New biodegradable film boosts crop growth while reducing fertilizer and plastic waste
According to researchers, manure-based slurry film offers a promising solution for improving fertilizer efficiency, recycling livestock manure, and reducing plastic waste in agricultural production. The findings were published in the journal ENGINEERING Agriculture.
Agriculture faces growing pressure to produce more food while protecting the environment. Farmers around the world are looking for practical ways to reduce fertilizer use, improve soil health, and limit plastic waste from farming operations. A recent study highlights a promising solution that could address all three challenges at once.
Researchers developed a manure-based slurry film (MSF), a biodegradable mulch film made from livestock manure. The innovation is designed to replace traditional polyethylene (PE) mulch film, which is commonly used to conserve moisture and improve crop growth. The research was conducted by Yong HOU at China Agricultural University.
While plastic mulch films offer benefits in crop production, they often leave behind residues that accumulate in the soil and contribute to long-term pollution.
The study focused on silage maize production and examined whether the new manure-based film could help farmers reduce fertilizer inputs without sacrificing yields.
Field trials showed encouraging results. The biodegradable film maintained maize yields even when fertilizer application was reduced by 30%. When fertilizer use was reduced by 15%, crop yields increased significantly compared to traditional plastic mulch systems.
A key advantage of the manure-based film is its ability to support soil biology. Unlike conventional plastic films that mainly act as a physical covering, the new film provides nutrients that help beneficial soil microorganisms thrive. These microorganisms play an important role in making nutrients more available to plants.
The film gradually releases organic matter as well as essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This process encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria that helps cycle nutrients in the soil. Researchers found increases in microbial groups linked to nutrient availability, including those involved in nitrogen conversion and potassium release.
As these microbial communities become more active, they improve nutrient availability for crops. This creates a positive cycle in which nutrients support microbial growth, and microbes in turn help release more plant-available nutrients. The result is greater fertilizer efficiency and stronger crop development.
Another benefit is improving root growth during the early stages of crop development. Stronger roots allow plants to access water and nutrients more effectively. During later growth stages, the film supports phosphorus and potassium availability, helping crops continue building biomass and maintaining productivity even under reduced fertilizer applications.
The technology also contributes to better use of livestock manure. Animal manure is produced in large quantities, but farmers often face challenges in utilizing it efficiently. By transforming manure into biodegradable mulch film, the technology creates a valuable recycling pathway that connects livestock production and crop farming.
This approach supports a circular agricultural system in which waste from one part of the farm becomes a resource for another. At the same time, it reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers and plastic mulch products.
The study also found that manure-based films can improve soil quality by supporting beneficial microorganisms and enhancing soil biological activity. Healthier soils are better able to support crop production over the long term and may become more resilient to environmental stress.
Despite these benefits, researchers noted that technology still faces challenges. Manufacturing the manure-based film currently requires relatively high amounts of energy and water. As a result, its overall environmental footprint remains higher than that of conventional plastic mulch in some areas.
Future improvements will focus on simplifying production methods, reducing energy requirements, and improving manufacturing efficiency. These advancements could make the technology more competitive and increase its adoption on a larger scale.
Researchers believe the findings provide important evidence that biodegradable manure-based mulch films can help support sustainable agriculture. By reducing fertilizer inputs, recycling livestock waste, improving soil health, and limiting plastic pollution, the technology offers a pathway toward more productive and environmentally friendly farming systems.
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