Use of plastic mulch in agriculture and strategies to mitigate the associated environmental concerns

Abstract The excessive use of plastic in modern agriculture is threatening the overall sustainability of our ecosystem due to persistency of residual plastic residues in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. As a result, key components of crop production (including crops, soil and water) and even human beings are all extremely vulnerable to this menace of plastic pollution. To which massive use of plastic film as mulch is among the leading contributors. Lack of viable alternatives for conventional polyethylene (PE) film which is the predominant type currently used as mulch; has made the scenario even worst. Biodegradable mulch (BDM) films have the potential to ameliorate the problem of residue accumulation of PE plastic film in soil. But non-affordable price and lower reliability of consumers coupled with lack of aesthetic value in the field are some of the main hindrances, hampering wider acceptability of BDMs. Moreover, still little is known about the key mechanisms involved in biodegradation, active plastic degrading organisms, and actual fate of resultant micro-particles in the soil. Identifying efficient microorganisms that could immediately biodegrade plastic film mulch (PFM) after use can be paramount in developing BDM films and bioremediation of pollution problem. Recycling of the synthetic PE films also can play a vital role and offers solution to ameliorate several related hazards, but heavy investment is needed to obtain the desired results. The non-acceptability of the used PFM due to attached dirt and chemicals is another concern for limited recycling. Various options that could possibly unravel the underlying mechanism of biodegradation and help in developing cost effective BDMs as complete replacement for the extensive use of PE film in current production systems are presented in this chapter. All mitigation measures emphasize that concerted efforts from all components of society are imperative to effectively confront the perils of plastic pollution.