• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2024

In this study, two types of biodegradable film prototypes were produced using plastic resin containing rice powder. The application of these biodegradable films in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) fields and their impacts of plant growth, yield, and the soil environment were assessed, in comparison with Polyethylene (PE) film. The light transmittance of the biodegradable film containing 30% of 350 mesh rice powder (BF30-350RP) was 0.8%, which was lower than the 2.0% light transmittance of the biodegradable film containing 40% of 500 mesh rice powder (BF40-500RP) and 2.7% light transmittance of PE film. Surface temperature measurements on clear day indicated that the PE film exhibited the lowest temperature, with the minimal difference observed between BF40-500RP and BF30-350RP. Assessment of the damage ratio resulting from agricultural work revealed a ranking of 0.4% for the PE film, 3.3% for BF500-400RP, and 5.3% for BF350-30RP. Visible decomposition of BF40-500RP and BF30-350RP commenced after 40 and 30 days of outdoor exposure, reaching 62.3% and 70.4% decomposition at 90 days post-exposure, respectively. The decomposition of biodegradable films applied to sweetpotato fields progressed more slowly in BF40-500RP than in BF30-350RP. The BF40-500RP film on the surface of the ridges was decomposed by 5%, 30%, 55%, and 90% after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after planting sweetpotato cuttings, respectively. Both types of biodegradable films at the ridge and furrow borders were completely decomposed after 75 days of sweetpotato planting. In a field where the surface was sealed by mulching without growing sweetpotatoes, the soil moisture and its deviation were lower in the order of PE film, BF40-500RP, and BF30-350RP, but the differences were not significant. The soil temperature was higher for PE film mulching than for the biodegradable films containing rice powder, but the differences were small. Two months after sweetpotato planting, the daily average soil moisture decreased by 2.5%point for BF30-350RP mulching, 1.5%point for BF40-500RP mulching, and 1.1%point for PE film mulching over seven days. Soil temperature was similar for both biodegradable film mulches, but increased steadily for the PE film mulch, reaching a daily average of 0.1℃ higher than for the biodegradable films. Sweetpotato vine growth and tuber yield were similar for all the mulching films tested.