In partnership with Washington State University and Montana State University 
Building and sharing information and best practices for biodegradable mulch
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What does biodegradable mulch cost?
The purchase price of biodegradable plastic m​ulch varies, depending on factors such as the width and thickness of the mulch as well as the length of the roll. Thickness of products can range from 0.5 to 1 mil, with thinner products generally degrading faster than thicker products. The cost of biodegradable mulch products ranges based on thickness and color, but the cost is roughly double the cost of conventional polyethylene plastic mulch. More information is available in this factsheet about the economics of using biodegradable plastic mulch. The factsheet addresses purchase cost, as well as end-of-season savings of labor and disposal costs. Prices of cellulose-based (paper) mulch also vary based on thickness and creping, and are similar to biodegradable plastic mulch prices.
[See more information and other FAQ here.]

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New Journal Articles!

See the publications page for more information. ​

Moore and Wszelaki.  "The use of biodegradable mulches in pepper production in the Southeastern United States" in HortScience.

Dentzman and Goldberger. "Plastic scraps: Biodegradable mulch films and the aesthetics of 'good farming' in US specialty crop production" in Agriculture and Human Values.

Astner, Hayes, et al. "Mechanical formation of micro- and nano-plastic materials for environmental studeies in agricultural ecosystems" in Science of the Total Environment. 

New Factsheets! 

See these factsheets and other basic information about biodegradable mulch here.

"Disparity between the Terms 'Biodegradability' and 'Biobased' Pertaining to Biodegradable Mulch Films" co-authored by Marife Anunciado and Doug Hayes.

"Paper Mulch for Nutsdedge Control in Vegetable Production" co-authored by Jenny Moore and Annette Wszelaki.