Performance and environmental impact of biodegradable polymers as agricultural mulching films

Touchaleaume, François; Martin-Closas, Lluis; Angellier Coussy, Hélène; Chevillard, Anne; Cesar, Guy; Gontard, Nathalie; Gastaldi, Emmanuelle

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.006

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Issue date

2016

Author

Touchaleaume, François

Martin-Closas, Lluis

Angellier Coussy, Hélène

Chevillard, Anne

Cesar, Guy

Gontard, Nathalie

Gastaldi, Emmanuelle

Suggested citation

Touchaleaume, François; Martin-Closas, Lluis; Angellier Coussy, Hélène; Chevillard, Anne; Cesar, Guy; Gontard, Nathalie; Gastaldi, Emmanuelle; . (2016) . Performance and environmental impact of biodegradable polymers as agricultural mulching films. Chemosphere, 2016, vol. 144, p. 433-439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.006.

Abstract

In the aim of resolving environmental key issues such as irreversible soil pollution by non-biodegradable and non-recoverable polyethylene (PE) fragments, a full-scale field experiment was set up to evaluate the suitability of four biodegradable materials based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephtalate) (PBAT) to be used as sustainable alternatives to PE for mulching application in vineyard. Initial ultimate tensile properties, functional properties during field ageing (water vapour permeability and radiometric properties), biodegradability and agronomical performance of the mulched vines (wood production and fruiting yield) were studied. In spite of their early loss of physical integrity that occurred only five months after vine planting, the four materials satisfied all the requested functional properties and led to agronomic performance as high as polyethylene. In the light of the obtained results, the mulching material lifespan was questioned in the case of long-term perennial crop such as grapevine. Taking into account their mulching efficiency and biodegradability, the four PBAT-based studied materials are proven to constitute suitable alternatives to the excessively resistant PE material.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/58418

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.09.006

Is part of

Chemosphere, 2016, vol. 144, p. 433-439