Soil culture: Influence of different natural fillers incorporated in biodegradable mulching film

The present paper focuses on the study of the incorporation of low levels of natural fillers in mulching films to understand how the fillers can change the mulching degradation capability in soil. This work prepared, biodegraded, and evaluated biodegradable mulching films composed of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly (lactic acid) (PLA), and three natural fillers (carbon black, organic fertilizer, and silica rice ash) prepared by double-screw extrusion. The films were characterized by wettability, sorption of water, biodegradation in simulated soil and ecotoxicity in bean cultivation. The results show that the addition of natural fillers can increase or decrease wettability, and this behavior is depending on the polarity of the fillers. However, all samples show sorption and biodegradation superior to pure blend, as expected. The fertilizer has contributed more for the accumulation of biomass and SiO2 to the structural growth of the bean. The least satisfactory performance for germination, growth and biomass of the crop was presented by the blends without addition compatibilizers of these natural fillers.