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33 results for “mulch”
Data from: Carbon and Water Balances in a Watermelon Crop Mulched with Biodegradable Films in Mediterranean Conditions at Extended Growth Season Scale
<p><span>Abstract</span></p> <p><span>The uploaded data are relative to the investigation around (i) the carbon source/sink nature and, further, (ii) the water and carbon balances, of a drip-irrigated and mulched watermelon. The crop was cultivated under the semi-arid climate of the Apulia region, in south Italy.</span></p> <p><span>The used mulching films were biodegradable as indicate by the producer; plants and some non-standard fruits were left on the soil as green manure after harvesting, thus, the experiment spanned from planting to the subsequent crop (6 months of continuous measurement from June to November 2023). </span></p> <p><span>The results detailed in the original publication indicate that mulching films contribute to carbon sequestration in the soil (+19.3 gC m<sup>−2</sup>). However, this mulched watermelon represents a net carbon source, with a net biome exchange, as loss from ecosystems, equal to +230 gC m<sup>−2</sup>. This is primarily due to the substantial amount of carbon exported through marketable fruits. Fixed water scheduling led to water waste through deep percolation (approximately 1/6 of the water supplied), which also contributed to the loss of organic carbon via leaching (−4.3 gC m<sup>−2</sup>). </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span>Methods</span></p> <p><span>Site and crop</span></p> <p><span>The field site was at the CREA-AA Research Unit experimental farm located in southern Italy (Rutigliano–Bari, 41 01’ N, 17°01’ E, altitude 147 m a.s.l.)., characterized by a Mediterranean semi-arid climate (average annual rainfall of 535 mm). The soil is classified as Lithic Rhodoxeralf, with a clay texture, stable structure, shallow profile (0.6–1.1 m) and rapid drainage due to an underlying cracked limestone subsoil. The SOC content averages around 12.0 g kg<sup>−1</sup>. The field capacity and the permanent wilting point volumetric water contents are 0.36 and 0.21 m<sup>3</sup> m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively; with a bulk density of 1.15 Mg m<sup>−3</sup>, the available soil water ranges from 80 to 140 mm.</span></p> <p><span>The studied watermelon crop (seedless var. Lion king), followed a broccoli cabbage crop harvested in April and partially incorporated (0.81 kg m<sup>−2</sup> of fresh biomass in a soil layer depth of 0.30 m, corresponding to 0.69 kgH2O m<sup>−2</sup>) as green manure on 25 May 2023. Main tillage at medium depth ploughing (0.30 m) and seedbed preparation were performed between 25 and 30 May 2023; the biodegradable film mulch (model PC 100 d8, BASF, Italy, 1 m width) was applied on 1 June 2023. On the same day, driplines (2.1 Lh<sup>−1</sup> emitters, 0.60 m apart) and the main organic fertilization (Orga-Kem 6.11.8 + 11CaO, 300 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) were also applied. The watermelon plants were transplanted on 9 June at a spacing of 2.70 m between rows and 1 m between plants, covering an area of about 4.0 ha, with a density of approximately 3200 plants ha<sup>−1</sup>. Every 6 rows, the inter-row distance was 5 m to facilitate machinery passage. The first irrigation was performed the day before planting. Crop management adhered to the usual treatments in the area including mechanical weed removal every 4 weeks, irrigation around three times per week to maintain optimal soil water conditions and monthly fertigation (ammonium sulphate 50 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, magnesium nitrate 30 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, calcium nitrate 60 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>, mycorrhizae 20 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>). The scalar harvest of marketable fruits occurred between 28 and 31 August 2023. After harvesting, on 25 September 2023, the fresh plant residues (0.6 kg m<sup>−2</sup> of fresh biomass, corresponding to 0.49 kgH2O m<sup>−2</sup>), unharvested fruits (4.0 kg m<sup>−2</sup> of fresh material, corresponding to 3.7 kgH2O m<sup>−2</sup>) and the mulching film were chopped by a tractor shredder and ploughed in two steps, on 2 and 13 October 2023, to a soil depth of 0.30 m. Measurements concluded at the end of November 2023, when tillage for the new winter crop commenced.