PULLMAN, Wash., April 7, 2010 — Researchers at Washington State University are working to develop
a biodegradable mulch that would provide an alternative to costly and environmentally detrimental
plastic mulch.
The research project spans three states and five research institutions, said Debra Inglis,
associate plant pathologist and project director. Inglis is based at WSU’s Northwest Washington
Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon.
The WSU Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles is playing a significant
role in the research. The Textile Research Lab is responsible for testing many of the intrinsic
qualities of both fabric and plastic mulches, said Karen Leonas, the department chair. Two AMDT
undergraduates, Marc LaPointe and Leanne Goldstein, are conducting the physical and mechanical
testing of the mulches.
“Textiles play a big role in the evaluation of the product, and with the textiles lab, we’re
well situated to contribute to this project in an important way,” Leonas said.
The fabrics are being tested to determine how well they respond responds to different kinds
of weather conditions and their biodegradation rate.
Leonas said the research project started when she ran into a long-time colleague who was
studying biodegradable materials. Leonas asked the colleague to send her an abstract of his
research, and then forwarded the abstract to the chair of WSU’s Department of Horticulture and
Landscape Architecture. Rick Knowles, chair of horticulture and landscape architecture, realized
this research could be applied to the agricultural realm, and introduced Leonas to Carol Miles, an
associate vegetable horticulturalist who was researching alternative mulches for weed control in
vegetable production systems <
http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/orgrte/Project/279>
.
“We found there was an overlap in the research, and decided to proceed with the project,”
Miles said.
This research project has enormous potential to positively impact farmers, Miles said. The
alternative mulch could potentially create a reduction in the waste stream of plastic mulch, most
of which is currently disposed of in landfills. This in turn would potentially eliminate the cost
farmers pay to remove and dispose of the plastic mulch.
“This alternative would also benefit communities because many agricultural communities in the
United States do not currently have access to agricultural plastics recycling,” Miles said.
Miles said there is much to be learned about how biodegradable mulch would impact the health
and quality of soil. Biodegradable mulch should leave no toxic residue in the soil and, ideally,
would improve soil quality and decrease soil-borne plant diseases.
There is also potential to expand this research and supply alternatives to other types of
plastic far beyond agriculture, Miles said.
“Only one percent of all plastics used are agricultural, and there are many other potential
opportunities for this technology–plastic bags being just one example” Miles said.
Posted on April 13, 2010
Press Release Courtesy of Washington State University
