce cultivation,snails can cause great economic loss.There is a lack of effective control methods for these molluscs.This work is focused on the development of a new agricultural plastic mulch material ...In organic lettuce cultivation,snails can cause great economic loss.There is a lack of effective control methods for these molluscs.This work is focused on the development of a new agricultural plastic mulch material based on low density polyethylene(LDPE),as it is the most widely used polymer in plasticulture.The objective was to develop a new bio-based plastic mulch material that is insect repellent and anti-biofilm by incorporating a bioactive substance into the conventional formulation of the material.A new plastic mulching film made of 0.1%cade oil as was produced using the extrusion process.Bioadhesion tests carried out with aqueous suspensions of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa show that this material is endowed with anti-biofilm effects.This study will demonstrate how to act by repulsive effect to Helix aspersa against this devastating mollusk in salads culture.展开更多
Plastic film mulching(PFM)enhances plant growth and productivity by modifying soil properties.In Sri Lanka,the adoption of PFM is gradually rising,especially for high-value crops.However,its influence on soil remains ...Plastic film mulching(PFM)enhances plant growth and productivity by modifying soil properties.In Sri Lanka,the adoption of PFM is gradually rising,especially for high-value crops.However,its influence on soil remains a topic of significant scrutiny,especially in environmentally delicate locations such as the wet zone(WZ)of Sri Lanka.This research examines how different PFMs affect soil physicochemical properties and plant performance in chili production within the WZ.Chili(Capsicum annuum cv.MICH HY-1)was cultivated under a non-biodegradable low-density polyethylene(LDPE)mulch(PEUK),a reflective LDPE mulch,a PLA-PBAT biodegradable mulch(BD)and no mulch film application for one growing season.Soil physicochemical properties(pH,EC,moisture,nutrients and temperature),plant height and leaf chlorophyll content(SPAD)were measured monthly.The fresh biomass of roots,leaves,stems and remaining fruits was measured at the end of the season.This study demonstrated that mulching effectively conserved soil NO_(3)^(–)and available P while having no significant impact on NH_(4)^(+)levels.Mulching increased gravimetric moisture content(GMC)and soil temperature compared to the control,with PEUK achieving the highest soil temperature(36.3±0.71°C).Mulching did not influence soil pH,but the control consistently had the lowest EC(17.6±1.54µS·cm^(−1)).Mulching significantly improved plant height(PEUK of 70.2±1.7 cm),SPAD(PEUK of 65.6±1.4),yield(BD of 1230±84 g)and fresh biomass relative to the control(height of 58.8±2.3 cm,SPAD of 49.7±1.5 and yield of 736±59 g).Overall,the findings demonstrate that biodegradable mulch performed similarly to non-biodegradable plastic mulches in improving both soil properties and crop yield,indicating it could be a sustainable alternative for chili production in wet tropical regions.展开更多
Soil organic matter(SOM)is an important store of carbon and is vital to maintaining soil health.Growing crops generally causes a reduction in SOM.However,organic farming systems often adopt practices that partially mi...Soil organic matter(SOM)is an important store of carbon and is vital to maintaining soil health.Growing crops generally causes a reduction in SOM.However,organic farming systems often adopt practices that partially mitigate this loss.Biodegradable plastic film mulch(PFM)can increase yields by improving soil hydrothermal conditions,increasing nitrogen use efficiency and suppressing weeds.It can also speed up SOM breakdown and induce changes to the soil microbiome.Further,the increased return of C from rhizodeposition and crop residues from PFM-grown crops can compensate for SOM breakdown,although outcomes vary substantially with agronomic and environmental conditions.To address these uncertainties,a plot-scale field experiment was conducted on an organic farm with a 3-year vegetable rotation measuring SOM content from treatments with and without biodegradable PFM,inputs of poultry manure or green waste compost,and with or without an overwinter green manure.Biodegradable PFM caused a significant increase in yield in all the crops grown(43%–46%)and the overwinter green manures(18%),resulting in more organic matter incorporated into the soil.Despite this,there was no significant difference in the SOM content between the biodegradable PFM-and non-PFM-mulched plots over the 3 years,nor was there any significant change in soil bacterial diversity.In contrast,the large difference in the mass of green waste compost and poultry manure addition resulted in a 15%increase in SOM after 3 years.Biodegradable PFM did not affect alpha(Shannon)or beta diversity of soil bacterial community.展开更多
基金funded by BBSRC (EAA7536XS04)Waitrose Agronomy Group as part of the Waitrose Collaborative Training Partnership。
文摘Plastic pollution is global concern, affecting most aspects of global food production systems. Plasticulture, a practice used in agriculture to improve crop quality and quantity, among other factors, is a significant source of plastic pollution. This review examines the extent of plasticulture in China, the implications of the practice across decades of use and the legislative instruments used to resolve those issues. It briefly assesses the effectiveness of these policies and proposes possible future innovations to promote increases in long-term food and eco-security, where sustainable plasticulture is a key agent for change. While plasticulture has increased agricultural productivity in growth-limiting conditions, plastic pollution in agricultural soils has become acute in China. Consequently, plastic pollution is having deleterious effects on soil health and in turn, crop productivity in China. Plastic pollution in agriculture is a multifaceted issue and so proposed solutions should be informed by this complexity. Current measures do not reflect a holistic approach to solving this socioecological challenge and adopt a top-down approach, with little or no supportive mechanisms. Future recommendations need to consider the particular set of conditions that influence the production, use and end-of-life management of agriplastics,specific to the environmental, economic and social conditions in each location.
