Polyethylene Mulch Research Articles

Differing effects of grass and polythene mulches on sweet potato productivity in derived savannah agro-ecology

Sweet potato as a food crop that is grown for both its tuberous roots and vegetative parts, the latter of which also serves as animal feed. Its production in the savanna regions can be limited by high evaporative demand, especially where soils with low water retentivity are involved. This work studied the effects of various locally available polythene as mulch materials for sweet potato growth in derived savanna agro-ecology. An experiment was thus conducted at Nsukka, a derived savannah in southeastern Nigeria, with orange fleshed variety of sweet potato. Treatments were polythene mulches of contrasting colours (black, white, red and blue polyethylene), including also organic mulch (dry grasses) as reference and a no-mulch control. The experiment was executed in two successive cropping seasons, and the data averaged and analysed. Agronomic and weed incidence data collection was done fortnightly from 2nd to 10th week of planting. The results showed that the polythene mulches (especially the black one) were better in the control of weeds. Furthermore, the sweet potato yields were affected significantly (p < 0.05) by mulching on the total number of tubers for each plant with grass-mulched plots showing the highest value (36) and transparent polyethylene-mulched plots the lowest (19). Also, total weight of tubers per plant at harvest differed (p < 0.05), with grass-mulched plots showing the highest value (2.39 kg), followed by the control (no mulching) plots (1.62 kg), then the coloured polyethylene mulched plots with the red polyethylene-mulched plots as the lowest (0.64 kg). This study recommends the use of organic mulch or no mulching in sweet potato production in this agro-ecological zone as they produced the best yields.

Integrated effect of composts from pineapple harvest and processing residues and polyethylene mulch on growth and yield of pineapple (<i>Ananas comosus</i> (L.) Merrill) on Southern Benin

Soil fertility degradation limits pineapple production, the third cash crop in Benin, mainly due to reduced soil organic matter from high using mineral fertilizer. This study evaluated the effects of varying fertilization rates and mulching practices on growth and yield of pineapple. A split-plot experimental design was employed with three replications. The main factor was soil mulch (Polyethylene Mulch (PM) vs. UnMulched (UM)) and the sub-factor consisted the applying of compost based on pineapple harvest and processing residues, absolute control and farmers practices. Results revealed that soil mulching was beneficial for both varieties. Applying compost C4 (75% Harvest residues + 25% Poultry litter) at 20 t.ha-1 for both varieties, compost C4 at 30 t.ha-1 for sugar loaf variety; and composts C5 (56.25% Crown + 18.75% Processing residues + 25% Poultry litter) at 20 t.ha-1, C3 (75% Processing residues + 25% Poultry litter) at 30 t.ha-1 and C1 (37.5% Crown + 18.75% Processing residues + 18.75% Harvest residues + 25% Poultry litter) at 30 t.ha-1 for smooth cayenne variety can be recommended for improving pineapple growth and yield. Future studies should examine compost's long-term effects on soil health and water management; and its practical and economic feasibility under varying agroecological conditions.

Digestibility and fate of biodegradable plastic mulch films in thermophilic anaerobic digestion.

Digestibility and fate of biodegradable plastic mulch films in thermophilic anaerobic digestion.

Effect of Different Ultraviolet Transmissive Covers and Colored Polyethylene Mulches on Weed Control in Strawberry Crops

Effect of Different Ultraviolet Transmissive Covers and Colored Polyethylene Mulches on Weed Control in Strawberry Crops

Evaluation of the Comprehensive Effects of Biodegradable Mulch Films on the Soil Hydrothermal Flux, Root Architecture, and Yield of Drip-Irrigated Rice

