Abstract
Polyethylene film is commonly used in intensive vegetable production, but disposal concerns have growers seeking sustainable alternatives. Potentially biodegradable plastic films (bioplastics) and fabrics (biofabrics) can be made from renewable materials, are compostable, and may degrade in the soil after the growing season, but there are questions about the field performance of these products. A two-year study was conducted in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) across two climatically diverse locations in Illinois, USA to compare performance among two bioplastic films (Eco Film and Bio Telo) and four experimental spunbond, nonwoven biofabrics (3M Company). Soil temperature and moisture, mulch durability and deterioration, weed suppression, and crop yield data were collected throughout each growing season. Bioplastic films began deteriorating as early as 3–5 weeks after transplanting crops, which contributed to increased weed emergence and evaporative soil water loss. In contrast, the BK-1-270 biofabric mulch did not deteriorate during the growing season, increased soil moisture throughout the season by up to 3.0% relative to bare soil, and eliminated weed competition. Bioplastic films increased soil temperatures by as much as 1.7 °C in northern Illinois and 2.3 °C in central Illinois, whereas soil temperatures were not different between bare soil and biofabrics. Increased soil temperature can hasten crop development and increase yield in cooler climates, but can also contribute to physiological stress and root disease in warmer climates. Biofabric and bioplastic mulches did not increase tomato or pepper fruit yields relative to bare soil. However, biofabrics may be useful in situations where soil warming is not desirable (e.g., warmer climates), but moisture conservation and weed control are essential (e.g., organic cropping systems).
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic films began deteriorating 3–5 weeks after transplanting.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume1 - Outcome
- Bioplastic films began deterioratinge0
- Value
- 3–5 weekse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bioplastic films began deteriorating as early as 3–5 weeks after transplanting crops”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic film deterioration increased weed emergence.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume2
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- increased weed emergencee0
- Qualifier
- Bioplastic films began deterioratinge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“which contributed to increased weed emergence and evaporative soil water loss”
e1“Bioplastic films began deteriorating as early as 3–5 weeks after transplanting crops”
e2“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic film deterioration increased evaporative soil water loss.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume2
- Outcome
- evaporative soil water losse0
- Qualifier
- Bioplastic films began deterioratinge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“which contributed to increased weed emergence and evaporative soil water loss”
e1“Bioplastic films began deteriorating as early as 3–5 weeks after transplanting crops”
e2“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
BK-1-270 biofabric mulch did not deteriorate during the growing season.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- BK-1-270 biofabric mulche0
- Outcome
- did not deterioratee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the BK-1-270 biofabric mulch did not deteriorate during the growing season”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
BK-1-270 biofabric increased soil moisture by up to 3.0% versus bare soil.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- BK-1-270 biofabric mulche0
- Outcome
- soil moisturee0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- up to 3.0%e0
- Comparator
- bare soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the BK-1-270 biofabric mulch did not deteriorate during the growing season, increased soil moisture throughout the season by up to 3.0% relative to bare soil”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
BK-1-270 biofabric eliminated weed competition.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- BK-1-270 biofabric mulche0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- weed competitione0
- Direction
- eliminatede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the BK-1-270 biofabric mulch did not deteriorate during the growing season, increased soil moisture throughout the season by up to 3.0% relative to bare soil, and eliminated weed competition”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic films increased soil temperature by as much as 1.7 °C in northern Illinois.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- Bioplastic filmse0
- Outcome
- soil temperaturese0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 1.7 °Ce0
- Setting
- northern Illinoise0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bioplastic films increased soil temperatures by as much as 1.7 °C in northern Illinois and 2.3 °C in central Illinois”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic films increased soil temperature by as much as 2.3 °C in central Illinois.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- Bioplastic filmse0
- Outcome
- soil temperaturese0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 2.3 °Ce0
- Setting
- central Illinoise0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bioplastic films increased soil temperatures by as much as 1.7 °C in northern Illinois and 2.3 °C in central Illinois”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil temperatures did not differ between bare soil and biofabrics.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- biofabricse0
- Outcome
- soil temperaturese0
- Direction
- not differente0
- Comparator
- bare soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“soil temperatures were not different between bare soil and biofabrics”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biofabric mulch did not increase tomato fruit yield relative to bare soil.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- Biofabrice0
- Outcome
- fruit yieldse0
- Direction
- did not increasee0
- Comparator
- bare soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biofabric and bioplastic mulches did not increase tomato or pepper fruit yields relative to bare soil”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic mulch did not increase tomato fruit yield relative to bare soil.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- bioplastic mulchese0
- Outcome
- fruit yieldse0
- Direction
- did not increasee0
- Comparator
- bare soile0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Biofabric and bioplastic mulches did not increase tomato or pepper fruit yields relative to bare soil”
Claim · model-written summary
Biofabric mulch did not increase pepper fruit yield relative to bare soil.
Verbatim
e0“Biofabric and bioplastic mulches did not increase tomato or pepper fruit yields relative to bare soil”
Claim · model-written summary
Bioplastic mulch did not increase pepper fruit yield relative to bare soil.
Verbatim
e0“Biofabric and bioplastic mulches did not increase tomato or pepper fruit yields relative to bare soil”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest biofabrics where soil warming is undesirable but moisture conservation and weed control matter.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Outcome
- biofabrics may be usefule0
- Qualifier
- soil warming is not desirablee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biofabrics may be useful in situations where soil warming is not desirable (e.g., warmer climates), but moisture conservation and weed control are essential”
e1“tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)”
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