Written by members of the Biodegradable Mulch project team and their co-authors, these publications reflect our research about biodegradable mulch. Publications are sorted by topic area; within each topic area, the most recent publications are listed first. Publications that are not linked may be available through a literature search such as Google Scholar, or by contacting the author. Team members' contact information is here.
General/Policy
Biodegradabability of Mulch and Mulch Materials
Soil Health
Crop Production
Adoption and Producer Perspectives
Economics

Added in 2019:
Ghimire, S., M. Flury, E.J. Scheenstra, and C.A. Miles. 2019. Sampling and Degradation of Biodegradable Plastic and Paper Mulches in Field after Tillage Incorporation. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135577
Goldberger, J.R., L.W. DeVetter, and K.E. Dentzman. 2019. Polyethylene and Biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Strawberry Production in the United States: Experiences and Opinions of Growers in Three Regions. HortTechnology 29(5):619-628. https://doi.org.10.21273/HORTTECH04303-19
Dentzman, K.E. and J.R. Goldberger. 2019. Organic standards, farmers' perceptions, and the contested case of biodegradable plastic mulch in the United States. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.11.002
Astner, A.F., D.G. Hayes, H. O'Neill, B.R. Evans, S.V. Pingali, V.S. Urban, T.M. Young. 2019. Mechanical formation of micro- and nano-plastic materials for environmental studies in agricultural ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment 685: 1097-1106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.241
Dentzman, K. and J. Goldberger. 2019. Plastic scraps: biodegradable mulch films and the aesthetics of 'good farming' in US specialty crop production. Agriculture and Human Values. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09970-x
Hayes, D.G, M.B. Anunciado, J.M. DeBruyn, S.
Bandopadhyay, S. Schaeffer, M. English, S. Ghimire, C. Miles, M. Flury,
and H.Y. Sintim. 2019. Biodegradable plastic mulch films for sustainable
specialty crop production. In: Gutiérrez T. (eds) Polymers for Agri-Food Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19416-1_11
Moore, J. and A. Wszelaki. 2019. The use of biodegradable mulches in pepper production in the southeastern United States. Horticultural Science 54(6):1031-1038. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13942-19.
Sintim, H.Y., A.I. Bary, D.G. Hayes, M.E. English, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, A. Zelenyuk, K. Suski, and M. Flury. 2019. Release of micro- and nanoparticles from biodegradable plastic during in situ composting. Science of the Total Environment 675(2019): 686-693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.179.
Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, M.E. English, A.I. Bary, J.M. DeBruyn, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, J.P. Reganold, and M. Flury. 2019. Impacts of biodegradable plastic mulches on soil health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 273(2019): 36-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.12.002
General/Policy
Hayes, D.G, M.B. Anunciado, J.M. DeBruyn, S. Bandopadhyay, S. Schaeffer, M. English, S. Ghimire, C. Miles, M. Flury, and H.Y. Sintim. 2019. Biodegradable plastic mulch films for sustainable specialty crop production. In: Gutiérrez T. (eds) Polymers for Agri-Food Applications. Springer, Cham
Goldberger, J.R. 2018. Agriculture in the plastic age. 2018 AFHVS presidential address. Agriculture and Human Values, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-018-9889-x
Hayes, D.G. 2017. Commentary: The relationship between "biobased," "biodegradability" and "environmentally friendliness" (or the absence thereof). Editorial in J Am Oil Chem Soc 94: 1329-1331. DOI: 10.1007/s11746-017-3040-9.
Brodhagen, M., J. Goldberger, D. Hayes, D. Inglis, T. Marsh, and C. Miles. 2017. Policy considerations for limiting unintended residual plastic in agricultural soils. Environmental Science & Policy 69(March 2017): 81-84. Available online Dec 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.014
Miles, C., L. DeVetter, S. Ghimire, and D.G. Hayes. 2017. Suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches for organic and sustainable agricultural production systems. Horticultural Science 52(1): 10-15. Doi:10.21273/HORTSCI11249-16.
Astner, A.F., D.G. Hayes, H. O'Neill, B.R. Evans, S.V.
Pingali, V.S. Urban, T.M. Young. 2019. Mechanical formation of micro-
and nano-plastic materials for environmental studies in agricultural
ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment 685: 1097-1106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.241
Zhang, L., H.Y. Sintim, A.I.Bary, D.G. Hayes, L.C. Wadsworth, M.B. Anunciado, M. Flury. 2018. Interaction of Lumbricus terrestris with macroscopic polyethylene and biodegradable plastic mulch. Science of the Total Environment. 635 (2018): 1600-1608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.054.
