Biodegradable Mulch - Publications

Written by members of the Biodegradable Mulch project team and their co-authors, these publications reflect our research about biodegradable mulch. Publications are sorted by topic area; within each topic area, the most recent publications are listed first. Publications that are not linked may be available through a literature search such as Google Scholar, or by contacting the author. Team members’ contact information is here.

General/Policy

Biodegradabability of Mulch and Mulch Materials

Soil Health

Crop Production

Adoption and Producer Perspectives

Economics

Added in 2019:

Ghimire, S., M. Flury, E.J. Scheenstra, and C.A. Miles. 2019. Sampling and Degradation of Biodegradable Plastic and Paper Mulches in Field after Tillage Incorporation. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135577

Goldberger, J.R., L.W. DeVetter, and K.E. Dentzman. 2019. Polyethylene and Biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Strawberry Production in the United States: Experiences and Opinions of Growers in Three Regions. HortTechnology 29(5):619-628. https://doi.org.10.21273/HORTTECH04303-19

Dentzman, K.E. and J.R. Goldberger. 2019. Organic standards, farmers’ perceptions, and the contested case of biodegradable plastic mulch in the United States. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.11.002

Astner, A.F., D.G. Hayes, H. O’Neill, B.R. Evans, S.V. Pingali, V.S. Urban, T.M. Young. 2019. Mechanical formation of micro- and nano-plastic materials for environmental studies in agricultural ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment 685: 1097-1106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.241

Dentzman, K. and J. Goldberger. 2019. Plastic scraps: biodegradable mulch films and the aesthetics of ‘good farming’ in US specialty crop production. Agriculture and Human Values. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09970-x

Hayes, D.G, M.B. Anunciado, J.M. DeBruyn, S. Bandopadhyay, S. Schaeffer, M. English, S. Ghimire, C. Miles, M. Flury, and H.Y. Sintim. 2019. Biodegradable plastic mulch films for sustainable specialty crop production. In: Gutiérrez T. (eds) Polymers for Agri-Food Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19416-1_11

Moore, J. and A. Wszelaki. 2019. The use of biodegradable mulches in pepper production in the southeastern United States. Horticultural Science 54(6):1031-1038. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13942-19.

Sintim, H.Y., A.I. Bary, D.G. Hayes, M.E. English, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, A. Zelenyuk, K. Suski, and M. Flury. 2019. Release of micro- and nanoparticles from biodegradable plastic during in situ composting. Science of the Total Environment 675(2019): 686-693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.179.

Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, M.E. English, A.I. Bary, J.M. DeBruyn, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, J.P. Reganold, and M. Flury. 2019. Impacts of biodegradable plastic mulches on soil health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 273(2019): 36-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.12.002

General/Policy

Goldberger, J.R. 2018. Agriculture in the plastic age. 2018 AFHVS presidential address. Agriculture and Human Values, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-018-9889-x

Hayes, D.G. 2017. Commentary: The relationship between “biobased,” “biodegradability” and “environmentally friendliness” (or the absence thereof). Editorial in J Am Oil Chem Soc 94: 1329-1331. DOI: 10.1007/s11746-017-3040-9.

Brodhagen, M., J. Goldberger, D. Hayes, D. Inglis, T. Marsh, and C. Miles. 2017. Policy considerations for limiting unintended residual plastic in agricultural soils. Environmental Science & Policy 69(March 2017): 81-84. Available online Dec 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.014

Miles, C., L. DeVetter, S. Ghimire, and D.G. Hayes. 2017. Suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches for organic and sustainable agricultural production systems. Horticultural Science 52(1): 10-15. Doi:10.21273/HORTSCI11249-16.

Biodegradabability of Mulch and Mulch Materials

Zhang, L., H.Y. Sintim, A.I.Bary, D.G. Hayes, L.C. Wadsworth, M.B. Anunciado, M. Flury. 2018. Interaction of Lumbricus terrestris with macroscopic polyethylene and biodegradable plastic mulch. Science of the Total Environment. 635 (2018): 1600-1608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.054.

Hayes, D., L. Wadsworth, H. Sintim, M. Flury, M. English, S. Schaeffer, A. Saxton. 2017. Effect of diverse weathering conditions on the physiochemical properties of biodegradable plastic mulches. Polymer Testing 62(September 2017): 454-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2017.07.027.

Cowan, J., A. Saxton, H. Liu, K. Leonas, D. Inglis, and C. Miles. 2016. Visual assessments of biodegradable mulch are not indicative of changes in mechanical properties. Horticultural Science51(3): 245-254.

Dharmalingam, S., D.G. Hayes, L.C. Wadsworth, and R.N. Dunlap. 2015. Analysis of the time course of degradation for fully biobased nonwoven agricultural mulches in compost-enriched soil.Textile Research Journal, first online publishing Nov. 11. doi:10.1177/0040517515612358.

Dharmalingam, S., D.G. Hayes, L.C. Wadsworth, and R.N. Dunlap, J.M. DeBruyn, J. Lee, A.L Wszelaki. 2015. Soil degradation of polylactic acid / polyhydroxyalkanoate-based nonwoven mulches. J. Polym. Environ. 23(3): 302-315. doi: 10.1007/s10924-015-0716-9.

