Biodegradable Mulch Film Gains Advantage Over Traditional Mulch Film That Destroys Soil, Future Demand Expected to Reach 1.65 Million Tons

In modern agricultural production, although plastic mulch films are light and thin, they play a significant role in crop growth. However, over time, the drawbacks of traditional mulch films have gradually become apparent. In response, biodegradable mulch films have emerged, bringing new hope for sustainable agricultural development. Today, let us step into the world of mulch films and explore their evolution and transformation.

1. Plastic Components in Ordinary Mulch Film

Ordinary plastic mulch is mainly made of polyethylene (PE). Due to its good flexibility, light transmittance, and waterproof properties, polyethylene has become an ideal material for making mulch films. According to polymerization methods and molecular structure, polyethylene can be divided into low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), etc.

In actual production, ordinary mulch films are mostly made by blow molding high-density polyethylene resin, with a thickness of 0.012-0.016 millimeters. They have high transparency, which can raise soil temperature and promote crop root growth; strong water retention ability, which can maintain soil moisture; and an affordable price, making them widely used in agricultural production. However, polyethylene is extremely difficult to degrade in the natural environment, with a degradation period of several decades or even over a hundred years. With the increasing use of mulch films, a large amount of residual film accumulates in the soil, severely damaging the soil environment.

2. Diverse Types of Mulch Films

The plastic film family is large and can be divided into ordinary plastic film and special plastic film according to their functions and uses.

The general-purpose mulch film commonly used is mostly blown from high-density polyethylene resin, suitable for various regions, covering methods, cultivated crops, and crop rotations. The ultra-thin mulch film has a thickness of 0.006-0.10 millimeters and is semi-transparent. It is applied in scenarios where cost sensitivity and requirements for warming performance are not high.

There is a wide variety of special mulching films. For example, black mulch film can block sunlight and effectively suppress weed growth, making it suitable for areas and seasons with severe weed problems and low demand for temperature increase. The black-and-white double-sided mulch film has one milky white side and one black side; the upward-facing side can be chosen as needed during use, thereby combining the reflective function of the white side with the weed suppression and soil temperature stabilization functions of the black side.

3. Advantages of Biodegradable Mulch Film

Significant Environmental Benefits: Conventional plastic films leave a large amount of residue in the soil after use, which is difficult to degrade, damaging soil structure and affecting air and water permeability. This hinders the movement of water and nutrients, leading to soil compaction and affecting the growth and development of crop roots. Biodegradable films are primarily made from materials that can be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, with the addition of eco-friendly additives for blow molding. After use, they do not require manual recovery and can be directly plowed into the soil. Under the action of microorganisms, they decompose into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, without polluting farmland and water bodies, fundamentally solving the problem of "white pollution" and protecting soil and ecological environment.

Promoting Crop Growth: Biodegradable mulch films possess the moisture retention and temperature-increasing functions of traditional PE mulch films, along with unique advantages. Some biodegradable mulch films offer ideal water and heat retention and regulation performance during the initial coverage period, providing a stable and suitable environment for crop growth. Biodegradable mulch films containing special additives, such as those with humic acid, can improve soil electrical conductivity and organic matter content during degradation, increase the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms, and better promote crop growth, thereby enhancing yield and quality. Experiments have shown that tomatoes covered with certain biodegradable mulch films outperform those covered with PE mulch films in terms of yield, soluble solids, vitamin C, soluble sugars, and lycopene, while total acidity and hardness are reduced.

Reducing labor costs: After traditional mulch film is used, its recovery requires a significant amount of human and material resources. The process is cumbersome and costly, involving collection from the field, transportation, stacking, sorting, cleaning, crushing, and granulation. Additionally, mulch film is often mixed with crop residues and soil, making it difficult to process. In contrast, biodegradable mulch film decomposes on its own after its usage cycle ends, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning and saving labor and time costs, providing convenience to farmers.

4. Total Market Consumption of Standard Plastic Film

Agricultural plastic film is the fourth largest agricultural input in China, with a considerable amount of mulch film being used. Data shows that in 2021, China's mulch film consumption reached 1.34 million tons. With the expansion of agricultural production scale and the promotion of mulch film coverage technology, it is expected that by 2026, China's mulch film consumption will increase to 1.65 million tons. However, behind the massive usage is a large amount of difficult-to-degrade mulch film residue, which poses a heavy burden on the ecological environment.

5. Analysis of the Demand for Biodegradable Mulch Film if It Completely Replaces Conventional Mulch Film

If biodegradable mulch films completely replace conventional mulch films, their demand will undergo significant changes. Based on the current usage of conventional mulch films, China's annual consumption exceeds 1.4 million tons and is on an upward trend, expected to reach 1.65 million tons by 2026. This means that if biodegradable mulch films fully replace conventional ones, their initial demand will directly correspond to this substantial figure.

In certain regions, the gradual promotion of biodegradable plastic mulch has begun. Taking Haibowan District as an example, efforts to promote it have been continuously intensified since 2023, with fully biodegradable plastic mulch covering an area of 1,910 mu that year. By 2025, nearly 300 tons of fully biodegradable plastic mulch not only met local demand but were also sold to other regions. As the scope of promotion continues to expand, the demand for biodegradable plastic mulch is steadily increasing.

From the perspective of market prospects, with the enhancement of environmental awareness and the intensified efforts by the government to control agricultural non-point source pollution, the market share of biodegradable agricultural films is expected to gradually expand. In regions with high environmental requirements, developed economies, and in the field of organic agriculture, its application has gradually become widespread. As consumer demand for green and environmentally friendly agricultural products grows, more and more farmers will recognize its advantages and choose to use it. Moreover, with technological advancements and expanded production scales, the cost of biodegradable agricultural films is expected to decrease, which will further drive the growth of its market demand.

In the long term, with the innovation and improvement of biodegradable technology, the performance of biodegradable mulch film will be optimized. The degradation speed will be controllable, the lifespan will be extended, and the mechanical properties will be enhanced, allowing it to better adapt to the planting needs of different regions and crops. As application scenarios expand, its demand is expected to continue to rise. It is anticipated that in the coming years, the consumption of biodegradable mulch film will experience rapid growth, gradually filling the enormous demand gap left by the withdrawal of conventional mulch films from the market, and becoming the dominant product in the agricultural mulch film market.

Plastic mulch film, as an important aid in agricultural production, is undergoing a transformation. With its environmentally friendly properties, ability to promote crop growth, and broad market prospects, biodegradable mulch film brings new hope for green agricultural development.