Biodegradable mulch films not only provide similar field benefits to conventional mulch films but also degrade naturally, rendering them an effective alternative to traditional polyethylene mulch films for mitigating “white pollution”. However, recent studies have focused on the material selection and soil ecological impacts of biodegradable mulch films, while their effects on soil water temperature regulation and root architecture in drip-irrigated rice cultivation remain unclear. To address this research gap, in this study, various treatments including no mulch (NM), conventional plastic mulch (PM), and four types of biodegradable mulch films (BM-W1, BM-B1, BM-B2, and BM-B3) were established, and their effects on the soil hydrothermal flux, root architecture, biomass accumulation, and resource use efficiency of drip-irrigated rice were analyzed at different growth stages. The results indicated the following: (1) Compared with the NM treatment, film mulching increased the soil hydrothermal fluxes and water retention capacity, thereby promoting root growth and biomass accumulation, ultimately increasing the effective panicle number and grain yield. (2) Among the biodegradable film treatments, BM-B3 (with a degradation period of 105 days) maintained relatively higher soil temperature for a longer duration, which increased surface root distribution in the mid-to-late growth stages, further improving fine root growth and biomass accumulation, consequently enhancing both yield and water use efficiency. In contrast, BM-B1 and BM-B2 exhibited excessively rapid degradation rates, leading to significant fluctuations in soil moisture and temperature, thereby negatively affecting water supply and nutrient uptake and ultimately restricting root growth and development. (3) The entropy weight (EW) technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) model results revealed that although the PM treatment was more advantageous in terms of soil temperature, root dry weight, and soil moisture content, BM-B3 provided a slightly higher yield than the PM treatment did and offered the advantage of biodegradability, making it a preferred alternative to conventional mulch film. In summary, this study revealed the mechanism by which biodegradable mulch films enhanced biomass accumulation and yield formation in drip-irrigated rice production by optimizing soil hydrothermal dynamics and root architecture, thereby exploring their potential as replacements for conventional mulch films. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the efficient and sustainable production of drip-irrigated rice in arid regions.

Optimizing microplastic pollution in a terrestrial environment: a case for soil-biodegradable mulches

Abstract Microplastic pollution from plastic fragments accumulating in agricultural fields threatens the world’s most productive soils and environmental sustainability. This is the first paper to address the challenge of developing a dynamic economic model to analyze the adoption of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) as a sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene mulches. The model considers the trade-off between BDM degradation rates and agricultural production, seeking to balance the cost of BDMs and the cost of waste disposal. We consider both private and social perspectives under deterministic and stochastic environments. Our findings suggest that BDMs can significantly decrease long-term plastic pollution from single-use plastics in agriculture. For example, increasing landfill tipping fees incentivizes Washington State tomato growers to optimally adopt BDMs with a 61% degradation rate and to till used BDMs into the soil, reducing plastic waste accumulation in landfills. The study highlights the role of economic incentives, such as landfill fees, corrective taxes and the role of risk aversion, in promoting BDM adoption and curbing plastic pollution. The framework presented here offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to foster sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate global plastic pollution.

PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MATERIALS WITH FERTILIZER LEVELS ON MORPHOLOGICAL GROWTH AND YIELD OF POTATO IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS OF INDIA

Mulching is essential for sustainable horticulture practices in this region as it helps reduce soil moisture loss,regulate soil temperature and minimize erosion. Examining different types of mulch in this specific climate can aid indeveloping adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability and enhance horticultural resilience. Inthe experiment, two factors were considered: five types of mulching materials—maize straw, polythene (25 microns), wovenmulch, and silver mulch—and two fertilizer levels—75 % and 100 % of the RDF (120:100:100 NPK kg/ha). The experimentwas conducted under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Potato at JNKVV, Chhindwara. Results revealed that allmulched treatments significantly outperformed the control (without mulch). The highest yield was recorded with polythenesheet mulch (31.73 t/ha), followed by maize straw mulch (30.13 t/ha). Maize straw mulch provided an additional yield of10.24 t/ha over the control. Among fertilizer levels, 100% RDF (120:100:100 kg/ha NPK) produced the highest yield (31.73t/ha). The combined effect of mulch and fertilizer showed that the highest yield (30.93 t/ha) was obtained in the F2M2treatment (100% RDF with polythene mulch), whereas the lowest yield (18.73 t/ha) was recorded in the F1M0 treatment(75% RDF without mulch). These results highlight the importance of mulching and optimized fertilization in enhancingpotato yield in the central plains of India.