Hablot, E., S. Dharmalingam, D.G. Hayes, L.C. Wadsworth, C. Blazy, and R. Narayan. 2014. Effects of simulated weathering on physiochemical properties and inherent biodegradation of PLA/PHA nonwoven mulches. J. Polym. Environ. 22(4): 417-429.

Wadsworth, L.C., D.G. Hayes, A.L. Wszelaki, T.L. Washington, J. Martin, J. Lee, R. Raley, C.T. Pannell, S. Dharmalingam, C.A. Miles, A.M. Saxton, and D.A. Inglis. 2013. Evaluation of degradable spun-melt 100% polylactic acid nonwoven mulch materials in a greenhouse environment. J. of Eng. Fibers and Fabrics 8(4):50-59.

Maimekov, Adilet. 2011. WSU non-thesis M.S. Factors determining prices of commodity thermoplastics. WSU School of Economic Sciences, Pullman, WA. 36 p.

Wadsworth, L.C., A.L. Wszelaki, D.G. Hayes, and B.R. Smith. 2009. Development of Enhanced Biodegradable Mulch Nonwovens to Replace Plastic Films. Proceedings of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists International Conference, March 10–12, Myrtle Beach, SC.

Wadsworth, L.C., A.L. Wszelaki, D.G. Hayes, and B.R. Smith, 2009. Development of Next Generation of Biodegradable Mulch Nonwovens to Replace Plastic Films. Proceedings of the International Nonwovens Technical Conference, Denver, CO.

Smith, B.R., L.C. Wadsworth, M.G. Kamath, A.L. Wszelaki, and C.E. Sams. 2008. Development of Next Generation Biodegradable Mulch Nonwovens to Replace Polyethylene Plastic. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Textiles, October 21–24, Wuxi, China.

Soil Health

Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, M.E. English, A.I. Bary, J.M. DeBruyn, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, J.P. Reganold, M. Flury. 2019. Impacts of biodegradable plastic mulches on soil health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 273(2019): 36-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.12.002

Bandopadhyay, S., L. Martin-Closas, A. M. Pelacho, and J. DeBruyn. 2018. Biodegradable plastic mulch films: Impact on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Frontiers in Mircobiology, 26 April 2018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819.

Saglam, M., H.Y. Sintim, A.I. Bary, C.A. Miles, S. Ghimire, D.A. Inglis, M. Flury. 2017. Modeling the effect of biodegradable paper and plastic mulch on soil moisture dynamics. Agric. Water Manage. 193: 240-250.

Sintim, H. and M. Flury. 2017. Is biodegradable plastic mulch the solution to agriculture’s plastic problem? Environmental Science & Technology, 51(3): 1068-1069. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b0b042

Sintim, H., S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, M. Flury, A. Bary, S. Schaeffer, J. DeBruyn, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2016. Soil quality and coloid transport under biodegradable mulches. EGU General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria, p. 18410.

Schaeffer, S.M., M. Flury, H.Y. Sintim, S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, A.I. Bary, and J.M. DeBruyn. 2015. Soil physical characteristics and biological indicators of soil quality under different biodegradable mulches. AGU Annual Meeting Abstracts, San Francisco, December 14-15, 2015.

Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, M. Flury, A.I. Bary, S. Schaeffer, J.M. DeBruyn, C. Miles, D. Inglis. 2015. Soil quality, moisture, and temperature evaluation under different biodegradable mulches. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18.

Brodhagen, M., M. Peyron, C. Miles, and D.A. Inglis. 2015. Biodegradable plastic agricultural mulches and key features of microbial degradation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 99:1039-1056. doi: 10.1007/s00253-014-6267-5

Li, C., J. Moore-Kucera, J. Lee, A. Corbin, M. Brodhagen, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2014. Degradation of potentially biodegradable plastic mulch films at three diverse U.S. locations. Journal of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 38(7): doi 10.1080/21683565.2014.884515.

Li, C., J. Moore-Kucera, J. Lee, A. Corbin, M. Brodhagen, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2014. Effects of biodegradable mulch on soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology 79:59-69.

Moore-Kucera, J., S.B. Cox, M. Peyron, G. Bailes, K. Kinloch, K. Karich, C. Miles, D.A. Inglis, and M. Brodhagen. 2014. Native soil fungi associated with compostable plastics in three contrasting agricultural settings. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98(14): 6467-6485.doi 10.1007/s00253-014-5711-x.

Bailes, G., M. Lind, A. Ely, M. Powell, J. Moore-Kucera, C. Miles, D. Inglis, and M. Brodhagen. 2013. Isolation of native soil microorganisms with potential for breaking down biodegradable plastic films used in agriculture. J. Vis. Exp. (75), e50373, doi:10.3791/50373.

Crop Production

Moore, J. and A. Wszelaki. 2019. The use of biodegradable mulches in pepper production in the southeastern United States. Horticultural Science 54(6):1031-1038. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13942-19.