Hayes, D., L. Wadsworth, H. Sintim, M. Flury, M. English, S. Schaeffer, A. Saxton. 2017. Effect of diverse weathering conditions on the physiochemical properties of biodegradable plastic mulches. Polymer Testing 62(September 2017): 454-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2017.07.027.
Wadsworth, L.C., D.G. Hayes, A.L. Wszelaki, T.L. Washington,
J. Martin, J. Lee, R. Raley, C.T. Pannell, S. Dharmalingam, C.A. Miles, A.M.
Saxton, and D.A. Inglis. 2013. Evaluation of degradable spun-melt 100%
polylactic acid nonwoven mulch materials in a greenhouse environment. J. of
Eng. Fibers and Fabrics 8(4):50-59.
Maimekov, Adilet. 2011. WSU
non-thesis M.S. Factors determining prices of commodity thermoplastics. WSU
School of Economic Sciences, Pullman, WA. 36 p.
Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, M.E. English, A.I. Bary,
J.M. DeBruyn, S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, J.P. Reganold, M. Flury.
2019. Impacts of biodegradable plastic mulches on soil health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 273(2019): 36-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.12.002
Sintim, H.Y., A.I. Bary, D.G. Hayes, M.E. English,
S.M. Schaeffer, C.A. Miles, A. Zelenyuk, K. Suski, and M. Flury. 2019.
Release of micro- and nanoparticles from biodegradable plastic during in
situ composting. Science of the Total Environment 675(2019): 686-693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.179.
Bandopadhyay, S., L. Martin-Closas, A. M. Pelacho, and J. DeBruyn. 2018. Biodegradable plastic mulch films: Impact on soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Frontiers in Mircobiology, 26 April 2018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00819.
Saglam, M., H.Y. Sintim, A.I. Bary, C.A. Miles, S. Ghimire, D.A. Inglis, M. Flury. 2017. Modeling the effect of biodegradable paper and plastic mulch on soil moisture dynamics. Agric. Water Manage. 193: 240-250.
Sintim, H., S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, M. Flury, A. Bary, S. Schaeffer, J. DeBruyn, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2016. Soil quality and coloid transport under biodegradable mulches. EGU General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria, p. 18410.
Schaeffer, S.M., M. Flury, H.Y. Sintim, S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, A.I. Bary, and J.M. DeBruyn. 2015. Soil physical characteristics and biological indicators of soil quality under different biodegradable mulches. AGU Annual Meeting Abstracts, San Francisco, December 14-15, 2015.
Sintim, H.Y., S. Bandopadhyay, S. Ghimire, M. Flury, A.I. Bary, S. Schaeffer, J.M. DeBruyn, C. Miles, D. Inglis. 2015. Soil quality, moisture, and temperature evaluation under different biodegradable mulches. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 15-18.
Brodhagen, M., M. Peyron, C. Miles, and D.A. Inglis. 2015.
Biodegradable plastic agricultural mulches and key features of microbial
degradation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 99:1039-1056. doi:
10.1007/s00253-014-6267-5
Li, C., J. Moore-Kucera, J. Lee, A. Corbin, M.
Brodhagen, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2014. Degradation of potentially
biodegradable plastic mulch films at three diverse U.S. locations. Journal of
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 38(7): doi 10.1080/21683565.2014.884515.
Li, C., J. Moore-Kucera, J. Lee, A. Corbin, M.
Brodhagen, C. Miles, and D. Inglis. 2014. Effects of biodegradable mulch on
soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology 79:59-69.
Moore-Kucera, J., S.B. Cox, M. Peyron, G.
Bailes, K. Kinloch, K. Karich, C. Miles, D.A. Inglis, and M. Brodhagen. 2014.
Native soil fungi associated with compostable plastics in three contrasting
agricultural settings. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98(14):
6467-6485. doi 10.1007/s00253-014-5711-x.
Bailes, G., M. Lind, A. Ely, M. Powell, J. Moore-Kucera, C.
Miles, D. Inglis, and M. Brodhagen. 2013. Isolation of native soil
microorganisms with potential for breaking down biodegradable plastic films
used in agriculture. J. Vis. Exp. (75), e50373, doi:10.3791/50373.
Moore, J. and A. Wszelaki. 2019. The use of
biodegradable mulches in pepper production in the southeastern United
States. Horticultural Science 54(6):1031-1038. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13942-19.
