Effect of Plastic Mulch Wastes on Soil Quality and Crop Productivity in Agro-Environments

During recent decades, plastic production has increased significantly due to their easiness for use, cost effectiveness and durability. Nevertheless, plastic debris remained in natural environment has raised an emerging concern throughout the world. Plastic mulching has become a globally applied agricultural practice for its instant economic benefits such as higher yields, weed control, increased water-use efficiency and reduction of soil erosion. Despite of the short term benefits of plastic mulches, long-term consequences in terms of potential for deteriorating soil quality or their trophic transfer are less explored. This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of plastic mulch wastes on soil quality and crop productivity in agro-environments. First, plastic contamination in agricultural soils will be characterized and quantified in three agricultural sites in Korea and also soil properties and plastic degradability will be assessed. Based on environmentally relevant plastic concentrations derived from previous monitoring results, microcosm experiments will be designed and conducted to evaluate long-lasting fate of plastic mulch wastes in agricultural soil. In addition, recommended crops will be grown under same conditions and their growth will be assessed.

This work was carried out with the support of "Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Effects of plastic mulch wastes on crop productivity and agro-environment, Project No. PJ014758)" Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.