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p><span>Measurements of H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes; partitioning in evaporation, transpiration, photosynthesis and respiration</span></p> <p><span>The eddy covariance technique was employed to monitor water vapor (H<sub>2</sub>O) and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) fluxes. The equipment comprised a three-dimensional sonic anemometer (uSonic 3 Scientific, Metek GmbH, 25337 Elmshorn, Germany) and a fast response open-path infrared gas analyzer (LI-7500, Li-COR Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA). The three wind components, sonic temperature and atmospheric concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O were continuously measured at 1.5 m above the crop canopy, with the sensor height adjusted to follow crop growth, reaching a maximum of 1.75 m. </span></p> <p><span>Data were recorded at a frequency of 10 Hz on a dedicated computer using the MeteoFlux software (Servizi Territorio, S.n.c., Cinisello Balsamo, Italy) and were stored on an hourly scale. Post-processing and computation of hourly fluxes of H<sub>2</sub>O (mmol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) and CO<sub>2</sub> (</span>μ<span>mol m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) were conducted using EddyPro software, v7.0.9 (</span><a href="http://www.licor.com/eddypro"><span>http://www.licor.com/eddypro</span></a><span>), applying 60 min block averaging, double coordinate rotation, the statistical test, the maximum cross-covariance method, and the WPL density correction.</span></p> <p><span>H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> fluxes were partitioned into transpiration, evaporation, photosynthesis and respiration, respectively, using the flux variance similarity method. This method utilizes the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory to separate stomatal (photosynthesis, Fp, and transpiration, Ft) from non-stomatal (respiration, Fr, and evaporation, Fe) processes (Palatella et al., 2014). the H<sub>2</sub>O and CO<sub>2</sub> EC fluxes were partitioned using an adaptation of the code in Phyton provided by (Skaggs et al., 2018) and downloaded from <span> </span></span><a href="https://github.com/usda-arsussl/fluxpart"><span>https://github.com/usda-arsussl/fluxpart</span></a><span> (V0.2.10).</span></p>
Plantain mulch and groundcover soil hydrological experiment in St. Croix, Virgin Islands
<p>.csv files containing data used in paper titled "Soil water regimes in tropical plantain production under organic and living mulches" cnducted in 2021-22. Includes plantain agronomic data, time-series data from soil water content sensors, bulk density and particle size information, and input data to the HYDRUS-1D model for water balance simulations. Column names and units are fully described in metadata.csv.</p>
Data from: Carry-over effect of leguminous winter cover crops and living mulches on winter wheat as a second main crop following white cabbage
<p><strong>Background: </strong>In trials on two strategies for the integration of legumes in a vegetable crop rotation (leguminous winter cover crops and living mulches), data were collected on the two subsequent crops white cabbage and winter wheat. The data on biomass and soil mineral nitrogen content are made publicly available here. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Abstract:</strong> <span>The direct effect of winter cover crops (WCC) or living mulches (LM) on a first vegetable crop has already been investigated. However, little is known about the effect on growth and yield of a second cash crop. </span><span>The aim of the study was to assess the carry-over effect of legumes grown as WCC or LM on winter wheat as a second crop after cabbage measured in yield and nitrogen release.</span><span> Two field trials were carried out in Germany between 2019 and 2022. In the WCC trial rye, rye with vetch, vetch, pea and faba bean were used as WCC and compared to bare soil. The WCC biomass was incorporated before cabbage planting in late spring. For the LM trial, perennial ryegrass or white clover were used as LM during cabbage cultivation and compared to bare soil. The LM biomass was incorporated together with the cabbage residues (STU/STT) and compared to an early incorporation of LM biomass before cabbage planting (RT). Winter wheat in both trials was seeded as the second main crop in the rotation in the fall.</span></p>
Physical characterization of agricultural plastic mulching films
<p>The excel file regards the radiometric properties of the source material mulching films. The radiometric tests were carried out at the University of Bari. The mulching films were used for the generation of microplastic test materials. The Italian mulching films were buried at the experimental field at the University of Bari.</p>
Figure 4 in The amount of mulch increases the abundance, and its composition the species diversity of springtails in crop rotation on chernozem soils
Figure 4. Non-metric PCoA plots of the Collembola community The Jaccard similarity coefficient was taken as the distance between dots. (A) plant residues of peas, (B) plant residues of wheat.
