Biodegradable Materials for Planting Pots
B. Tomadoni, D. Merino, C. Casalongué, V. Alvarez1
The use of plastics based on non-renewable petroleum-sources in agriculture represents a growing threat to the environment. Horticultural practices, as well as the growing of plants for landscape, generate great amounts of plastic waste from transplanting pots that are rarely recycled. Nevertheless, there are only few works that deal with biodegradable planting pot preparation and characterization. Planting pots based on biodegradable materials remove the necessity to transplant and hence, discard a container. Planting pots made from industrial and agricultural solid waste, such as wood pulp, paper, or peat moss can be buried directly into the soil altogether with the plant and eventually the container will decompose. Similarly, pots based on biodegradable polymers will also biodegrade when placed in the ground. This chapter reviews the latest findings on biopots (i.e. biodegradable planting pots) based on bioplastics, and also those based on industrial and agricultural waste. Bioplastics usually with addition of different reinforcements, such as plant or wood fibers, are a potential alternative to conventional petroleum-based pots. Also, the use of diverse types of solid residues, such as wood fiber, coconut fiber or coir, rice hull, manure, peat, soil wrap, and straw, in the production chain of novel sustainable products could contribute to the development of modern agriculture. The main thing to consider is that it is necessary to offer rapid biodegradation of planting biopots in soil to avoid their accumulation and root circling while increasing biopots water use efficiency when rising plants. In terms of plant growth and functionality, biodegradable containers can represent a good alternative to replace petroleum-based plastics used for horticulture and floriculture containers.
Keywords
Biopots, Bioplastics, Industrial and Agricultural Waste, Composites
Published online 2/15/2020, 19 pages
Citation: B. Tomadoni, D. Merino, C. Casalongué, V. Alvarez1, Biodegradable Materials for Planting Pots, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 68, pp 85-103, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644900659-4
Part of the book on Advanced Applications of Bio-degradable Green Composites
References
[1] NatGeo, Planet or plastic? A whopping 91% of plastics isn’t recycled., (2018). https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/ (accessed July 15, 2019).
[2] G. Vox, R.V. Loisi, I. Blanco, G.S. Mugnozza, E. Schettini, Mapping of Agriculture Plastic Waste, Agric. Agric. Sci. Procedia. 8 (2016) 583–591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.080.
[3] P. Picuno, Innovative Material and Improved Technical Design for a Sustainable Exploitation of Agricultural Plastic Film, Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. 53 (2014) 1000–1011. https://doi.org/10.1080/03602559.2014.886056.
[4] J. Wang, S. Lv, M. Zhang, G. Chen, T. Zhu, S. Zhang, Y. Teng, P. Christie, Y. Luo, Effects of plastic film residues on occurrence of phthalates and microbial activity in soils, Chemosphere. 151 (2016) 171–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2016.02.076.
[5] R. Scalenghe, Resource or waste? A perspective of plastics degradation in soil with a focus on end-of-life options, Heliyon. 4 (2018) e00941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00941.
[6] M.R. Evans, D.L. Hensley, Plant growth in plastic, peat, and processed poultry feather fiber growing containers, HortScience. 39 (2004) 1012–1014.
[7] M.R. Evans, M. Taylor, J. Kuehny, Physical properties of biocontainers for greenhouse crops production, Horttechnology. 20 (2010) 549–555.
[8] M.R. Evans, A.K. Koeser, G. Bi, S. Nambuthiri, R. Geneve, S.T. Lovell, J. Ryan Stewart, Impact of biocontainers with and without shuttle trays on water use in the production of a containerized ornamental greenhouse crop, Horttechnology. 25 (2015) 35–41.
[9] I. Kyrikou, D. Briassoulis, Biodegradation of Agricultural Plastic Films: A Critical Review, J. Polym. Environ. 15 (2007) 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-007-0053-8.
[10] V. Candido, D. Castronuovo, V. Miccolis, The use of biodegradable pots for the cultivation of poinsettia, Acta Hortic. 893 (2011) 1147–1154. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.893.132.
[11] S. Kasirajan, M. Ngouajio, Polyethylene and biodegradable mulches for agricultural applications: a review, Agron. Sustain. Dev. 32 (2012) 501–529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0068-3.
[12] E. Schettini, L. Sartore, M. Barbaglio, G. Vox, Hydrolyzed protein based materials for biodegradable spray mulching coatings, Acta Hortic. 952 (2012) 359–366. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.952.45.