Effect of Balanced Fertilization and Mulching on Growth, Yield and Economics of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) in Odisha, India

A front-line demonstration was carried out at different farmers’ field of Kandhamal district of Odisha to determine the effect of balanced fertilization and mulching on growth, yield and economics of chilli during 2022-23. The experiment was conducted under the international collaborative project on Resilience, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandhamal, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. The demonstration was conducted at ten farmers’ field with three treatments viz., T1 : Farmer’s Practice (FYM @ 2 t ha-1 & N:P2O5:K2O::50:30:30 kg ha-1), without mulching, T2 : FYM @ 10 t ha-1 & N:P2O5:K2O @100:75:75 kg ha-1 , foliar application of water soluble fertilizer (19-19-19) and mulching with paddy straw @ 6 t ha-1 and T3: FYM @ 10 t ha-1 & N:P2O5:K2O @ 100:75:75 kg ha-1 , foliar application of water soluble fertilizer (19-19-19) and double coated (black on silver) polythene mulching. The results revealed that significantly higher growth parameters viz., plant height (89.6 cm), number of primary branches per plant (10.4) and plant spread (69.4 cm); yield attributes viz., number of fruits per plant (142.3), fruit length (6.41cm), fresh fruit weight (1.80 g), fruit dry weight (0.69 g ), fruit girth (2.73 cm) and fresh fruit yield (178.3 q ha-1) were observed with the treatment T3 (FYM 10 t ha-1,100% RDF, foliar application of water soluble fertilizer and polythene mulching) followed by T2 (FYM 10 t ha-1, 100% RDF, foliar application of water soluble fertilizer with paddy straw mulching @ 6 t ha-1). The highest number of weeds including grasses and broad leaf weeds (342.6 number of weeds m-2) was recorded in T1 (Farmer’s practice without mulching) plot followed by T2 (67.5 number of weeds m-2) and the lowest was in T3 (10.8 number of weeds m-2) indicating black polythene mulching was more effective than paddy straw mulching in suppressing weed growth. The treatments, received FYM 10 t ha-1,100% RDF, foliar spray with water soluble fertilizer and polythene mulching (T3) resulted in higher gross return of Rs. 4,45,750 ha-1, net return of Rs. 3,47,050 ha-1 and benefit: cost ratio of 4.5 as compared to T2 and T1. Hence, application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1, N:P2O5:K2O @ 100:75:75 kg ha-1, foliar application of water-soluble fertilizer and double coated (black on silver) polythene mulching enhanced the growth parameters, yield attributes, economic parameters and yield of chilli.

Urea-Formaldehyde Strengthened by Polyvinyl Alcohol: Impact on Mulch Film Properties and Cucumber Cultivation.

To address the problem of environmental pollution caused by the extensive use of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch film, this study developed a novel sprayable mulch using natural fibers and biodegradable polymers. Urea-formaldehyde resin (UF), strengthened with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), was used as a modifier to induce beneficial physicochemical structural changes in PVA-modified urea-formaldehyde (PUF) resins. Characterization of these resins was conducted using Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preparation of the biodegradable mulch was conducted using Xuan paper waste residue (XP) as an enhancer, with PUF as the auxiliary agent. The resulting film (PUF-XP) was examined for differences in thickness, morphological characterization, and rate of weight loss, and the effects of different covering films on cucumber growth, root development, soil temperature, and weed control were evaluated. Characterization reveals that when the PVA content was 4% (W4UF), the film had the lowest free formaldehyde content (0.26%) and highest elongation at break (5.70%). In addition, W4UF could easily undergo thermal degradation at 278.4 °C and possessed a close-knit, three-dimensional structural network. W4UF was then mixed with paper powder and water in various proportions to produce three mulch films (BioT1, BioT2, and BioT3) that demonstrated excellent water retention and heat preservation and inhibited weed growth by 68.8-96.8%. Compared to no mulching (NM), BioT1 increased both the specific root length and root density, as well as improved the plant height, stem diameter, and total biomass of the cucumbers by 43.5%, 34.1%, and 33.9%, respectively. Therefore, a mass ratio of paper powder, water, and W4UF of 1:30:2 produced a biodegradable mulch film that could be used as an alternative to LDPE, mitigating the environmental pollution rendered by synthetic plastic mulch films and offering the potential for a sustainable agricultural application.

