Plastic mulch do not promises for sustainability

Nowadays the use of plastic mulch in commercial farms also somewhere in small farm which are established for long run are using plastic mulch as a priority. The main reason for the use of plastic mulch is to reduce the variable cost of production in farms which provides multiple benefits in farm. Low manpower is require, high B/C ratio, nullifies the use of herbicides and are also effective in response to irrigation and most importantly can be used for a couple of years.

However, a new study led by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences indicates that these benefits to crops may be transient. Farmers often fail to remove plastic mulch at the end of the crop season, allowing the plastic sheeting to break down and accumulate in the soil. In the long term, this plastic debris may affect the health of the crop and the safety of the food produced (CABI 2020).

The research survey was broken down into two phases first regarding the response for use of plastic mulch and their impact on agriculture and the second one included the sample collection from field where 721 sites were selected across china.

The research also reported that around 66% of farmers do not remove the debris after the crop season ended and let them there. These accumulated plastics has a huge negative impact on soil, soil health and also on plant and microbes performance.

The crops mostly affect by plastic mulch and its debris in the field were cotton, maize, wheat. In present world Pollution is one of the serious problem and the careless use of plastic mulch and other various farming equipment are also increasing challenges.

In contrast  to plastic mulch, cost effect organic mulch should be promoted which not only promises for better soil health but also promises for all the attributes influenced by plastic mulch and in addition organic mulch do not need to be removed from field as they are biodegradable and are degraded by soil micro flora.

Picture source:https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/china-innovation-solution-rural-plastic-pollution

References

CABI (2020.Plastic mulch pollution in crop soil may threaten food security