Renewable sourced biodegradable mulches and their environment impact

Abstract Excess plastic residues in soil lead to soil pollution, vegetation destruction in horticulture and agriculture. Biodegradable mulch is considered as an ideal alternative to conventional plastic mulch to reduce plastic waste. Renewable source based biodegradable materials are getting more attention than petroleum-based biodegradable materials for promoting sustainable development of ecology. This paper comprehensively reviews the progress of various renewable materials used for biodegradable mulch, analyzes the difference of mechanical properties, barrier properties, application effects and biodegradability performance between renewable sourced and traditional plastics mulch, as well as their impact on the environment, and forecasts the future of the renewable resources based biodegradable mulch.