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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
Utilization of a biodegradable mulch sheet produced from poly(lactic acid)/ecoflex/modified starch in mandarin orange
Yuya Tachibana1,2, Takuya Maeda1, Osamu Ito1
1Industrial Technology Center of Wakayama Prefecture, 60, Ogura, Wakayama, 649-6261, Japan.
Abstract:
We have developed a mulch sheet made by inflation molding of PLA, Ecoflex((R)) and modified starch, which all have different biodegradabilities. A field test of use as an agricultural mulch sheet for mandarin oranges was carried out over two years. The mechanical properties of the mulch sheet were weakened with time during the field test, but the quality of the mandarin oranges increased, a result of the controlled degradation of the sheet. The most degradable modified starch degraded first, allowing control of the moisture on the soil. Accelerator mass spectroscopy was used for evaluation of the biomass carbon ratio. The biomass carbon ratio decreased by degradation of the biobased materials, PLA and modified starch in the mulch sheet.
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