title: Performance and environmental impact of biodegradable polymers as agricultural mulching films.
abstract: In the aim of resolving environmental key issues such as irreversible soil pollution by non-biodegradable and non-recoverable polyethylene (PE) fragments, a full-scale field experiment was set up to evaluate the suitability of four biodegradable materials based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephtalate) (PBAT) to be used as sustainable alternatives to PE for mulching application in vineyard. Initial ultimate tensile properties, functional properties during field ageing (water vapour permeability and radiometric properties), biodegradability and agronomical performance of the mulched vines (wood production and fruiting yield) were studied. In spite of their early loss of physical integrity that occurred only five months after vine planting, the four materials satisfied all the requested functional properties and led to agronomic performance as high as polyethylene. In the light of the obtained results, the mulching material lifespan was questioned in the case of long-term perennial crop such as grapevine. Taking into account their mulching efficiency and biodegradability, the four PBAT-based studied materials are proven to constitute suitable alternatives to the excessively resistant PE material.
authors.affiliation: UMR 1208 IATE "Agropolymers Engineering & Emerging Technologies" (INRA-UM-Montpellier SupAgro-CIRAD), Campus INRA-Montpellier SupAgro, Bât 31, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Touchaleaume
authors.affiliation: Dept of Horticulture, Botany & Gardening, ETSEA, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin-Closas
authors.affiliation: UMR 1208 IATE "Agropolymers Engineering & Emerging Technologies" (INRA-UM-Montpellier SupAgro-CIRAD), Campus INRA-Montpellier SupAgro, Bât 31, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Angellier-Coussy
authors.affiliation: UMR 1208 IATE "Agropolymers Engineering & Emerging Technologies" (INRA-UM-Montpellier SupAgro-CIRAD), Campus INRA-Montpellier SupAgro, Bât 31, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chevillard
authors.affiliation: SERPBIO, 16 BordaXuri II, 64240 La Bastide Clairence, France.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cesar
authors.affiliation: UMR 1208 IATE "Agropolymers Engineering & Emerging Technologies" (INRA-UM-Montpellier SupAgro-CIRAD), Campus INRA-Montpellier SupAgro, Bât 31, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gontard
authors.affiliation: UMR 1208 IATE "Agropolymers Engineering & Emerging Technologies" (INRA-UM-Montpellier SupAgro-CIRAD), Campus INRA-Montpellier SupAgro, Bât 31, 2 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France. Electronic address: gastaldi@um2.fr.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
mesh_terms: D000272:Adipates / Q000737:chemistry; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D027843:Vitis / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000272:Adipates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011126:Polypropylenes; C488797:poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate); D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); C039211:polypropylene carbonate; C029900:adipic acid; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Agronomic performances; Biodegradable polymers; Material lifespan; Mulching; PBAT; Vineyard