Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The complexity of problems facing the Agricultural Systems demonstrates the need for engineered materials that simultaneously address several of the sustainability challenges in agriculture. The proposed research program aims to create and study engineered composite materials - biodegradable plastic mulch containing major nutrients - with the potential to reduce soil degradation caused by plastic pollution. In this work, we will synthesize urea co-crystal fertilizers at a kg scale and combine them with several plastic polymers to extrude mulch films that can be efficiently degraded by the soil microbiome. Next, we will assess the composite mulch effects on microbial community health, composite mulch degradation as well as nutrient release properties. Finally, we will apply selected composite biodegradable plastic mulch in pilot field experiments cultivating high-value crops, such as tomatoes while investigating soil features and health, as well as crop physiology, yield and quality. In this manner, we will obtain optimized biodegradable nutrient-containing plastic mulch formulations that will result in enhanced crop yields combined with enhanced soil health.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
20%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
The proposed work aims to study (a) the formulation and resulting structural properties of the composite nutrient-containing mulch material pellets; (b) their forming into thin films via extrusion; (c) composite mulch film fragmentation and degradation rates, nutrient release patterns under controlled conditions, changes to the soil microbiome activity; and (d) selected composite mulch film field performance (weed and water control).Figure . Proposed workflow diagram of designed composite mulch film materials. Aims 1 through 3 will focus on engineering the composites, testing their suitability and performing field experiments. There is typically a tradeoff between the outcomes of increased crop yield and soil health; this project will seek to balance them by optimizing composite mulch film formulations.Objectives within Aim 1. Scale-up engineered urea co-crystals for formulation and synthesis of the composite mulch films with three types of known biodegradable polymers (Table 1) including Ecovio, Mater Bi and PBHV, in comparison with conventional LDPE mulch films. The structure, physical and chemical properties of the resulting composite mulch materials will be evaluated and their production as films will be demonstrated.Objectives within Aim 2. Assess the composite mulch film effects on soil bacterial activity, degradation properties and products including nutrient release patterns under realistic environmental conditions and in different soil texture types.Objectives within Aim 3. Apply the composite mulch films in pilot field experiments cultivating high-value crops while investigating soil features and health, as well as crop physiology, yield, and quality.
Project Methods
Efforts will focus on:-laboratory mechanochemical synthesis and scale up of nutrient cocrystals-formulation and extrusion of novel nutrient containing mulch films-laboratory testing of mulch film suitability and effects on soil health-mesoscale environmental assessment in the field testing in Israel-pilot field experiments cultivating high-value crops while investigating soil features and health, as well as crop physiology, yield, and quality.In general,? We will engineer and manufacture composite materials containing primary and secondary nutrients to serve as mulch films,? Evaluate the effects of these composite materials on soil health:o Effects on microbial community health and functioning as compared against traditional plastic films and commercially available biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs),o Measure how new composite materials release nutrients and affect soil greenhouse gas emissions in a realistic field setup, ando Test their biodegradation kinetics and solid microplastic products.Evaluation will be performed via:-obtaining kg quantities of 4 urea cocrystals of well defined XRD structure (Objectives within Aim 1)-obtaining composite mulch films ofEcovio, Mater Bi and PBHV, in comparison with conventional LDPE and comparing the resulting physical properties with those of LDPE alone(Objectives within Aim 1)-utilizing films from Aim 1 to measure their effects on soil bacterial diversity v-utilizing films from Aim 1in soil health by monitoring microbial activity measurements, as well as the dynamics of microbial populations associated with mulching decomposition-utilizing films from Aim 1incrop physiology, yield, and quality measurements