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The increasing demand for applying modified inert atmosphere systems for insect eradication in museums has led to the desire for lower-cost consumable materials, particularly laminated plastic films. An ultra-low oxygen-permeable laminate is required for creating successful systems of modified inert atmosphere to keep the oxygen concentration lower than 0.3%. A range of ultra-high barrier laminates is commercially available but at a high cost, which could affect the sustainability of applying these systems in museums of limited budgets. The wide use of local laminates for food preservation makes them a perfect target for testing and improvement as alternatives. However, a laboratorial test method for evaluating their oxygen permeability is required to assess their suitability for insect eradication using modified atmospheres. Therefore, the present work investigates the potential of using two laminates (one local and one imported) to create a successful modified atmosphere system. A laboratory easy-to-use test method was used to assess the oxygen permeability of each laminate and calculate its oxygen transmission rate. The test method is a sealed static chamber separated in the middle by a known area of the laminate to be tested. The test relies on monitoring the change of oxygen concentration overtime on either side of the laminate membrane within the sealed system to assess its oxygen transmission rate. The specifications and design of the test chamber are adopted from the ASTM Designation: E2945 − 14. Results indicated that the new method is useful for an unlimited number of tests of an unlimited number of laminates. The conducted tests proved that the local laminate normally used for food packaging showed good results in terms of its oxygen transmission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Modern food industry needs composite polymer materials based on natural compounds that accelerate the biodegradability of packaging materials. Starch is one of the most effective organic fillers. It has an excellent compatibility with synthetic polymers during extrusion. The research objective was to perform a comparative assessment of the physical and mechanical characteristics of thermoplastic starch based on enzymatic modified porous corn starch. The starch included samples both purified and unrefined from reducing substances. The samples were tested in biodegradable film production. Study objects and methods. The research featured porous starch, hybrid compositions with thermoplastic porous starch (TPS), and films based on low density polyethylene (PLD). The study involved various methods for determining biochemical and structural features of starch, e.g. electron microscopy, and physicomechanical properties of compositions and films. Results and its discussion. Compared to native starch, porous starch had a 1.6 times higher water-binding capacity and a 4 times greater solubility. Its enzymatic attackability was 24% higher, while its dynamic viscosity was a 1.7 times lower. These properties had a positive effect on the biodegradability of the films. The film samples that had the PLD:TPS ratio of 60:40 and the porous starch ratio of 40:60 demonstrated higher indicators of breaking tensile stress than the native starch samples. When the ratio of PLD:TPS was 70:30, the difference reached 14%; with that of 60:40 – 23%. Similar results were obtained for the break elongation: the indicator increased by 74% at the ratio of 70:30, by 65% at the ratio of 60:40, and by 21% at 40:60. The superior tensile stress indicator of the porous starch samples proved its higher strength properties, while the better break elongation results denoted a greater biodegradability. Conclusion. Modified starch, unrefined from reducing substances, proved more expedient for TPS and PLD film production. Unlike refined starch, it reduced the biodegradability period of the final product. The biodegradability period can be specified in a prospective study of food properties during storage using the new film.

The contribution is focusing on the work of the Czech artist Jana Skalická (1957–2015), who was actively creating during the 1980s and the first half of 1990s. At the beginning of her career Skalická worked mainly with textiles, but later on she found a new material, which was better suited for her artistic expression – a plastic film. She was modifing the thin plastics with her own technique, using an iron or a sewing machine. Her art gradually developped from hanging plastic tapestries to three dimensional objects and installations, in which other materials, such as metal, wood, stones and other types of plastic, were incorporated. The majority of Skalická’s works was of an ephemere nature and was not conserved until today. The article is therefore dealing with their photographic depictionand its meaning.

Mulch film is usually mixed in with cotton during machine-harvesting and processing, which reduces the cotton quality. This paper presents a novel sorting algorithm for the online detection of film on cotton using hyperspectral imaging with a spectral region of 1000 - 2500 nm. The sorting algorithm consists of a group of stacked autoencoders, two optimization modules and an extreme learning machine (ELM) classifier. The variable-weighted stacked autoencoders (VW-SAE) are constructed to extract the features from hyperspectral images, and an artificial neural network (ANN), which is one optimization module, is applied to optimize the parameters of the VW-SAE. Then, the extracted features are input in the ELM to classify four types of objects: background, film on background, cotton and film on cotton. The ELM is optimized by a new optimizer (grey wolf optimizer), which can adjust the hidden nodes and parameters of the ELM simultaneously. A group of experiments was carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed sorting algorithm using cotton that was provided by a Xinjiang municipality cotton ginning company. The experimental results show that the VW-SAE can improve the classification accuracies by approximately 15%. The overall recognition rate of the proposed algorithm is over 95%, and its recognition time is comparable to some state-of-the-art methods.