[13] L. Sartore, E. Schettini, F. Bignotti, S. Pandini, G. Vox, Biodegradable plant nursery containers from leather industry wastes, Polym. Compos. 39 (2018) 2743–2750. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.24265.
[14] V. Candido, V. Miccolis, G. Gatta, S. Margiotta, P. Picuno, C. Manera, The effect of soil solarization and protection techniques on yield traits of melon in unheated greenhouse, in: Acta Hortic., International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Leuven, Belgium, 2001: pp. 705–712. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.559.104.
[15] N. Lucas, C. Bienaime, C. Belloy, M. Queneudec, F. Silvestre, J.-E. Nava-Saucedo, Polymer biodegradation: mechanisms and estimation techniques., Chemosphere. 73 (2008) 429–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.06.064.
[16] E.F. Gómez, F.C. Michel, Biodegradability of conventional and bio-based plastics and natural fiber composites during composting, anaerobic digestion and long-term soil incubation, Polym. Degrad. Stab. 98 (2013) 2583–2591. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.POLYMDEGRADSTAB.2013.09.018.
[17] J. Rydz, W. Sikorska, M. Kyulavska, D. Christova, Polyester-based (bio)degradable polymers as environmentally friendly materials for sustainable development, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 16 (2015) 564–596. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms16010564.
[18] C.R. Hall, R.G. Lopez, J.H. Dennis, C. Yue, B.L. Campbell, B.K. Behe, The appeal of biodegradable packaging to floral consumers, HortScience. 45 (2010) 583–591.
[19] T.J. Hall, W. Lafayette, J.H. Dennis, R.G. Lopez, A.M. Drive, W. Lafayette, M.I. Marshall, W. Lafayette, Factors Affecting Growers ’ Willingness to Adopt Sustainable Floriculture Practices, 44 (2009) 1346–1351.
[20] T.J. Hall, J.H. Dennis, R.G. Lopez, M.I. Marshall, Factors affecting growers’ willingness to adopt sustainable floriculture practices, HortScience. 44 (2009) 1346–1351.
[21] A. Koeser, S.T. Lovell, M. Evans, J.R. Stewart, Biocontainer water use in short-term greenhouse crop production, Horttechnology. 23 (2013) 215–219.
[22] M. Yamauchi, S. Masuda, M. Kihara, Recycled pots using sweet potato distillation lees, Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 47 (2006) 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2005.10.008.
[23] M. Malinconico, Soil Degradable Bioplastics for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture, 2017. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54130-2.
[24] M. Niaounakis, Definitions of Terms and Types of Biopolymers, in: M. Niaounakis (Ed.), Biopolym. Appl. Trends, William Andrew Publishing, 2015: pp. 1–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-35399-1.00001-6.
[25] R. Shamsuddin, Protein-Intercalated Bentonite for Bio-composites, University of Waikato, 2013. https://hdl.handle.net/10289/7719.
[26] S.M. Aurebach, K.A. Carrado, P.K. Dutta, Handbook of Layered Materials, 1st Editio, CRC Press, 2004.
[27] S.K. Sharma, A.K. Nema, S.K. Nayak, Effect of modified clay on mechanical and morphological properties of ethylene octane copolymer – polypropylene nanocomposites, (2015). https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998311413686.
[28] D. Castronuovo, P. Picuno, C. Manera, A. Scopa, A. Sofo, Scientia Horticulturae Biodegradable pots for Poinsettia cultivation : Agronomic and technical traits, 197 (2015) 150–156.
[29] D. She, J. Dong, J. Zhang, L. Liu, Q. Sun, Z. Geng, P. Peng, Development of black and biodegradable biochar/gutta percha composite films with high stretchability and barrier properties, Compos. Sci. Technol. 175 (2019) 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COMPSCITECH.2019.03.007.
[30] E. Sun, G. Liao, Q. Zhang, P. Qu, G. Wu, H. Huang, Biodegradable copolymer-based composites made from straw fi ber for biocomposite fl owerpots application, Compos. Part B. 165 (2019) 193–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.11.121.
[31] V.L. Finkenstadt, B. Tisserat, Poly(lactic acid) and Osage Orange wood fiber composites for agricultural mulch films, Ind. Crops Prod. 31 (2010) 316–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.INDCROP.2009.11.012.
