INSIGHTS:
Understanding the Real Impact of Plastic Mulch
What Actually Remains in the Soil After Plastic Mulch
Plastic mulch disappears from the field after harvest.
But it does not disappear from the soil.
Conventional polyethylene mulch does not biodegrade.
It breaks apart.
• fragments created during removal
• pieces left behind during the season
• plastic dust formed through mechanical stress
• gradual accumulation after repeated sea
sons
Over time these fragments become microplastics.
They remain in the soil long after the mulch film is gone.
Across North America, growers are beginning to ask the same question:
What actually remains in the soil after years of plastic mulch?
Understanding the Real Impact of Plastic Mulch
Labor & Economics
The real operational cost of installation, removal, transport, and disposal.
Topics include:
• mowing, lifting and removal
• labor requirements and timing
• transport and landfill costs
▶Understand the Cost
Soil & Microplastics
What actually remains in the soil after repeated seasons of plastic mulch.
Topics include:
• plastic fragmentation vs biodegradation
• how microplastics accumulate in soil
• long-term soil health considerations
▶ Explore Soil Impact
Field Experience
Real observations from farms using compostable mulch in production.
Topics include:
• peppers, tomatoes, strawberries
• melons, garlic and vegetable systems
• installation and end-of-season observations
▶See Real Field Systems
Mis en avant