Ghimire, S., A.L. Wszelaki, J.C. Moore, D.A. Inglis, and C.A. Miles. 2018. Use of biodegradable mulches in pie pumpkin production in two diverse climates. Horticultural Science 53(3):288-294. doi:10.21273/hortsci12630-17.

Tymon, L, and Inglis, D. 2017. Identification and pathogenicity of a Pseudomonas syringae genomospecies 1 phylogroup 2B causing leaf spots and fruit warts on cucurbits in western Washington, U.S. J. Plant Path 99(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.4454/jpp.v99i3.3956.

DeVetter, L.W, H. Zhang, S. Ghimere, S. Watkinson, and C.A. Miles. 2017. Plastic biodegradable mulches reduce weeds and promote crop growth in day-neutral strawberry in western Washington. Horticultural Science 52(12): 1700-1706. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI12422-17. (cover article)

Cowan, J.S., C.A. Miles, P.K. Andrews, and D.A. Inglis. 2014. Biodegradable mulch performed comparable to polyethylene in high tunnel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. J. Sci. Food Agric. 94:1854-1864. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6504.

Cowan, J.S., D.A. Inglis, and C.A. Miles. 2013. Deterioration of three potentially biodegradable plastic mulches before and after soil incorporation in a broccoli field production system in northwestern Washington. HortTechnology 23(6):849-858.

Corbin, A., J. Cowan, C.A. Miles, D. Hayes, J. Dorgan, D.A. Inglis, D.A. January 2013. Using Biodegradable Plastics as Agricultural Mulches. Washington State University Extension publication FS081E. 6 p.

Miles, C., R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, J. Martin, J. Cowan, T. Walters, and D. Inglis. 2012. Deterioration of potentially biodegradable alternatives to black plastic mulch in three tomato production regions. HortSci. 47:1270-1277.

Miles, C. and T. Marsh. 2012. Biodegradable plastic mulches, China and U.S. In: Profit from Storage: The costs and benefits of water buffering.

Steenbergen, F. van, A. Tuinhof, and L. Knoop (Eds). Wageningen, The Netherlands: 3R Water Secretariat. ISBN:978-90-79658-05-3. Pp. 80-84.

Miles, C., D. Hayes, J. Moore-Kucera, M. Brodhagen, T. Marsh, A. Corbin, R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, T. Walters, J. Lee, and D. Inglis. 2011. Biodegradable alternatives to plastic mulch. In: Transforming Lives Transforming Landscapes. The Business of Sustainable Water Buffer Management.

Steenbergen, F. van, A. Tuinhof, and L. Knoop (Eds). Wageningen, The Netherlands: 3R Water Secretariat. Pp. 84-89.

Cowan, J., C. Miles, D. Inglis, K. Leonas, J. Moore-Kucera, A. Wszelaki, R. Wallace, D. Hayes, and L. Wadsworth. 2010. Evaluating potential biodegradable mulches for high tunnel and field vegetable production. Proceedings Agricultural Plastics Congress, July 31–August 1, Palm Desert, CA. (Abstract, oral presentation and proceedings)

Adoption and Use

Dentzman, K. and J. Goldberger. 2019. Plastic scraps: biodegradable mulch films and the aesthetics of ‘good farming’ in US specialty crop production. Agriculture and Human Values. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09970-x

Ghimire, S., A.M. Saxton, A.L. Wszelaki, J.C. Moore, and C.A. Miles. 2017. Reliability of soil sampling method to assess visible biodegradable mulch fragments remaining in the field after soil incorporation.HortTechnology 27(5): 650-658. doi:10.21273/horttech03821-17.

Benedict, C., and C. Miles. 2016. Designing and implementing multi-dimensional outreach activities. Horticultural Science 51(9):S330 (Conf abstract).

Cowan, J., J. Goldberger, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2015. Creating tactile space during a university extension field day event: The case of a sustainable agriculture innovation. Rural Sociology. doi: 10.1111/ruso.12073

Goldberger, J., R. Jones, C. Miles, R. Wallace, and D. Inglis. 2013. Barriers and bridges to the adoption of biodegradable plastic mulches for U.S. specialty crop production. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. doi:10.1017/S1742170513000276

Miles, C., C. Beus, A. Corbin, R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, H. Saez, T. Walters, K. Leonas, M. Brodhagen, D. Hayes, and D. Inglis. 2009. Research and extension priorities to ensure adaptation of high tunnels and biodegradable plastic mulch in the United States. Agricultural Plastics Congress, July 13–16, College Station, Pennsylvania.

Economics

Chen, K.-J., T.L. Marsh, P.R. Tozer, and S.P. Galinato. 2018. Biotechnology to sustainability: Consumer preferences for food products grown on biodegradable mulches. Food Research International. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.08.013

Jiang, J., T.L. Marsh, and P.R.Tozer. 2015. Policy induced price volatility transmission: Linking the U.S. crude oil, corn and plastic markets. Energy Economics. 52, Part A: 217-225. doi:10.1016/j.eneco.2015.10.008

Biodegradable Mulch – Publications