[32] X. Zeng, B. Zhong, Z. Jia, Q. Zhang, Y. Chen, D. Jia, Halloysite nanotubes as nanocarriers for plant herbicide and its controlled release in biodegradable polymers composite film, Appl. Clay Sci. 171 (2019) 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CLAY.2019.01.021.
[33] E. Schettini, G. Santagata, M. Malinconico, B. Immirzi, G. Scarascia Mugnozza, G. Vox, Recycled wastes of tomato and hemp fibres for biodegradable pots: Physico-chemical characterization and field performance, Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 70 (2013) 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESCONREC.2012.11.002.
[34] V. Grazuleviciene, L. Augulis, J. V Grazulevicius, P. Kapitanovas, J. Vedegyte, Biodegradable starch, PVA, and peat composites for agricultural use, Russ. J. Appl. Chem. 80 (2007) 1928–1930. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1070427207110304.
[35] C. Santos, A. Mateus, A. Mendes, C. Malça, Processing and Characterization of Thin Wall and Biodegradable Injected Pots, Procedia Manuf. 12 (2017) 96–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.08.013.
[36] G. Trabka, Bottomless plant container, Patent No. US 2009/0025290 A1, 2009, retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090025290.
[37] G. Cabrera Barja, O. Soto Sanchez, Biodegradable composition, preparation method and their application in the manufacture of functional containers for agricultural and/or forestry use, Patent No. CA 2688516 A1, 2010, retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2688516A1/fi.
[38] E. Tighzert, H. Thi, L. Nguyen, F. Berzin, S.E. Risse, M. Vitofrancesco, Composition a basic agri-sources and biodegradable polymers, Patent No. FR 3 014 885 A1, 2013, retrieved from https://patents.google.com/patent/FR3014885A1/en.
[39] FCC Environment, Linear to Circular Economy – closing the loop. https://www.fcc-group.eu/en/fcc-cee-group/news-and-media/stories-of-waste/from-linear-to-circular-economy-closing-the-loop.html, 2015 (accessed 11 October 2019).
[40] Y. Sun, G. Niu, A.K. Koeser, G. Bi, V. Anderson, K. Jacobsen, R. Conneway, S. Verlinden, R. Stewart, S.T. Lovell, Impact of biocontainers on plant performance and container decomposition in the landscape, Horttechnology. 25 (2015) 63–70.
[41] R.G. Lopez, D.M. Camberato, Growth and Development of ‘Eckespoint Classic Red’ Poinsettia in Biodegradable and Compostable Containers, HorTechnology. 21 (2011) 419–423. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.21.4.419.
[42] X. Wang, R.T. Fernandez, B.M. Cregg, R. Auras, A. Fulcher, D.R. Cochran, G. Niu, Y. Sun, G. Bi, S. Nambuthiri, R.L. Geneve, Multistate Evaluation of Plant Growth and Water Use in Plastic and Alternative Nursery Containers, Horttechnology. 25 (2015) 42–49. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.25.1.42.
[43] S.S. Nambuthiri, D.L. Ingram, Evaluation of Plantable Containers for Groundcover Plant Production and Their Establishment in a Landscape, Horttechnology. 24 (2014) 48–52. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.24.1.48.
[44] J.A. Schrader, Bioplastics for Horticulture: An Introduction, in: J.A. Schrader, H.A. Kratsch, W.R. Graves (Eds.), Bioplastic Contain. Crop. Syst. Green Technol. Green Ind., 2016.
[45] T. Li, G. Bi, R.L. Harkess, G.C. Denny, E.K. Blythe, X. Zhao, Nitrogen Rate, Irrigation Frequency, and Container Type Affect Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Encore Azalea ‘Chiffon,’ HortScience. 53 (2018) 560–566. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI12817-17.
[46] N.J. Flax, C.J. Currey, J.A. Schrader, D. Grewell, W.R. Graves, Herbaceous Perennial Producers Can Grow High-quality Blanket Flower in Bioplastic-based Plant Containers, Horttechnology. 28 (2018) 212–217. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH03922-17.
[47] S.A. Beeks, M.R. Evans, Growth of Cyclamen in Biocontainers on an Ebb-and-Flood Subirrigation System, Horttechnology. 23 (2013) 173–176. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH.23.2.173.
