Development of Naturally Degradable "Rice Polymer" For Organic Weed Management of Red Pepper and Rice

Among the developed bio-degradable polymer films as compared with transparent film(White), black polymer film was significantly more effective for controlling weeds in red pepper. Also, we found that white and black polymer mulching had 81.8% and 97.9% of managing weed controlling effects in rice, respectively. Compared to non-mulched rice paddy with water supply, the non-mulched rice paddy without any water supply has stopped its growth at 41 days after transplanting, while polymer-mulched rice paddy without water supply had about 60% of normally growing rice plants. This shows the polymer treatment has a remarkable effect on water and power saving, solution of herbicidal resistance, avoidance of herbicidal influence to eco-system etc. When the naturally decomposing polymer was used, a temperature was elevated as high as $4.7^{\circ}C$ on maximum and $2.6^{\circ}C$ on average. Also the naturally decomposing polymer accelerated rooting by 7 days and lowered a stress level from transplanting. The weed control effect mulched by polymer was remarkable as 98.7%. The polymer now, after 294 days treated on the rice paddy, has been completely decomposed.