Data from: Impact of agricultural weathering on physicochemical properties of biodegradable plastic mulch films: comparison of two diverse climates over four successive years
<p><span><span><span>Biodegradable plastic mulch films (BDMs) are essential in </span><span><span>the</span></span><span> production of vegetable and specialty crops due to their promotion of increased crop yield and quality. Unlike conventional polyethylene (PE) mulches, BDMs can be tilled into the soil after crop harvest to undergo biodegradation, thereby leading to minimal environmental impact. Agricultural weathering impacts both the performance of BDMs during crop production as a barrier to weeds and biodegradability of BDMs in the soil. To better understand the relative importance of climatic factors, the change of physicochemical properties of BDMs during single-season, 3-4 month, field trials for vegetable production at two diverse climates (Knoxville, TN and Mount Vernon, WA) across four successive years (2015-2018) was evaluated. Mulch treatments consisted of four commercially available BDMs composed primarily of polybutylene co-adipate- co-terephthalate (PBAT) that differed in color and polymeric feedstock</span><span><span>, a</span></span><span> black experimental BDM prepared from polylactic acid/polyhydroxybutyrate (PLA/PHA) blend, and conventional PE mulch. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Mulch deterioration did not vary extensively between </span><span><span>years. </span></span><span><span>Solar</span></span><span> radiation, an important factor to degradation of mulches, was higher in WA than TN in most sampling years. Yet, degradation occurred </span><span><span>more greatly for</span></span><span> BDMs in TN</span><span><span>,</span></span><span> which </span><span><span>is attributable</span></span><span> to higher temperatures in TN. </span><span><span>Loss of</span></span><span> mechanical properties and color </span><span><span>was greater</span></span><span> than chemical </span><span><span>property changes.</span></span><span> </span><span><span>Differences in the extent of molecular weight decrease</span></span><span> between years correlated significantly with solar radiation </span><span><span>exposure at the two locations.</span></span><span> A black-colored PBAT-based BDM was less susceptible to degradation than equivalent clear and white-on-black films, due to carbon black acting as a photostabilizer. The impact of weathering also differed between </span><span><span>three commercially available PBAT-based films.</span></span><span> The PLA/PHA mulch was more susceptible to degradation than PBAT-based BDMs, particularly in the warmer location, TN, partially due to a leaching out of PHA and lower-molecular weight polymer molecules. The extent of change for physicochemical properties </span><span><span>of</span></span><span> BDMs due to agricultural weathering is greatly affected by polymeric composition, </span><span><span>and is greater in warmer climates.</span></span></span></span></p>
Data from: Plastic mulches reduce abundance of some arthropods but are not detrimental to pollinators in primocane raspberries
<p>Cultural practices modify agroecosystems to prevent or reduce pest outbreaks, but they may be detrimental to beneficial arthropods and non-target effects are not commonly evaluated. Plastic mulches are an effective management practice for spotted-wing drosophila (<em>Drosophila suzukii </em>Matsumura) since they increase UV radiance in the plant canopy to reduce larval infestation of fruit. In this two-year study, we evaluated how black, white, and metallic plastic mulches impact populations of arthropods, including predators of <em>D. suzukii </em>and raspberry pollinators in Wisconsin. The three plastic mulches did not affect arthropod richness and did not affect the abundance of about 65% of arthropod groups identified. In the raspberry canopy, the black mulch decreased the abundance of Orthoptera and Thysanoptera and increased <em>Orius </em>spp.; the white mulch increased Diptera, Thysanoptera, and <em>Orius </em>spp.; and the metallic mulch decreased Coleoptera, micro-Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, and Thysanoptera. On the ground, all mulches decreased the abundance of Gryllidae, the black and metallic increased Formicidae, and the white increased Staphylinidae. We reported ten insect groups visiting raspberry flowers. <em>Bombus impatiens </em>Cresson<em> </em>was the most common, accounting for 82% of flower visits. The plastic mulches did not reduce flower visitation, though the white plastic mulch increased the abundance of <em>B. impatiens</em> compared to the other mulch treatments. Plastic mulches can reduce populations of pests such as <em>D. suzukii</em> and overall have no severe non-target effects on other arthropods in Wisconsin raspberry.</p>
Classification and identification of pinecones mulching on blueberry cultivation based on crop leaf characteristics and hyperspectral data
<p><span>Supplementary Figure S1: Spectra preprocessing before and after.; Table S1: The evaluation results of the classification model of leaf growth and physiology.; Table S2: The evaluation results of the classification model of VIs.; Table S3: The evaluation results of the classification model of VNIR.; Table S4: The evaluation results of the classification model of SWIR.</span></p>
