In this study, a field experiment was conducted during 2017–2020 in 3 farmland areas, each with different altitudes and climate conditions, in northern Xinjiang, China, to analyse the plastic residue pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The effects of plastic film mulching (PFM) versus no mulching (NM) methods in drip-irrigated maize production were investigated, regarding maize yield, economic returns, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Different maize hybrids with three different maturation times and two planting densities were chosen to further investigate how those differences more specifically affect maize yield, economic returns, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under each mulching method. By matching the required accumulated temperatures of various maize varieties to environmental accumulated temperatures, along with filmless and higher density planting and modern irrigation and fertilisation practices, yields increased, and at the same time, residual plastic film pollution and carbon emissions were found to decrease. The study highlights that advancements in agronomic management are an important step towards reducing pollution and achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.
This paper characterizes the fungal and bacterial colonizers of 5 types of plastic films (High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate) throughout a 242-day incubation in the south-eastern Mediterranean and relates them to the chemical changes observed on the surface of the samples via ATR-FTIR. Neither bacterial nor fungal community structures were related[…]
This paper provides insights into the sustainable alternatives that can replace conventional plastic mulches, such as biodegradable mulches made from natural fibers and biopolymers. The microscopic and FTIR analyses conducted during the study showed the degradation of the fibers from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The nonwoven mulches provide higher[…]
This paper investigates the degradation of biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) and traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic under two typical abiotic conditions: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and mechanical abrasion (MA) for up to nine months. The quantitative analysis of the degradation products was carried out using membrane filtration and total organic carbon determination (MF-TOCD). The results[…]
This paper identifies technological innovation, policy formulation, advocacy and sensitization, and bioremediation as some of the approaches that are currently used for the mitigation of plastic pollution in Nigeria. This chapter also highlights the need to encourage, enhance, and disseminate scientific research on mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution in Nigeria. It concluded with[…]
This review provides insights into the sources of microplastics, the ecotoxicity of microplastics, and the impact microplastics have on aquatic and marine life, management, and bioremediation of microplastics. Policies and strategies adopted by the government to combat microplastic pollution are also discussed in this review. Microplastics tend to accumulate in many aquatic systems, contaminate them,[…]