In partnership with Washington State University and Montana State University 
Building and sharing information and best practices for biodegradable mulch

 

How do you apply bioedegradable plastic mulch?

​Application of biodegradable mulch is done in roughly the same manner as application of conventional polyethylene plastic mulch film. Application can be done with a raised-bed mulch layer or a flat-bed mulch layer. Both tractor-pulled and hand-pulled layers are available. Several manufacturers of biodegradable mulches - both plastic and paper - recommend releasing tension on the mechanical layer so that the product is not overly stretched during laying. Application can also be done by hand, with the mulch unrolled atop the row, and the sides of the mulch covered with soil by shovel.
[See more information and other FAQ here.]

button3.pngNew Publications! See the publications page for more information.

  • Henry Sintim et al., Impact of biodegradable plastic mulchs on soil health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 273(2019).
  • Jessica Goldberger, Agriculture in the plastic age. Agriculture and Human Values. 2018. 

New Factsheets! See the resources page for more information.

  • Shuresh  Ghimire et al., Soil sampling method to assess the amount of mulch fragments in the field...
  • Jeremy Cowan and Carol Miles, Impact of biodegradable plastic mulch on specialty crop production.
  • Kuan Chen et al., Important considerations for the use of biodegradable mulch in crop production.

New Case Studies! See the resources page for more information.

A new type of resource available to share producers' perceptions of biodegradable mulches based on use on their farms.