Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) present an environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch. Unlikely PE films, which need to be taken out after use, BDMs are tilled into the soil where they are expected to biodegrade. Nevertheless, there remains considerable unpredictability about the long-term impacts of BDM amalgamation on soil ecosystems. Biodegradable Mulch Film is specifically designed in order to prevent heat from reaching the plant’s roots, thus keeping it cool for faster growth. With these films, moisture, soil temperature, and microorganism carries out the decomposition into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, thus generating no toxic residues.

BDMs likely influence soil bacterial communities in two ways: first, as a surface barrier before soil unified, indirectly affecting soil micro-climate and atmosphere (similar to PE films) and second, after soil incorporation, as a direct intake of physical fragments, which includes carbon, microorganisms, additives, and adherent chemicals. This review overview’s the current literature on impacts of plastic mulches on soil biological and biogeochemical processes, with a special emphasis on BDMs.

The united findings indicated that when used as a surface barrier, plastic mulches altered soil microbial community composition and functioning via micro-climate modification, though the nature of these alterations changed between studies. In addition, BDM incorporation into the soil can lead to enhanced microbial activity and enrichment of fungal taxa. This proposes that despite the fact that total carbon input from BDMs is minuscule, an impact stimulatory on bacterial activity may ultimately affect soil biotic matter dynamics. To address the current informational gaps, long term researches, and a better understanding of the impacts of BDMs on nutriments biogeochemistry are necessary. These are critical to evaluating BDMs as they relate to soil health and agroecosystem integrality.