Spraying in situ of cornstarch films for use in agricultural soil mulching

HECTOR ALEJANDRO ANZORENA; MICAELA COMEZAÑA; MATÍAS DUVAL; RAMIRO GARCÍA; OLIVIA V. LÓPEZ; MARIO D. NINAGO,

Conferencia; 7th Food and Wine Supply Chain Conference; 2024

7th Food and Wine Supply Chain Conference

Biodegradable mulches are presented as an alternative to commonly used plastic mulches in horticulture. The objective of this study was to analyze the application of corn starch suspensions using urea as a plasticizer and sodium borate as a crosslinking agent to form films in situ on the soil to be cultivated. The radiometric and mechanical performance of the following gelatinized starch suspensions were evaluated: T1: alkaline gelatinized corn starch suspension, T2: same as T1 with the addition of urea, and T3: same as T2 with the addition of sodium borate. These suspensions were evaluated in applied trial, incorporating a control. Once the mulches were applied, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was transplanted on each treatment. At harvest time, electrical conductivity and pH at 0-5 cm, crop yield, and density and dry matter of the present weeds. In relation to the mechanical and radiometric tests, the presence of additives did not modify the maximum puncture force or UV radiation barrier capacity of films. At the time of crop harvest, the highest number of weeds was found in T0 (105 weeds m-2), with significant differencesin the accumulated dry matter in relation to the treatments with mulch (T0>T1=T2=T3). However, the crop yield did not show differences associated with the treatments. The mulches did not modify the EC and pH values, showing values of 1.03±0.2 dS.m-1 and 8.6±0.1, respectively.The application of biodegradable mulches favors weed control without observing deleterious eects on the properties of the soil where they are applied.