The Brazilian semiarid region stands out in terms of sour passion fruit production. Local climatic conditions (high air temperature and low rainfall), combined with its soil properties (rich in soluble salts), increase salinity effects on plants. This study was carried out in the experimental area “Macaquinhos” in Remígio-Paraíba (Brazil). The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of mulching on grafted sour passion fruit under irrigation with moderately saline water. The experiment was conducted in split-plots in a 2 × (2 × 2) factorial scheme to evaluate the effects of the combination of irrigation water salinity of 0.5 dS m−1 (control) and 4.5 dS m−1 (main plot), passion fruit propagated by seed and grafted onto Passiflora cincinnata, with and without mulching (subplots), with four replicates and three plants per plot. The foliar Na concentration in grafted plants was 90.9% less than that of plants propagated via seeds; however, it did not affect fruit production. Plastic mulching, by reducing the absorption of toxic salts and promoting greater absorption of nutrients, contributed to greater production of sour passion fruit. Under irrigation with moderately saline water, the plastic film in the soil and seed propagation promote higher production of sour passion fruit.

ABSTRACT Film mulching is an effective water-saving and yield-increasing measure for potato production in Northwest China. However, the response mechanism of microbial communities to mulching films in the soil is still unclear. In this study, polyethylene film mulching (PM), biodegradable film mulching (BM), liquid film mulching (LM), and non-mulching (NM) were applied on the drip-irrigated soil to investigate the effects of mulching films on soil bacterial and fungal communities through DNA sequencing, Pearson correlation analysis, and redundancy analysis. The results showed that LM treatment significantly increased the contents of soil mineral N (SMN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) (p

Determined that with increasing length of contact butt welding of the waveguide linearly increases the speed and performance of seam welding. The use of low-power piezoelectric transducers for ultrasonic welding of polymer films with bilateral extraction of energy from the transducer improves the performance and efficiency of the welding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfed agriculture is crucial for global food security, with plastic film mulching a widely adopted practice in this domain. However, the impact of plastic film mulching varies significantly across different crop species. This study conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to evaluate the overall effects of plastic film mulching on the yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP) of 13 different crop species. Plastic film mulching significantly enhanced crop yield (26%), WUE (33%), and NPFP (26%) compared to non-mulched conditions. However, the promotional effects varied significantly among different crop species, with noteworthy improvements observed in soybean (44%, 41%, and 45%, respectively) and millet (42%, 57%, and 39%, respectively). For China's major staple crops, plastic film mulching improved the yield, WUE, and NPFP of wheat (29%, 23%, and 27%, respectively), rice (12%, 36%, and 12%, respectively), maize (25%, 29%, and 26%, respectively), and potato (27%, 29%, and 27%, respectively). Regional suitability for plastic film mulching varied among different crops, with rice, maize, soybean, sunflower, linseed, and millet showing increased benefits in cold, semi-arid and arid areas (mean annual temperature (MAT) ≤ 10°C, mean annual precipitation (MAP) < 450 mm, and aridity index (AI) < 0.5). Conversely, peanut and wheat performed better in warm, moist and semi-humid regions (MAT > 10°C, MAP > 450 mm, and AI > 0.5). Moreover, nitrogen fertilizer application influenced the efficacy of plastic film mulching. For soybean, linseed, and millet, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was observed under low nitrogen application (<110 kg ha–1). For sorghum, sunflower, sweet potato, rice, peanut, potato, and wheat, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was found under moderate nitrogen application (110–220 kg ha–1). As for maize, cotton, and oilseed rape, the optimal outcome of plastic mulching was observed under high nitrogen application (>220 kg ha–1), but there was no significant difference between moderate and high nitrogen application. A tailored approach considering specific crop requirements and nitrogen application rates is essential for maximizing the benefits of plastic film mulching across diverse local conditions. This study offers valuable insights into optimizing crop productivity under plastic film mulching management systems. [Display omitted] • Plastic film mulching (PFM) enhanced the yield, WUE, and NPFP of all 13 crops. • PFM improved soybean and millet yields the most among the 13 crops. • Most crops exhibited heightened promotional effects under PFM in cold, semi-arid and arid regions. • Peanut and wheat performed better under PFM in warm, moist and semi-humid regions. • Nitrogen fertilizer application can be reduced when using PFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable mulches are widely recognized as ecologically friendly substances. However, their degradation percentage upon entering soils may vary based on mulch type and soil microbial activities, raising concerns about potential increases in microplastics (MPs). The effects of using different types of mulch on soil carbon pools and its potential to accelerate their depletion have not yet well understood. Therefore, we conducted an 18-month experiment to investigate mulch biodegradation and its effects on CO 2 emissions. The experiment included burying soil with biodegradable mulch made