Abstract
Biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs) are employed for sustainable production of vegetables and other specialty crops, as replacements for conventional polyethylene (PE) mulches. Unlike PE mulch, BDMs are disposed through mineralization in soil or compost. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impacts of BDM incorporation on the viability of soil ecosystems is needed before BDMs will be widely adopted by farmers. This paper reviews BDM-related standards and suggests additional criteria to consider. The biodegradation process and the impact of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) derived from BDM fragments on soil health are described. Findings show that soil health is minimally impacted by BDM incorporation, but that the behavior of NMPs and BDM minor components in soil is not fully understood.
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