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dc.contributor.authorMansoor, Zinnia
dc.contributor.authorTchuenbou-Magaia, Fideline Laure
dc.contributor.authorKowalczuk, Marek
dc.contributor.authorAdamus, Grazyna
dc.contributor.authorManning, Georgina
dc.contributor.authorParati, Mattia
dc.contributor.authorRadecka, Iza
dc.contributor.authorKhan, Habib
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-24T10:57:11Z
dc.date.available2022-11-24T10:57:11Z
dc.date.issued2022-11-22
dc.identifier.citationMansoor Z, Tchuenbou-Magaia F, Kowalczuk M, Adamus G, Manning G, Parati M, Radecka I, Khan H. (2022) Polymers Use as Mulch Films in Agriculture—A Review of History, Problems and Current Trends. Polymers, 14(23):5062. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235062en
dc.identifier.issn2073-4360en
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/polym14235062en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2436/625003
dc.description© 2022 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235062en
dc.description.abstractThe application of mulch films for preserving soil moisture and preventing weed growth has been a part of agricultural practice for decades. Different materials have been used as mulch films, but polyethylene plastic has been considered most effective due to its excellent mechanical strength, low cost and ability to act as a barrier for sunlight and water. However, its use carries a risk of plastic pollution and health hazards, hence new laws have been passed to replace it completely with other materials over the next few years. Research to find out about new biodegradable polymers for this purpose has gained impetus in the past few years, driven by regulations and the United Nations Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals. The primary requisite for these polymers is biodegradability under natural climatic conditions without the production of any toxic residual compounds. Therefore, biodegradable polymers developed from fossil fuels, microorganisms, animals and plants are viable options for using as mulching material. However, the solution is not as simple since each polymer has different mechanical properties and a compromise has to be made in terms of strength, cost and biodegradability of the polymer for its use as mulch film. This review discusses the history of mulching materials, the gradual evolution in the choice of materials, the process of biodegradation of mulch films, the regulations passed regarding material to be used, types of polymers that can be explored as potential mulch films and the future prospects in the area.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded by the University of Wolverhampton Research Investment Fund (RIF4) and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) UK (reference PKCS-2021-645).en
dc.formatapplication/pdfen
dc.languageen
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherMDPIen
dc.relation.urlhttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/23/5062en
dc.subjectmulch filmsen
dc.subjectbiodegradabilityen
dc.subjectbiopolymersen
dc.subjectSDGsen
dc.subjectsustainable development goalsen
dc.subjectplastic pollutionen
dc.titlePolymers use as mulch films in agriculture— a review of history, problems and current trendsen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.identifier.eissn2073-4360
dc.identifier.journalPolymersen
dc.date.updated2022-11-23T10:23:41Z
dc.date.accepted2022-11-17
rioxxterms.funderUniversity of Wolverhampton, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UKen
rioxxterms.identifier.projectPKCS-2021-645en
rioxxterms.versionVoRen
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2022-11-24en
dc.source.volume14
dc.source.issue23
dc.source.beginpage5062
dc.source.endpage5062
dc.description.versionPublished online
refterms.dateFCD2022-11-24T10:57:02Z
refterms.versionFCDVoR
refterms.dateFOA2022-11-24T10:57:12Z


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