of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and control treatments with traditional mulch (PE) and no mulch (CK). The results indicated that PE did not degrade, and the degradation percentage of PLA and PBAT were 46.2% and 88.1%, and the MPs produced by the degradation were 6.7 × 104 and 37.2 × 104 items/m2, respectively. Biodegradable mulch, particularly PLA, can enhance soil microbial diversity and foster more intricate bacterial communities compared to PE. The CO 2 emissions were 0.58, 0.74, 0.99, and 0.86 g C/kg in CK, PE, PLA, , PBAT, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between microbial abundance and diversity with CO 2 emissions, while a negative correlation was observed with soil total organic carbon. Biodegradable mulch enhanced the transformation of soil organic C into CO 2 by stimulating microbial activity. [Display omitted] • Biodegradable mulch produced 7-37 × 104 items/m2 of microplastics after 18-month degradation. • Biodegradable mulch increased 25% CO 2 emission than Polyethylene. • Biodegradable mulch promoted soil C converted to CO 2 by stimulating microbial activity. • Biodegradation of soil mulch has the risk of increasing CO 2 and reducing soil C storage. • Polybutylene adipate terephthalate produce more microplastics, while polylactic acid more CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ‘Rabbab’ pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) were subjected before storage to single-layered wax coating (SLW), double-layered wax coating (DLW), individual-seal film packaging (ISP), tray wrap film packaging (TWP), and combined treatments of SLW + ISP or SLW + TWP. Treated fruits were then stored at ambient temperature (15–20 °C; 45–50% relative humidity – RH) or in cold conditions (5 °C ± 0.5; 85% RH) for 18 weeks. TWP, ISP, DLW, and SLW extended the shelf life of pomegranates for 18, 18, 12, and 11 weeks at cold (5 °C) condition, and also for 6, 5, 3, and 3 weeks at ambient condition, respectively, whereas the shelf life of control fruits were 10 and 2 weeks at cold and ambient conditions, respectively. After 18 weeks of storage, the weight loss in ISP and TWP fruits was 0.6 and 0.4% at cold condition and 12.4 and 5.4% at ambient condition, respectively. In general, film packaging maintained vitamin C, total titratable acidity, and sensory analysis scores for color, freshness, juiciness, and taste of pomegranates more effectively than wax coating and control. However, the combination of SLW and ISP or TWP did not improve the efficiency of pomegranates packaged as either ISP or TWP.

The effect of ridge and furrow film mulching (RFFM) on soil microbial communities, physicochemical property, enzymatic activity, and tuber yield were studied under the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) continuous cropping fields managed for one (CY-1), two (CY-2) and four years (CY-4). Experimental treatments included a conventional flat plot without film mulching (FP) and five RFFM treatments: (i) a flat plot with film mulching (T1); (ii) on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2); (iii) on-furrow planting with full film mulching (T3); (iv) on-ridge planting with half film mulching (T4); and (v) on-furrow planting with half film mulching (T5). Compared with FP, RFFM increased microbial communities, soil electrical conductivity, and enzymatic activities, and decreased pH values to improve the soil environment. Microbial communities of T2 and T5 were relatively higher, while soil urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of T2 and T4 were higher in all the continuous cropping years. In addition, the tuber yields of T2 were also increased by 75.0, 46.4 and 97.3% than FP, respectively. Thus, on-ridge planting with full film mulching (T2) is recommended as an adaptive management strategy for potato cultivation in the semi-arid areas where continuous cropping is necessary.

The experiments on the effect of unipolar magnetic field (MF) on the germination and growth of wheat seeds were carried out. It was shown that that the shielding of a unipolar magnet by polyethylene film changes the biological activity of the magnetic field.

Optimal storage conditions are essential to preserving the quality of postharvest produce and cut flowers during transportation, especially to overseas destinations. As a result, this research investigated the effects of active and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the biochemical properties of cut Dendrobium Sonia orchid flowers. In active MAP, the orchid flowers were wrapped in MAP plastic film filled with 5 % carbon dioxide (CO2) and 2 % oxygen (O2). Meanwhile, in passive MAP the flowers were stored inside MAP plastic film without filling with 5 % CO2 and 2 % O2. The experimental MAP plastic films were polyethylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride films. The biochemical parameters included storage life, respiration rate, ethylene production, internal O2 and CO2, anthocyanin content, protein degradation, and electrolyte leakage. The results showed that the average storage life of orchid flowers under passive MAP condition was 9–15 days, depending on the plastic film types. The longest storage life of 15.66 days was achieved with polypropylene film. The storage life of orchid flowers in active MAP was 9.33 days on average. Without MAP (control), the storage life was 7 days under normal atmosphere condition (0.03 % CO2 and 21 % O2). The experiments also demonstrated that MAP efficiently reduced respiration rate, ethylene production, anthocyanin degradation, protein degradation, and electrolyte leakage. Unlike existing research on MAP which focused primarily on extending the shelf life of fresh produce or cut flowers, this study comparatively investigated the biochemical properties of cut orchid flowers stored in MAP environment, in addition to the storage life.