Raw data for the manuscript: Survival and reproduction effects of microplastics from three agricultural mulching films on Folsomia candida, Sinella curviseta, Heteromurus nitidus and Ceratophysella denticulata (Collembola)
<p>Survival and reproduction data from single species tests involving four Collembola species and three types of plastic materials.</p>
Plastic mulch film residues in agriculture: impact on soil suppressiveness, plant growth, and microbial communities
<p>Plastic mulch film residues have been accumulating in agricultural soils for decades, but so far, little is known about its consequences on soil microbial communities and functions. Here, we tested the effects of plastic residues of low-density polyethylene and biodegradable mulch films on soil suppressiveness and microbial community composition. We investigated how plastic residues in a Fusarium culmorum suppressive soil affect the level of disease suppressiveness, plant biomass, nutrient status, and microbial communities in rhizosphere using a controlled pot experiment. The addition of 1% plastic residues to the suppressive soil did not affect the level of suppression and the disease symptoms index. However, we did find that plant biomasses decreased, and that plant nutrient status changed in the presence of plastic residues. No significant changes in bacterial and fungal rhizosphere communities were observed. Nonetheless, bacterial and fungal communities closely attached to the plastisphere were very different from the rhizosphere communities with overrepresentation of potential plant pathogens. The plastisphere revealed a high abundance of specific bacterial phyla (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria) and fungal genera (Rhizoctonia and Arthrobotrys). Our work revealed new insights and raises emerging questions for further studies on the impact of microplastics on the agroecosystems.</p>
Raw data for the manuscript: Multigenerational toxicity of microplastics derived from two types of agricultural mulching films to Folsomia candida
<p>Survival and reproduction data from multigenerational single species tests involving two types of plastic materials.</p>
Biodegradable mulching film degradation in soil in Italy
<p><span>The biodegradable mulching samples underwent a visible degradation process in the soil at the experimental field of the University of Bari (Italy). The surface area of each sample clearly presented gaps that increased in size over time. After 42 days of burial the surface loss was 1.30%, reaching 56.70% on the last sampling. </span></p>
Biodegradable mulching film degradation in soil in Italy
<p><span>The biodegradable mulching samples underwent a visible degradation process in the soil at the experimental field of the University of Bari (Italy). The surface area of each sample clearly presented gaps that increased in size over time. After 42 days of burial the surface loss was 1.30%, reaching 56.70% on the last sampling.</span></p> <p><span> </span></p>
Figure S1 in The amount of mulch increases the abundance, and its composition the species diversity of springtails in crop rotation on chernozem soils
Figure S1. Residual plots for GLMM
PMF-LP: the first 10 m plastic-mulched farmland distribution map (2019-2021) in the Loess Plateau of China generated using training sample generation and classifier transfer method
<p>This dataset provides 10-m resolution plastic-mulched farmland distribution map in the Loess Plateau of China from 2019 to 2021</p> <p>*** The data file is in ".tif" format</p> <p>*** Temporal resolution: Annually</p> <p>*** Temporal coverage: 2019-2021</p> <p>*** Pixel size: 10 m</p> <p>*** Projection information: EPSG: 4326</p> <p>*** Values: 1 denotes plastic-mulched farmland (PMF) and 0 denotes non-plastic-mulched farmland (non-PMF)</p>
Potential benefits of incorporating arable wildflowers into living mulches for sustainable agriculture
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Background: </b>As agriculture has intensified, many once-common wildflowers have declined in arable landscapes, which has widespread implications for associated ecosystem services. The incorporation of sustainable practices, for example, growing living mulches (in-field, non-crop plant ground cover, maintained during the target crop growing season), can boost arable biodiversity, but few wildflower species have been utilised in this context. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Aims: </b>Our aim was to determine the suitability of arable wildflower species, once considered weeds, for use as living mulches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Methods: </b>We first screened a number of arable wildflower species for germination when growing with a common cereal, barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>). We then grew two (<i>Centaurea cyanus</i> and <i>Scandix pecten-veneris</i>) in pots in a glasshouse with and without barley, and grew barley alone to test the impact of the wildflowers on barley growth and biomass.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Results: </b>Neither of the wildflowers significantly negatively impacted barley biomass. Barley initially facilitated germination in <i>S. pecten-veneris</i>, but ultimately suppressed the above-ground biomass of both wildflowers. However, both wildflower species were able to coexist alongside barley.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><b>Conclusions: </b>Our experiment provides evidence that wildflowers that were considered weeds in traditional agriculture have the potential to be grown alongside barley and could be incorporated as part of a living mulch.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Effect of Environmental Weathering on Biodegradation of Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films under Ambient Soil and Composting Conditions