Impact of Mulches on Floral Visitors in Day‐Neutral Strawberries and Contribution of Syrphid Flies to Strawberry Pollination

ABSTRACTAnimal‐mediated pollination is essential for the production of many specialty crops, with insects, primarily bees, serving as the predominant pollinators in many agroecosystems. However, increasing management problems with honey bees and declines in native bee populations due to various environmental stressors have highlighted the importance of promoting wild bees and other insect pollinators to ensure sustainable pollination services. This study explores the impact of various mulches on the abundance and richness of floral visitations by insects and the role of syrphid flies in a day‐neutral strawberry system. Four different types of mulches were evaluated at the University of Wisconsin West Madison Agricultural Research Station in Wisconsin, USA, during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons, and included three polyethylene mulches of different colour (black, white on black, and reflective metallic) and one brown soil‐biodegradable paper mulch. Observations of pollinator floral visitations were conducted, and insects were grouped into broad morphotypes. In addition, syrphid flies were sampled to assess their pollen loads. Mulch type did not significantly affect the overall abundance or richness of pollinators visiting flowers. Syrphid flies were the most abundant floral visitors, followed by small dark bees, green bees, Orius spp., and honey bees, while Bombus spp. were found in low numbers. Toxomerus marginatus, the margined calligrapher, was the most abundant syrphid species collected, representing 72% of all syrphid flies collected. Overall, 31% of syrphid flies captured carried strawberry pollen. A few syrphid species carried significant amounts (> 200 grains) of strawberry pollen on their body. The findings suggest that while mulch type did not impact pollinator visitation, syrphid flies may be important for strawberry pollination, as they were abundant, at least in 2022, and carry strawberry pollen. Our results underscore the need for further research to understand the complex role of non‐bee pollinators in strawberry pollination and to further investigate the role of syrphid flies as pollinators in different agroecosystems.

In-field degradation of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) films, microplastic formation, and impacts on soil health.

In-field degradation of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) films, microplastic formation, and impacts on soil health.

Investigating the Allelopathic Potential of Turnip and Broccoli to Manage Field Dodder in Eggplant Cultivation by Ecological Means

Purpose: Considering that the field dodder is one of the most dangerous parasitic weeds that causes serious damage to cultivated crops, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different control methods against field dodder and the damage caused by the field dodder to eggplant. As well, to determine the isothiocyanate content of turnip and broccoli plants using GC-MS analysis.Research Method: This study was conducted during 2020 and 2021. The experiment examined control methods involving turnip and broccoli as pre-cultivation plants, later both incorporated into the soil separately during specific growth stages, and then both covered and uncovered with black polyethylene mulch, and black polyethylene mulch alone. Controls included plots free of field dodder (Control 1) and plots totally infested with field dodder (Control 2). Finally, all plots were cultivated with eggplant seedlings on rows.Findings: The efficacy of control methods against field dodder in eggplant plots reached 95.81% in TM (turnip+BP mulch) , 92.30% in BM (broccoli+BP mulch), 91.25% in M (black polyethylene mulch alone), 68.26% in T (turnip alone), and 62.58% in B (broccoli alone) treatments. The highest eggplant yield of 8.396 tons/da was achieved in TM treatment. The field dodder caused a yield loss in eggplant by 82.16%, a decrease in eggplant height by 31.12%, and by 58.99% in the number of eggplant fruits in the Con 2 treatment, where the plots were fully infested with filed dodder.Originality/value: The efficiency of cruciferous plants against field dodder is attributed to their isothiocyanates content as the highest percentage of isothiocyanate compounds was found in turnip by 56.6% and the lowest in broccoli by 30.47%.

Standardization of Nutrient Sources and Foliar Calcium Nutrition for Productivity Enhancement in Grafted Tomato

Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crop and is highly demanding in case of fertilizer and water use. A field experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2023-24 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram to standardize the nutrient sources for fertigation and to find out the effect of foliar nutrition of Ca for productivity enhancement in grafted tomato grown under polyethylene mulching. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The main plot treatments were four nutrient sources(S) (100% NPK fertigation through water soluble fertilizer (WSF), 100% NPK fertigation through conventional fertilizer (CF), 50 % NPK (WSF) + 50 % NPK (CF) and 100% NPK through soil (CF)) and the three sub plot treatments were Ca fertilization (F) ; No Ca fertilization, foliar application of 0.5% Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at 1 MAP and foliar application of 0.5 % CAN at 1 and 2 MAP. The results revealed that 100% NPK fertigation through WSF recorded taller plants with higher leaf area and dry matter production. The yield attributes viz., fruits per truss, fruit set percentage, average fruit weight, yield per plant and higher TSS were observed with 100% NPK fertigation through water soluble fertilizer. The results revealed that application of nutrients through 100 % WSF(S1) or 50% through WSF and 50 % through CF (S3) recorded 28.6 % and 18.8 % increase in fruit yield over soil application of conventional fertilizers. The results also revealed that foliar application of 0.5% CAN at 1 and 2 MAP had significant influence on growth, yield and quality of grafted tomato.