文摘High tunnels have been used in the United States for more than 50 years, and growers are encouraged to use them more frequently through government cost-share programs. Research on fruits and vegetable production systems has focused on high value crops such as tomato, salad greens, and several fruit crops. Maintaining soil quality and controlling insects and diseases are all issues that growers face. This review looks at current research on these issues as well as economic considerations addressed in the scientific literature. Global statistics and reports are also reviewed that complement the North American studies. Gaps in our understanding are identified, and directions for future research are suggested.
文摘In organic lettuce cultivation,snails can cause great economic loss.There is a lack of effective control methods for these molluscs.This work is focused on the development of a new agricultural plastic mulch material based on low density polyethylene(LDPE),as it is the most widely used polymer in plasticulture.The objective was to develop a new bio-based plastic mulch material that is insect repellent and anti-biofilm by incorporating a bioactive substance into the conventional formulation of the material.A new plastic mulching film made of 0.1%cade oil as was produced using the extrusion process.Bioadhesion tests carried out with aqueous suspensions of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa show that this material is endowed with anti-biofilm effects.This study will demonstrate how to act by repulsive effect to Helix aspersa against this devastating mollusk in salads culture.
基金supported by UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (NE/V005871/1).
文摘Plastic film mulching(PFM)enhances plant growth and productivity by modifying soil properties.In Sri Lanka,the adoption of PFM is gradually rising,especially for high-value crops.However,its influence on soil remains a topic of significant scrutiny,especially in environmentally delicate locations such as the wet zone(WZ)of Sri Lanka.This research examines how different PFMs affect soil physicochemical properties and plant performance in chili production within the WZ.Chili(Capsicum annuum cv.MICH HY-1)was cultivated under a non-biodegradable low-density polyethylene(LDPE)mulch(PEUK),a reflective LDPE mulch,a PLA-PBAT biodegradable mulch(BD)and no mulch film application for one growing season.Soil physicochemical properties(pH,EC,moisture,nutrients and temperature),plant height and leaf chlorophyll content(SPAD)were measured monthly.The fresh biomass of roots,leaves,stems and remaining fruits was measured at the end of the season.This study demonstrated that mulching effectively conserved soil NO_(3)^(–)and available P while having no significant impact on NH_(4)^(+)levels.Mulching increased gravimetric moisture content(GMC)and soil temperature compared to the control,with PEUK achieving the highest soil temperature(36.3±0.71°C).Mulching did not influence soil pH,but the control consistently had the lowest EC(17.6±1.54µS·cm^(−1)).Mulching significantly improved plant height(PEUK of 70.2±1.7 cm),SPAD(PEUK of 65.6±1.4),yield(BD of 1230±84 g)and fresh biomass relative to the control(height of 58.8±2.3 cm,SPAD of 49.7±1.5 and yield of 736±59 g).Overall,the findings demonstrate that biodegradable mulch performed similarly to non-biodegradable plastic mulches in improving both soil properties and crop yield,indicating it could be a sustainable alternative for chili production in wet tropical regions.
文摘Soil organic matter(SOM)is an important store of carbon and is vital to maintaining soil health.Growing crops generally causes a reduction in SOM.However,organic farming systems often adopt practices that partially mitigate this loss.Biodegradable plastic film mulch(PFM)can increase yields by improving soil hydrothermal conditions,increasing nitrogen use efficiency and suppressing weeds.It can also speed up SOM breakdown and induce changes to the soil microbiome.Further,the increased return of C from rhizodeposition and crop residues from PFM-grown crops can compensate for SOM breakdown,although outcomes vary substantially with agronomic and environmental conditions.To address these uncertainties,a plot-scale field experiment was conducted on an organic farm with a 3-year vegetable rotation measuring SOM content from treatments with and without biodegradable PFM,inputs of poultry manure or green waste compost,and with or without an overwinter green manure.Biodegradable PFM caused a significant increase in yield in all the crops grown(43%–46%)and the overwinter green manures(18%),resulting in more organic matter incorporated into the soil.Despite this,there was no significant difference in the SOM content between the biodegradable PFM-and non-PFM-mulched plots over the 3 years,nor was there any significant change in soil bacterial diversity.In contrast,the large difference in the mass of green waste compost and poultry manure addition resulted in a 15%increase in SOM after 3 years.Biodegradable PFM did not affect alpha(Shannon)or beta diversity of soil bacterial community.