Our objective was to compare the performance of dairy heifers fed diets based on whole-plant corn silage stored in bunker silos sealed with either standard polyethylene film (white-on-black, actual thickness 121 ± 3.1 µm) covering the top surface, held in place with rows of tires every 3 m (PE) or an oxygen barrier system comprised of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol film (actual thickness 46.7 ± 2.5 µm) lining side walls and covering the silage, protected with a woven anti-UV cover and gravel bags placed around the edges and every 3 m across the silo (OB). Whole-plant corn was mechanically harvested at 39% dry matter (DM), packed in bunker silos, and sealed with PE or OB covering methods. After 6 mo of storage, silos were opened and fed to 26 Holstein heifers (260 ± 89.1 kg of shrunk body weight) for 60 d. Heifers were blocked by initial weight (13 blocks with 2 heifers each block) and housed in individual pens. Diets contained (on a DM basis) 80% corn silage (PE or OB), 17.5% soybean meal, and 2.5% mineral mix. Dry matter intake was measured daily, whereas shrunk body weight, hip height, heart girth, and body condition score were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Feeding behavior was recorded on d 24 and 46, and total-tract digestibility was measured from d 26 to 30 and 48 to 52. Data of intake, feeding behavior, and digestibility were averaged by animal for the whole feeding period before the statistical analysis. Data of animal performance were analyzed as a randomized complete block design. Initial shrunk body weight was used as a covariate for analyses of intake and body measures. During feed-out, silage quality was also assessed at the top (15 cm depth from upper surface) and bottom layer (135 cm depth from upper surface) and analyzed as a split-plot design. Silage stored under the OB sealing system had less yeast, mold, and NH 3 -N, and more lactic acid and ethanol-soluble carbohydrates. An interaction between sealing strategy and silo layer showed that OB silage had lower values of temperature, pH, anaerobic spores, acetic acid, and DM loss, and greater in vitro DM digestibility and aerobic stability, especially in the top layer. The proportion of inedible silage was lower in OB than in PE treatment (0.82 vs. 4.00% DM). Total-tract digestibility was similar between treatments, but animals that received the OB diet had higher DM intake by approximately 9% (9.39 vs. 10.20 kg/d) due to a faster eating rate and a greater number of meals per day. Therefore, OB treatment increased the digestible energy intake by 8% (26.3 vs. 28.3 Mcal/d) and average daily gain by 12% (1.08 vs. 1.21 kg/d). Body condition score change was similar between treatments, but heifers fed OB had greater heart girth and tended to have higher hip height. In conclusion, replacing a standard PE film with an OB sealing system improved silage conservation and performance of growing dairy heifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plastic film of the new plastic film reinforced pliable decorative veneer (PRPDSV) is used as a flexible reinforcement material and an adhesive material. It has good water resistance, impermeability, simple preparation and finishing processes, and no formaldehyde release. However, warpage phenomenon during hot pressing has been a bottleneck problem restricting its industrial development. In order to solve this problem solve, the study proposed a concave, and convex molds method, established an elastic–plastic FEA model of hot pressing processes of the PRPDSV using concave and convex molds with static/general static solution module in the nonlinear ABAQUS, and researched the effect on the performances of the PRPDSV from the parameters of temperature, pressure, and mold curvature radius theoretically and verified experimentally. Analysis results showed that the surface forming temperature had a great effect on warpage control for PRPDSV. The higher the temperature is, the smaller the curvature radius of the corresponding mold will be and the better the warpage will be. The curvature radius of the molds had a significant effect on the warpage control. Under the conditions with the same hot pressing parameters, the smaller the curvature radius is, and the better control on the warpage for the PRPDSV will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background China is the leading consumer of plastic film worldwide. Plastic film mulched ridge-furrow is one of the most widely adopted agronomic and field management practices in rain-fed agriculture in dry-land areas of China. The efficiency of plastic film mulching as a viable method to decrease evapotranspiration (ET), increase crop yields, and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated extensively by earlier studies. Methods A comprehensive evaluation of how co-application of plastic-film mulch and biochar in different agro-environments under varying climatic conditions influence ET, crop yield, WUE, and soil microbial activity were assessed. We performed a meta-analysis using the PRISMA guideline to assess the effect of plastic-film mulched ridge-furrow and biochar on ET, yield, and WUE of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) in northern China. Results The use of plastic film increased average yields of wheat (75.7%), potato (20.2%), and maize (12.9%) in Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, respectively due to the reduction in ET by 12.8% in Gansu, 0.5% in Ningxia, and 4.1% in Shanxi, but increased in Shaanxi by 0.5% compared to no-mulching. These changes may be attributed to the effect of plastic film mulch application which simultaneously increased WUE by 68.5% in Gansu, 23.9% in Ningxia, 16.2% in Shaanxi, and 12.8% in Shanxi, respectively. Compared to flat planting without mulching, in three years, the yield of maize increased with the co-application of plastic film and biochar by 22.86% in the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. Conclusion Our analysis revealed co-application of plastic film with biochar is integral for improving soil and water conservation in rain-fed agriculture and as an integrated practice to avert drought while simultaneously mitigating runoff and erosion.