Ghimire, S., A.L. Wszelaki, J.C. Moore, D.A. Inglis, and C.A. Miles. 2018. Use of biodegradable mulches in pie pumpkin production in two diverse climates. Horticultural Science 53(3):288-294. doi:10.21273/hortsci12630-17.
Tymon,
L, and Inglis, D. 2017. Identification and pathogenicity of a Pseudomonas syringae genomospecies 1
phylogroup 2B causing leaf spots and fruit warts on cucurbits in western
Washington, U.S. J. Plant Path 99(3).
https://dx.doi.org/10.4454/jpp.v99i3.3956.
DeVetter, L.W, H. Zhang, S. Ghimere, S. Watkinson, and C.A. Miles. 2017. Plastic biodegradable mulches reduce weeds and promote crop growth in day-neutral strawberry in western Washington. Horticultural Science 52(12): 1700-1706. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI12422-17. (cover article)
Miles, C., L. DeVetter, S. Ghimire, and D.G. Hayes. 2017. Suitability of biodegradable plastic mulches for organic and sustainable agricultural production systems. Horticultural Science 52(1): 10-15. Doi:10.21273/HORTSCI11249-16.
Cowan, J.S., C.A. Miles, P.K. Andrews, and D.A.
Inglis. 2014. Biodegradable mulch performed comparable to polyethylene in high
tunnel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production. J. Sci. Food Agric.
94:1854-1864. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6504.
Cowan, J.S., D.A. Inglis, and C.A. Miles. 2013.
Deterioration of three potentially biodegradable plastic mulches before and
after soil incorporation in a broccoli field production system in northwestern
Washington. HortTechnology 23(6):849-858.
Miles, C., R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, J. Martin, J. Cowan, T.
Walters, and D. Inglis. 2012. Deterioration of potentially biodegradable
alternatives to black plastic mulch in three tomato production regions.
HortSci. 47:1270-1277.
Miles, C. and T. Marsh. 2012. Biodegradable plastic mulches,
China and U.S. In: Profit from Storage: The costs and benefits of water
buffering. Steenbergen, F. van, A. Tuinhof, and L. Knoop (Eds). Wageningen, The
Netherlands: 3R Water Secretariat. ISBN:978-90-79658-05-3. Pp. 80-84.
Miles, C., D. Hayes, J. Moore-Kucera, M. Brodhagen, T.
Marsh, A. Corbin, R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, T. Walters, J. Lee, and D. Inglis.
2011. Biodegradable alternatives to plastic mulch. In: Transforming Lives
Transforming Landscapes. The Business of Sustainable Water Buffer Management.
Steenbergen, F. van, A. Tuinhof, and L. Knoop (Eds). Wageningen, The
Netherlands: 3R Water Secretariat. Pp. 84-89.
Cowan, J., C. Miles, D. Inglis, K.
Leonas, J. Moore-Kucera, A. Wszelaki, R. Wallace, D. Hayes, and L. Wadsworth. 2010.
Evaluating potential biodegradable mulches for high tunnel and field vegetable
production. Proceedings Agricultural Plastics Congress, July 31–August 1, Palm
Desert, CA. (Abstract, oral presentation and proceedings)
Ghimire, S., M. Flury, E.J. Scheenstra, and C.A. Miles. 2019. Sampling and Degradation of Biodegradable Plastic and Paper Mulches in Field after Tillage Incorporation. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135577
Goldberger, J.R., L.W. DeVetter, and K.E. Dentzman. 2019. Polyethylene and Biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Strawberry Production in the United States: Experiences and Opinions of Growers in Three Regions. HortTechnology 29(5):619-628. https://doi.org.10.21273/HORTTECH04303-19
Dentzman, K.E. and J.R. Goldberger. 2019. Organic standards, farmers' perceptions, and the contested case of biodegradable plastic mulch in the United States. Journal of Rural Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.11.002

Dentzman, K. and J. Goldberger. 2019. Plastic scraps:
biodegradable mulch films and the aesthetics of 'good farming' in US
specialty crop production. Agriculture and Human Values.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09970-x
Miles, C., C. Beus, A. Corbin, R. Wallace, A. Wszelaki, H.
Saez, T. Walters, K. Leonas, M. Brodhagen, D. Hayes, and D. Inglis. 2009. Research
and extension priorities to ensure adaptation of high tunnels and biodegradable
plastic mulch in the United States. Agricultural Plastics Congress, July
13–16, College Station, Pennsylvania.