This study intends to evaluate the various types of risk and uncertainties involved in the risk decision-making process of the processed raspberry business, where plastic mulch is a new production technique, drawing on the significance of risk and uncertainty. Participants involved in the use, research, outreach, production, and distribution of plastic mulch, particularly polyethylene (PE) mulch and soil-biodegradable mulch (BDM), were interviewed in semi-structured interviews. The results show that there are several types of risk, such as production, pricing, and hidden hazards, with production and price risks being the most important to all participants. PE mulch was rated as having a higher overall risk by industry representatives, but a lower risk by producers and the majority of research and outreach specialists. BDM was viewed as dangerous due to unknowns regarding durability, degradability, and potential environmental effects if BDM fragments do not break down easily. Although it will take time for additional research and efforts to communicate knowledge to a larger agricultural audience, the application of PE mulch and/or BDM can be advantageous for raspberry production systems.
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,[…]