Background. China is the leading consumer of plastic film worldwide. Plastic film mulched ridge-furrow is one of the most widely adopted agronomic and field management practices in rain-fed agriculture in dry-land areas of China. The efficiency of plastic film mulching as a viable method to decrease evapotranspiration (ET), increase crop yields, and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated extensively by earlier studies. Methods. A comprehensive evaluation of how co-application of plastic-film mulch and biochar in different agro-environments under varying climatic conditions influence ET, crop yield, WUE, and soil microbial activity were assessed. We performed a meta-analysis using the PRISMA guideline to assess the effect of plastic-film mulched ridge-furrow and biochar on ET, yield, and WUE of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) in northern China. Results. The use of plastic film increased average yields of wheat (75.7%), potato (20.2%), and maize (12.9%) in Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces, respectively due to the reduction in ET by 12.8% in Gansu, 0.5% in Ningxia, and 4.1% in Shanxi, but increased in Shaanxi by 0.5% compared to no-mulching. These changes may be attributed to the effect of plastic film mulch application which simultaneously increased WUE by 68.5% in Gansu, 23.9% in Ningxia, 16.2% in Shaanxi, and 12.8% in Shanxi, respectively. Compared to flat planting without mulching, in three years, the yield of maize increased with the co-application of plastic film and biochar by 22.86% in the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. Conclusion. Our analysis revealed co-application of plastic film with biochar is integral for improving soil and water conservation in rain-fed agriculture and as an integrated practice to avert drought while simultaneously mitigating runoff and erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanized recycling of used plastic film has become an important and effective method to control the pollution of ‘white pollution’ in Xinjiang cotton fields. The working feature of the plastic film recovery machine is to recycle the used plastic film together with impurities such as cotton stalks, cotton bolls, cotton husks, and soil. The mixtures are not easy to separate due to the entanglement between the used plastic film and the cotton stalk and the lack of effective separation methods and equipment. This research proposed a solution to separate solid-phase plastic film and solid-phase impurities by using liquid water as the medium. Basing on studying material characteristics and theoretical analysis of water washing separation, taking the relaxation time difference and the maximum vertical displacement difference between the plastic film and cotton stalks as the response index, the single factor experiment of flow field characteristics and material properties was carried out by using the controlled variable method on a self-designed testbed of suspension separation. The significant factors affecting the separation between the plastic film and cotton stalks were determined as the speed of the impeller, area of plastic film, and aspect ratio of cotton stalks. Furthermore, a three-factor five-level quadratic rotation orthogonal combination experiment was carried out, and a multiple mathematical regression between the influencing factors and the response index was established by data optimization software Design-Expert V10.0.4. The best parameter combination including the speed of the impeller 202 r/min, area of plastic film 1 271.4 mm2, the aspect ratio of cotton stalks 13, was obtained by using the software optimization function, corresponding relaxation time difference and maximum vertical displacement difference between the plastic film and cotton stalks optimization values were 4.20 s and 22.1 cm. It was verified by experiments that the average values of the relaxation time difference and the maximum vertical displacement difference were 4.34 s and 21.2 cm respectively, and the relative errors from the predicted value were 3.23% and 4.25%, which proved that the established model and the optimal parameters after optimization were feasible. Through the post-processing of the video frame by frame, the sinking process and upward gathering behavior of the cotton stalk and plastic film were studied. The behavior of settlement and aggregation of plastic film and cotton stalk was a process of mutual conversion between the horizontal stable orientation and the vertical movement orientation. And their trajectories were a set of concentric circles centered on the axis of the impeller. Compared with cotton stalks, the plastic film had a longer response period to the force of the water medium, and it had an obvious flipping phenomenon in the three-dimensional space. This research was an attempt and exploration of new schemes for the treatment of residual film pollution in Xinjiang cotton fields. By referring to the relevant theories in the field of solid-liquid multiphase flow, it was carried out the repeatable experimental research of the flow field and materials quantitatively. Then it was carried out a qualitative analysis of the movement process of the cotton stalk and plastic film. Subsequent research could combine residual film recovery machine agricultural machinery with cotton field irrigation agronomy, such as by installing mechanical devices in the surface diversion channel of agricultural irrigation water to complete the cleaning, separation, and recycling of the mechanically harvested film in one operation. Results of this study could provide a theoretical and scientific basis for the further research of cotton stalks trash separation technology and could also provide a reference for the optimization of straw crushing technology and film shredding technology parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing demand for fresh fruits such as strawberry enriched in antioxidants and vitamins. Strawberry fruit quality is highly affected by genotype and environmental conditions. In this study, six day-neutral strawberry cultivars, Albion, Monterey, Portola, San Andreas, Seascape, and Sweet Ann were grown under low tunnels covered with three UV selective films: Standard Clear (STD), TIII TES/TR (TES), and Temp cool (TEM). STD and TES blocked 5% and 10% UV transmittance, respectively, whereas TEM blocked 40% UV transmittance and 15% visible/infrared light. Strawberries were harvested and evaluated for fruit color, total anthocyanins, total phenolics, total soluble solids. After refrigerated storage, the strawberries were evaluated again for these traits plus decay incidence