Crystal Cheng,Bryan Huang, Chenhao Zhang, William Wen Zong, Aaron Huang, Linda Shi

Abstract: Growing environmental concerns have accelerated the development of biodegradable plastics, which are applied widely in organic waste collection bags, disposable food containers, and agriculture mulch films. Mulch films are widely used in agriculture to suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, protect soil structure, and control pests, thereby enhancing crop yields. However, conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films accumulate as plastic fragments, causing significant soil pollution. In contrast, biodegradable mulch films are completely assimilated by soil microorganisms as a carbon source, safely reintegrating into the ecosystem. The major critique for existing biodegradable films is that they perform well for short-growth-cycle crops (<90 days; e.g., potatoes, strawberries) but disintegrate prematurely in long-growth-cycle crops like cotton (requiring 120–150 days of coverage), leading to substantial yield losses. This study aims to enhance biodegradable film properties with advanced technologies, such as grafting biopolymers with inorganic fillers to improve tensile strength, UV resistance, and water barrier properties while maintaining biodegradability to align with cotton growth timelines to ensure functionality during cultivation and complete disintegration before the next planting season. The results obtained from laboratory aging tests (100 hours) and biodegradation tests (180 days) confirmed the biodegradable mulch film’s durability and decomposition profile. Subsequently, the field tests in cotton fields demonstrated that the optimized film with advanced technology sustained the support for cotton growth during 120–150 days, degraded on schedule, and delivered yields comparable to PE films.

Keywords: Biodegradable mulch film, disintegration, grafting, tensile strength, aging test, biodegradation test, field test

Date Published: October 30, 2025
DOI: 10.11159/jbeb.2025.007

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