<p>Plastic mulch films contribute to better crop production. Concerns for lack of sustainable disposal methods for conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch led to development of biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) that can be soil-incorporated or composted after use. Environmental weathering of BDMs during crop growth reduces their mechanical strength and alters the molecular structure of their polymeric components. However, the impact of weathering on BDMs' biodegradability is not fully understood. The biodegradability of agriculturally weathered and unweathered BDMs in soil and compost was compared using standardized laboratory tests (ASTM D5988 and D5338) using four BDMs (experimental polylactic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoate-based film [PLA/PHA] and three commercially available polybutyrate [PBAT]-based BDMs). In soil, biodegradation of weathered PLA/PHA was greater than its unweathered counterpart. For PBAT-based BDMs, the extent of biodegradation varied. A decrease of the weight-averaged molecular weight (M<sub>w</sub>) of PBAT and PLA and thermostability of PLA, PHA, PBAT, and starch components was observed during biodegradation in the soil. The proportion of the minor components PHA and starch decreased during biodegradation, indicating preferential utilization of PHA over PLA and starch over PBAT by microbes. Bacterial abundance was significantly higher than fungal abundance in soil and was more prominent in soil adjacent to weathered than unweathered BDM treatments. Under composting conditions, unweathered PBAT-enriched mulches yielded higher CO<sub>2</sub> evolution than their weathered counterpart. Together, these results suggest that environmental weathering enhances biodegradation of BDMs and mulch's polymeric constituents also influence the microbial degradation, more so for bacterial than fungal communities.</p>
Data for: Assessment of cryogenic pretreatment for simulating environmental weathering in the formation of surrogate micro- and nanoplastics from agricultural mulch film
<p>Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) from mulch films and other plastic materials employed in vegetable and small fruit production pose a major threat to agricultural ecosystems. For conducting controlled studies on MPs' and NPs' (MNPs') ecotoxicity to soil organisms and plants and fate and transport in soil, surrogate MNPs are<br>required that mimic MNPs that form in agricultural fields. We have developed a procedure to prepare MPs from plastic films or pellets using mechanical milling and sieving, and conversion of the resultant MPs into NPs through wet grinding, both steps of which mimic the degradation and fragmentation of plastics in nature. The major goal of this study was to determine if cryogenic exposure of two biodegradable mulch films effectively mimics the embrittlement caused by environmental weathering in terms of the dimensional, thermal, chemical, and biodegradability properties of the formed MNPs. We found differences in size, surface charge, thermal and chemical properties, and biodegradability in soil between MNPs' prepared from cryogenically treated vs. environmentally weathered films, related to the photochemical reactions occurring in the environment that were not mimicked by cryogenic treatment, such as depolymerization and cross-link formation. We also investigated the size reduction process for NPs and found that the size distribution was bimodal, with populations centered at 50 nm and 150–300 nm, and as the size reduction process progressed, the former subpopulation's proportion increased. The biodegradability of MPs in soil was greater than for NPs, a counter-intuitive trend since greater surface area exposure for NPs would increase biodegradability. The result is associated with differences in surface and chemical properties and to minor components that are readily leached out during the formation of NPs. In summary, the use of weathered plastics as feedstock would likely produce MNPs that are more realistic than cryogenically-treated unweathered films for use in experimental studies.</p>
Data from: Impact of agricultural weathering on physicochemical properties of biodegradable plastic mulch films: comparison of two diverse climates over four successive years
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Effect of Environmental Weathering on Biodegradation of Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films under Ambient Soil and Composting Conditions
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