Editing Plastic mulch (section)

{{Short description|Plastic film used in the role of mulch}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
[[File:20110829-FSA-XX-0029 - Flickr - USDAgov.jpg|thumb|Blueberry plants growing through plastic mulch]]
'''Plastic mulch''' is a product used in [[plasticulture]] in a similar fashion to [[mulch]], to suppress [[weed]]s and conserve [[water]] in [[agriculture|crop production]] and [[Landscape architecture|landscaping]]. Certain plastic mulches also act as a barrier to keep [[methyl bromide]], both a powerful fumigant and ozone depleter, in the soil. Crops grow through slits or holes in thin plastic sheeting. Plastic mulch is often used in conjunction with [[drip irrigation]]. Some research has been done using different colors of mulch to affect crop growth. Use of plastic mulch is predominant in large-scale vegetable growing, with millions of acres cultivated under plastic mulch worldwide each year.<ref name="Particulate">{{cite book |last1=Bradney |first1=Lauren |last2=Wijesekara |first2=Hasintha |last3=Bolan |first3=Nanthi S. |last4=Kirkham |first4=M. B. |title=Particulate Plastics in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments |chapter=Sources of Particulate Plastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems |edition=1 |publisher=CRC Press |year=2020 |page=9 |isbn=978-0-367-51140-1}}</ref>

Disposal of plastic mulch is an [[environmental problem]]. Technologies exist to provide for the recycling of used/disposed plastic mulch into viable plastic resins for re-use in the plastics manufacturing industry.<ref>[http://www.rkoindustries.com/id26.html Plastic mulch film recycling process] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518090210/http://www.rkoindustries.com/id26.html |date=2008-05-18 }} Agricultural plastics recycling website, accessed 07.03.08</ref> However these methods are not very effective due to contamination by [[Agrochemical|agrochemicals]] of the plastic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Why food's plastic problem is bigger than we realise|url=https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/why-foods-plastic-problem-is-bigger-than-we-realise.html|access-date=2021-03-27|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref> Other concerns include residual [[Microplastics|microplastics in the soil]] which can have negative effects on soil ecologies, including microbes and earthworms.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Nex|first=Sally|title=How to garden the low carbon way: the steps you can take to help combat climate change|date=2021|isbn=978-0-7440-2928-4|edition=First American|location=New York|oclc=1241100709}}</ref>