Synergistic Effects of Hydrogel Application and Mulching Practices for Climate-Resilient Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) Production

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrogel application and mulching on the physiological growth attributes and yield, of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under semi-arid conditions. Study Design: The experiment was conducted using a factorial randomized block design with twelve treatment combinations, including different hydrogel application rates (2.5 kg ha-1, 5 kg ha-1 and 7.5 kg ha-1) in combination with mulching types (paddy straw, polythene, and no mulching). Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted at the instructional farm of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, during the kharif 2024-25 cropping season. Methodology: Pearl millet variety CO 10 was used with a seed rate of 5 kg ha-1. The crop was transplanted 18 days after sowing, following the standard agronomic practices. The physiological attributes measured included leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR). The grain yield was recorded at harvest. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA to determine treatment effects. Results: The results indicated that the application of hydrogel at 5 kg ha-1 with polythene mulching significantly improved the yield of pearl millet crop by registering a higher yield of 24.40 q ha-1 while positively impacting the all the physiological parameters of crop growth. Conclusion: The integration of hydrogel and mulching significantly enhanced pearl millet growth and yield. This suggest that hydrogel and mulching can be an effective strategies for sustainable pearl millet production in water-limited environments. Future research should explore long-term effects and economic feasibility for large-scale adoption.

Obtaining the value of waste polyethylene mulch film through pretreatment and recycling technology in China.

Obtaining the value of waste polyethylene mulch film through pretreatment and recycling technology in China.

The Effect of Chelated Calcium and Mulches on Some Growth and Yield Characteristics of Potato Plants Grown in Basrha

Abstract An experiment was conducted in the agricultural research station - College of Agriculture - University of Basrah to study the effect of four type of mulching (rice straw (organic), transparent polyethylene, black polyethylene and no mulch) and four concentrations of chelated calcium (0,1.5, 3 and 4.5 m l−1) on growth and yields of potato cv. Buren. It was carried out as Split Plot Design by Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) with three replications, the least significant difference test (L.S.D) was used to compare the averages at a probability level of 0.05. The results may be summarized as follows: The black polyethylene mulch gave a significant increase in plant height, tuber number, tuber weigh, plant yield (1.283 g), marketable yields (57.41 ton ha−1) and total yields (60.22 ton ha−1), Spraying potato plants with calcium at 3.0 ml l−1 concentrations increased significantly in main branches, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, tuber number and total yields (55.77 ton.ha−1), 4.5 ml−1 superior in tuber weigh, plant yield (1.188 g), marketable yields (53.88 ton ha−1). The interaction between mulching and calcium had a significant increase in all characters in the study.

Deep eutectic solvent-mediated extraction of lignin: A novel strategy for producing high-quality biopolymers in controlled-release mulching applications.

Deep eutectic solvent-mediated extraction of lignin: A novel strategy for producing high-quality biopolymers in controlled-release mulching applications.

Degradation Characteristics of Reed-Based PBAT Mulch and Their Effects on Plant Growth and Soil Properties.

Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and PBAT/reed fiber (RF) mulch films were prepared. The molecular structural changes and surface morphological evolution during the degradation process were systematically characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The prepared PBAT/RF mulch film biodegradation rate reached 90.43% within 91 days under controlled composting conditions, which was 9.52% higher than a pure PBAT mulch film. The effects of adding PBAT and PBAT/RF microplastics on soil properties and soybean physiological indicators were dynamic. The study demonstrated that the incorporation of 5% PBAT/RF mulch film fragments into soil led to a 5.1% reduction in soil pH and a 17.2% increase in soluble organic carbon content. While the effects of 5% PBAT/RF on soil urease and neutral phosphatase activities were non-significant, sucrase activity decreased by 7.4% and catalase activity was reduced to 0.38 U/g. Additionally, the addition of 5% PBAT/RF resulted in a soybean germination rate of 93.74%, which was 4.0% higher than that observed in the group treated with 5% PBAT alone. The experimental data revealed a 7.2% reduction in leaf chlorophyll content, with concomitant growth inhibition in the soybean seedlings. The study demonstrated that the PBAT/RF composite film achieved 89% biodegradation within 180 days under field conditions, effectively mitigating post-application effects on agroecosystems compared to conventional polyethylene mulch.

