Sustainable agricultural solutions: biodegradable nutrient-release films made from Salix psammophila and wheat straw
摘要
To address the growing issue of plastic pollution, the development of biodegradable bio-based materials as a replacement for traditional plastic mulch films is crucial for advancing sustainable agriculture and mitigating environmental impact. This study aims to improve the performance of bio-based composite mulch films in agricultural applications. A functional biodegradable mulch film was synthesized via a polymerization process employing Salix psammophila and wheat straw fibers as primary constituents. The independent parameter in this study was the varying amounts of wood-modifying liquid (WML) added to the fiber pulp, with levels of 0 g (control), 1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, and 5 g. The pulp was thoroughly dispersed and cast onto wet paper, followed by vacuum drying at 100 °C for 5 min to produce mulch film samples with a basis weight of 60 g/m2. The results demonstrated that the dry tensile strength of the film reached 29.18 MPa, while its crushing resistance increased to 3.533 kPa·m2/g after incorporating 4 g of wood modification liquid. Furthermore, the modified film released of 16.38 mg/L of nitrogen over 180 min in water, exhibited a contact angle of 122°, and maintained its structural integrity after 90 days of immersion in an aqueous solution. These findings demonstrate the exceptional performance of the Salix psammophila/wheat straw fiber-based film, with promising applications in sustainable agriculture. The results underscore the potential of bio-based biodegradable materials to replace traditional plastic films in agricultural practices, and further optimization of production processes could enhance their performance in varying environmental conditions.
Graphical abstract