and weight loss. Genotype (cultivar) was the major factor affecting fruit quality, metabolite composition, and percentage decay in storage. Weight loss during storage was the only trait not significantly affected by cultivar. Cultivar × film type interaction effects were significant for all strawberry quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton gin trash (CGT), a potential lignocellulose resource was combined with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to produce the biodegradable composite plastic film. A 50:50 CGT/PVA ratio was maintained using coarse and fine CGT powder particles and the effect of particle size on the morphology, crystallinity, tensile strength, optical transmittance, thermal stability and biodegradability was investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image showed uniform distribution of CGT in PVA matrix particularly of the fine powders (~5.7 μm). The incorporation of CGT in PVA enhanced the tensile strength, biodegradability, thermal stability and induced complete UV protection. Overall, while the flexibility of the composite film decreased, the tensile strength increased 10% and 20%, respectively by the coarse and fine CGT powders when compared to the pure PVA film. Considering the fabrication cost as estimated in the study, the results point towards the immense potential of CGT as a low-cost reinforcement material for PVA to be successfully used in the production of biodegradable plastic material. Unlabelled Image • Successful fabrication of cotton gin trash (CGT)/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite film. • Transparent plastic films showed UV protection. • Tensile strength and thermal stability increased by CGT incorporation in PVA. • Fine CGT powder showed uniform distribution in PVA compared to coarse powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trials were carried out at the farm „Bērzemnieki“ located in Jaunalūksne parish, Latvia, to investigate the effect of plastic mulch on the yield formation of strawberries. Strawberry cultivars 'Polka', 'Sonata' and 'Rumba' were grown in double beds. The distance between plants in bed was 30 cm. Strawberry beds were covered with a black film, a white film with the black bottom, a black ground cover or black geotextile. Non-mulched beds were used as a control sample. Results showed that the yield of strawberries in the beds covered with the white film and the black film was significantly higher than in the beds without mulch. Strawberries in black covers began to produce up to 3 days earlier in comparison with white mulch and the control sample. Significantly higher yield for strawberry cultivars 'Polka' and 'Rumba' was obtained in mulched beds in comparison with the control sample. For cultivar 'Sonata' significantly higher yield was obtained in the black and white film and black geotextile. The highest yield and most qualitative berries were obtained in the white plastic mulch. The black geotextile and the black film could be mentioned as the next most promising mulches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End of life single-use items such as carrier bags constitute a large proportion of the litter found in marine and terrestrial environments. The main objective of the current work was to investigate the response of an oxo-biodegradable commercial plastic film product to photo-degradation using accelerated weathering, verifying the claim of its biodegradability and suitability as an eco-friendly product. This study is also geared towards the appropriateness of such products to reduce plastic waste accumulation in urban environments. The film samples were exposed to weathering as a means to determine the impact of UV induced oxo-biodegradation. Haze (%), light transmission (%) and the total change in colour (ΔE) were measured as indicators to the degradation profile of the polymeric materials, in addition to tensile pull mechanical properties and thermal stability. The melting peak indicates the melting point (Tm) of the polymer and with exposure to weathering it showed a slight decrease from 105 to 102 °C indicating that biodegradation mechanisms were triggered to a certain extent. The reduction in strain at rupture was also indicative for a loss in crystalline structure, coupled with Young's modulus increase throughout the weathering exposure tests. Therefore, the material studied could be a candidate to mitigate the accumulation of plastic waste in open environments based on the results of this study whilst regulating controlled substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The pollution from rural solid wastes seriously restricts the construction of beautiful countrysides and the sustainable develop⁃ ment of agriculture in China. Waste resource utilization is the inevitable trend of solid waste treatment and disposal in rural areas. On the basis of defining rural solid waste and discussing the significance of reusing it, this paper systematically sorted out the types, characteris⁃ tics, and present situation of rural solid waste in China, and summarized the advantages and application status of returning straw to soil, an⁃ aerobic digestion, aerobic composting, and refuse incinerating power generation, while also analyzing the technical problems and policy is⁃ sues as well as the current challenges faced by the utilization of rural solid waste resources. Relevant suggestions on the development of ru⁃ ral solid waste recycling were proposed at the end of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching (PM) is used widely to improve crop water productivity in the arid regions of Northwest China. However, there are increasing concerns about the potential harm to soil health due to the presence of residue plastic film (RPF) mixed into the soil after long-term field mulching. In our study, we investigated the density of RPF in farmland topsoil (0 to 40 cm) (Exp. I) by analyzing 75 soil samples collected from 15 fields with varying durations of PM (ranging from 3 to 27 years). In addition, we examined the impact of long-term PM and PM + BM (BM, biodegradable film mulching) on soil health (Exp. II) based on an 8-year field experiment. The results illustrated that the weight of RPF ranged from 42.7 to 165.9 kg ha−1 after 3 to 27 years of mulching, with 10 out of 15 fields exceeded the national standard of China (75 kg ha−1). Compared with no film mulching treatment (NM), the long-term PM treatment significantly increased aggregate stability, while significantly decreased soil pH and the enzymatic activities of sucrase by 1.5 % and 33.4 %, respectively. Further, the Chao1, Shannon and Pielou's indices of bacteria significantly decreased after 8 years of PM. Compared with PM and NM, PM + BM treatment significantly improved the Chao1, Shannon and Pielou's indices of bacteria and altered the relative abundance of dominant bacterial and fungal phyla. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed significant changes in the soil bacterial and fungal community structure under PM + BM, with the soil fungal community displaying higher sensitivity to PM + BM compared to PM. No significant differences were observed in soil organic matter (SOM), soil microbial biomass C (MBC), soil microbial biomass N (MBN) contents and the enzymatic activities of soils between PM + BM and PM treatments. Overall, BM could be a promising alternative to polyethylene plastic film for improving soil health and is recommended for farming practice in the arid regions of Northwest China. [Display omitted] • Density of soil residual film ranged 42.7–165.9 kg ha−1 with 3–27 years' mulching. • Long-term plastic mulching (PM) significantly increased soil aggregate stability. • Long-term PM significantly reduced soil pH (1.5 %) and sucrase activities (33.4 %). • Biodegradable film significantly altered soil microbial community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cotton areas in Xinjiang exceeded 2.5×106 hm² by the end of 2018, making Xinjiang the biggest cotton producer (accounting for 80% of the national cotton areas) in China. In most cotton fields in Xinjiang, the rows are spaced 560 - 760 mm and intra-row plants are spaced 96-100 mm. The average cotton yield in southern Xinjiang was approximately 7500 kg/ hm², compared with 6000 kg/ hm² in the north. Since Xinjiang is in hinterland of Eurasia, having ample sunshine, scarce precipitation and high evaporation, irrigation is essential to safeguard its agricultural production. To keep soil moisten, the planting strips for cotton are often mulched by plastic film before sowing seeds. Since natural degradation of plastic films is slow, an accumulative use of plastic film has led to soil structure degradation and environment deterioration. Recycling plastic film residuals is hence essential to developing sustainable agriculture but is challenging because the currently-used manual pick-up is labor intensive and inefficient while the available combine machines cannot separate the film residuals from cotton straw during the pick-up process. We designed a new machine aimed to solve this problem by combining film pick-up process and straw cutting-returning process. Differing from the available machines, the new one can separate the straw from the film residuals during pick-up and returning processes. It comprised a straw-cutting device, a film picking device and a film-lifting device, with all components purposely designed for cotton cultivated in Xinjiang. The operation depth of the film-lifting shovel was 54-178 mm. An orthogonal rotation test with three five-level factors was conducted to examine the impact of the speed of the spinning fling cutter, forward-speed and operation depth of the film-lifting shovel on passing rate of the crushing length, the residual film picking rate and the membrane miscellaneous separation rate from the straw. The variances were analyzed using Design-ExpertV8.0.6.1, and a regression model was used to evaluate the responsive performance of the machine to the above three operating parameters as well as their optimization. The results showed that the optimal spinning speed of the fling cutter was 1200r/min, the forward-speed was 4.5km/h, and the operation depth of the film-lifting shovel was 100mm. Field test results were consistent with these optimal parameters, with the straw crushing length pass rate being 89.37%, the residual film picking rate being 90.31%, and the membrane miscellaneous separation rate from the straw being 93.16%. It is manifest that the combine machine meets the technological requirements, improved plastic film residuals recycle efficiency and ameliorated their environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the moisture susceptibility of a nanoclay-modified asphalt concrete (AC) mixture containing plastic film (in flakes) collected as urban waste was evaluated with specimens subjected to the tecnico accelerated ageing (TEAGE) procedure. The TEAGE procedure attempts to simulate—in a laboratory setting—the effect of field ageing by applying watering/drying cycles and ultraviolet radiation. For comparison purposes, three AC mixtures were considered, one for control, without plastic and nanoclay, a mixture with only plastic, and a mixture with both plastic and nanoclay. Furthermore, only half of the specimens were subjected to the ageing procedure. The plastic was added to the mixture using the dry process, and the nanoclay was blended with the bitumen before mixture preparation. The moisture susceptibility was evaluated, using a total of 48 Marshall specimens, by the indirect tensile strength ratio (ITSR). From the results of this study, the nanoclay-modified AC mixture containing plastic film presented slightly higher indirect tensile strength (ITS) values, lower moisture susceptibility, and enhanced ageing resistance. These slight improvements can be justified by the reduced air voids content of the samples and consequently they must be seen as conservative. Nevertheless, the modification of AC mixtures with flakes of plastic and nanoclay can be a viable solution for the recycling of plastic film collected as urban waste, being an eco-friendly alternative to disposal in landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we propose a system for estimating the concentration of biochemical reagents through impedance measurement. In particular, we studied electrode structures that can accurately measure impedance. We have fabricated electrodes using printed circuit boards (PCBs), tapes, plastic films, and copper tapes applicable to existing mass production facilities and investigated their performance. When the PCB pattern includes a pair of electrodes, a tape or plastic film is used to make a well to hold the reagent. On the other hand, when two pieces of copper tape were used, a hole in one piece acts as a well. The performances of various electrode structures were compared by obtaining the coefficient of variation in the measurement through repeated measurements of the impedances of various saline solutions of known concentrations. Experimental results show that the impedance of a reagent can be measured stably using copper electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching has been adopted for cotton production for nearly 30 years in Xinjiang, China, plastic residues accumulate