Evaluating the Impact of Traditional and Biodegradable Mulch Film Residues on Heavy Metal Dynamics and Maize Productivity: Insights from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Community Analysis

Microplastics and heavy metals (HMs) in soil pose significant environmental and health risks, yet the interactions between mulch film residues and HMs, and their effects on maize productivity, remain poorly understood. This study examined the impacts of long-term traditional polyethylene mulch film (TMF) and biodegradable mulch film (BMF) residues on soil properties, maize root accumulation of HMs, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, and maize productivity under open field conditions. TMF residues significantly increased the soil total carbon (TC), C/N ratio, and bioaccumulation coefficients (BACs) of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) while lowering soil pH and water content. These changes altered AMF colonization and enriched the Paraglomus genus, leading to enhanced maize leaf antioxidant activity and reduced chlorophyll content, although maize growth was not statistically affected. In contrast, they improved soil nutrient availability (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), increased TC and the C/N ratio, and reduced soil pH. Notably, BMF residues decreased the BACs of As and Cd, reduced AMF spore density without altering community structure, and ultimately enhanced maize biomass. These effects were associated with BMF’s ability to lower pH and chelate HMs, thereby mitigating their bioavailability and promoting plant growth. Furthermore, the enriched abundance of AMF species, particularly from the Claroideoglomus genus, facilitated heavy metal chelation and reduced HM accumulation in plants. The findings underscore the potential of BMF and AMF for co-remediation of microplastics and HMs, highlighting the importance of mulching strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Response of the soil hydrothermal environment and cotton yield to different irrigation quotas under biodegradable mulch film in oasis cotton fields: a three-year study.

Polyethylene mulch film (PE) is a key agricultural practice for enhancing crop production and income in water-scarce regions. However, the complete recycling of PE remains challenging, resulting in the persistence of residual film fragments in the soil, which compromises soil structure and negatively impacts crop growth and yield potential. Although biodegradable mulch film (BEMF) is considered a promising alternative, the underlying mechanisms governing its regulation of soil water and thermal dynamics, as well as its subsequent impacts on crop productivity, are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of how BEMF influences soil water dynamics, thermal regimes, and crop growth and development is crucial for assessing its ecological adaptability. In this study field plot experiments were carried out over three consecutive growing seasons (2021 - 2023) under three irrigation quotas: W1 (63.6% crop evapotranspiration [ETc], 315 mm), W2 (81.8% ETc, 405 mm), and W3 (100% ETc, 495 mm). This study systematically evaluated the impacts of PE and biodegradable mulch films (BEMF: B1 and B2) on soil hydrothermal dynamics, cotton photosynthetic productivity, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation quotas. Furthermore, the economic and ecological benefits of cotton fields under these treatments were analyzed. The findings revealed that PE left residual film fragments of 12.95 kg·ha-1 in the soil after mechanical recovery, while BEMF exhibited no such residue accumulation. However, BEMF reduced soil effective temperature by 100 - 111°C and soil water content (SWC) by 2.82 - 9.42% compared to PE. These adverse effects under BEMF significantly impaired cotton net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic product accumulation. Specifically, BEMF decreased cotton net Pn by 8.42 - 18.09%, photosynthetic product accumulation by 10.74 - 26.41%, and yield by 651 - 1079 kg·ha-1 relative to PE, particularly under the W1 irrigation level. Increasing the irrigation quota mitigated soil water and heat deficits, enhanced cotton net Pn and photosynthetic productivity, boosted yield by 1.76 - 31.72%, and increased economic income by 552 - 12,423 CNY·ha-1. In summary, this study provides a new ecological regional adaptation scheme for BEFM, highlighting that under conventional conditions, BEFM cannot fully substitute the yield advantages of PEFM. Nevertheless, the application of an additional 90 mm of irrigation water effectively mitigates the yield and economic losses associated with BEMF while eliminating the risk of residual film fragment accumulation in the soil. These findings offer valuable insights for advancing the green and sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems.