Biodegradable mulch film-enriched with biochar, chicken feather, and oyster shell powder for improved soil quality...

This study presents the development of an eco-friendly biodegradable mulch film (BDM) based on a polylactic acid (PLA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend matrix integrated with agricultural and fishery waste materials, including biochar (BC), chicken feather (CF), and oyster shell (OS). The composite BDMs were characterized for their physicochemical and microstructural properties and evaluated for degradability, soil quality effects, and crop performance in greenhouse experiments. Results demonstrated that BDMs enriched with BC, CF, and OS significantly improved soil pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient availability (N, P, Ca), while also stimulating microbial activity, particularly dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate enzyme activities. The soil quality index (SQI) increased significantly under these treatments, with the highest value (0.76 ± 0.03) observed for the BDM film combined with sugarcane bagasse-derived BC, CF, and OS. These BDM films suppressed weeds and increased crop yield without external fertilizers. Overall, this work demonstrates that PLA/PVA-based BDMs enriched with agricultural and fishery waste not only offer a sustainable substitute for conventional plastic mulches but also serve as functional soil amendments that improve soil health, support circular agricultural practices, and contribute to sustainable soil management aligned with global net-zero and climate-resilient farming goals.