in the soil at extremely high levels, which has resulted in severe negative influences on the soil environment and natural ecosystem. Hence, it is necessary to develop new cultivation patterns for future sustainable agricultural production. The present method of drip irrigation with film mulching (FMDI) pattern may be replaced by drip irrigation without mulching (WMDI) pattern. The paper aims to evaluate the cotton growth, yield, and economic profits under WMDI and FMDI based on field observation and simulation of the AquaCrop model. Cotton yield under WMDI was 26.21% lower than that under FMDI, and the increasing irrigation rate reduced the yield gap between FMDI and WMDI. The FMDI cultivation pattern also presented more interannual stability of cotton biomass and yield than the WMDI pattern, with the average coefficient of variation decreasing by 25.47% and 10.71%, respectively. The costs of plastic film and fertilizer application were reduced by 100% and 15.38%, respectively, when replacing FMDI with WMDI, but the inputs increased by 42.86% and 26.06%, respectively, in seed application and field management. The decrease in cotton yield, ranging from 4.53% to 16.23%, resulted in a remarkable decrease in the economic benefits of cotton production. The results suggest that, although several obstacles exist to large-area popularization and application of the WMDI pattern at present, the WMDI pattern is a viable method to maintain sustainable development of cotton production and reduce plastic debris pollution in Xinjiang oasis areas and similar regions. • Replacing plastic mulch and drip irrigation (FMDI) with drip irrigation without mulching (WMDI) maybe a feasible pathway for alleviating white pollution. • WMDI limited cotton growth, decreased cotton yield, and reduced yield stability. • Increasing irrigation rate can reduce the yield gap between FMDI and WMDI. • Changing from FMDI to WMDI reduced the costs of film and fertilizer, but increased the inputs in seeds and field management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The DOC released from plastic that can be used by microorganisms in soil. • Plastic carbon participated in soil carbon cycle was confirmed. • PE plastic farmland in northwest China, 1.39 × 105 tons of excess CO 2 emissions. • Replace PE plastic film with biodegradable film, 7.5-fold more excess CO 2 emissions. Plastic film mulching is an important agricultural practice, but its accumulation in soil threatens soil health. Here, we explored the effects of plastic film on soil carbon cycling through microcosmic incubation and estimated the excess carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions of farmland soils through Meta-analysis. The results showed that plastic film released dissolved organic carbon (DOC) into the soil, which was rapidly used by microorganisms and accelerated the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC), increasing CO 2 emissions. Soil moisture content and soil carbon content affected the rate of DOC release from plastic. We estimated that residual plastic film farmland in six northwest provinces of China, 1.39 × 105 tons of excess CO 2 emissions in 2020. The soil excess CO 2 emissions was influenced by polyethylene (PE) plastic concentration and soil type. Replace PE plastic film with biodegradable film, 1.05 × 106 tons of excess CO 2 emissions, 7.5 times that of PE plastics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-based plastics, such as PP, PE, PVC, etc., have become an important source of environmental pollution due to their hard degradation, posing a serious threat to the human health. Isolating nanocellulose from abundant biomass waste resources and further integrating the nanocellulose into hydrophobic transparent film (i.e., nanopaper), to replace the traditional nondegradable plastic film, is of great significance for solving the problem of environmental pollution and achieving sustainable development of society. This study respectively extracted nanocellulose from the branches of Amorpha fruticosa Linn., wheat straw, and poplar residues via combined mechanical treatments of grinding and high-pressure homogenization. Among them, the nanocellulose derived from the Amorpha fruticosa has a finer structure, with diameter of about 10 nm and an aspect ratio of more than 500. With the nanocellulose as building block, we constructed hydrophilic nanopaper with high light transmittance (up to 90%) and high mechanical strength (tensile strength up to 110 MPa). After further hybridization by incorporating nano-silica into the nanopaper, followed by hydrophobic treatment, we built hydrophobic nanopaper with transmittance over 82% and a water contact angle of about 102° that could potentially replace transparent plastic film and has wide applications in food packaging, agricultural film, electronic device, and other fields.

In hot and sunny regions, extensive solar radiation transmitted into greenhouses makes it essential to select a greenhouse cover with specific characteristics. Reflection and diffusion are the most important properties of covers for reducing solar heating load and scattering solar beams for better growth of plants. Three types of plastic films that are commonly used for covering greenhouses in arid climate were selected for this study. These were reflective-diffusive (RDF), diffusive (DF), and locally produced (CF) films. The films were used to cover three identical twin-span greenhouse models; the radiation components, air temperature (Ti), and relative humidity (RHi) were measured in each model. Transmission of solar radiation through each cover was characterized by determining: (i) The beam that is diffused during transmission, and (ii) the unscattered beam that is transmitted directly through the film. The results show that the diffuse radiation transmitted through the DF, RDF, and CF covers was enhanced, respectively by 77%, 85%, and 109% as a result of diffusing 34%, 33%, and 43% of the transmitted beam radiation by the DF, RDF, and CF covers, respectively during transmission. The diffusive nature of the tested covers increased the ratio of diffuse to direct beam radiation (D/B) from 0.3 outside the greenhouse to 0.77, 0.69, and 0.95 inside a greenhouse covered with DF, RDF, and CF, respectively. At around noon, the CF cover decreased Ti by about 5−10 °C and increased RHi by about 3%−5% compared to those under the DF and RDF covers. However, DF and RDF covers showed almost similar effects in Ti and RHi. The low-price CF cover showed higher diffusive-radiative properties than DF and RDF covers and can serve effectively in arid climate as an alternative covering material.