Studies on composite biodegradable films for soil mulching-A review

Mulch is a product used to suppress weeds; raises soil temperature and conserve water in crop production and landscaping. Plastic mulch is often used in conjunction with drip irrigation. By using plastics film and sheet in agriculture, water can be conserved and production increased. One issue for the industry is recovery of plastic film from mulch applications when the material is often torn and dirty. Sustainability is a big issue and efforts are being made to improve recovery and recycling rates. The environmental impact of persistent plastic wastes is evoking more global concern as alternative disposal methods are limited. Incineration may generate toxic air pollution, and satisfactory landfill sites are limited. Recently, the continuously growing concern of the public for the problem has stimulated research interests in biodegradable polymers. In this study, the different biodegradable films that are exclusively used for mulching were discussed in detail.