Editing Plastic mulch (section)

===Environmental concerns===
{{see|plastic pollution|microplastic|soil contamination}}
If conventional plastics (e.g. PE) are used as mulch films, they are likely to [[bioaccumulation|accumulate]] in soil, since the removal and the correct disposal of these plastics are technically and economically burdensome.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Kyrikou, I., & Briassoulis, D.|year=2007|title=Biodegradation of agricultural plastic films: a critical review|journal=Journal of Polymers and the Environment|volume=15|issue=2|pages=125–150|doi=10.1007/s10924-007-0053-8|s2cid=195331133|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226058099|quote=One major drawback of most polymers used in agriculture is the problem with their disposal, following their useful lifetime. Non-degradable polymers, being resistive to degradation (depending on the polymer, [[polymer additive|additives]], conditions etc) tend to accumulate as [[plastic waste]], creating a serious problem of plastic waste management.}}</ref> This accumulation could cause both [[crop yield]] reduction and [[environmental problems]].<ref>{{cite journal|author=Rillig, M. C.|year=2012|title=Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems and the soil?|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=46|issue=12|pages=6453–6454|doi=10.1021/es302011r|pmid=22676039|bibcode=2012EnST...46.6453R}}</ref>
[[Biodegradable polymer]]s are polymers that can be degraded by the naturally occurring microbial community in an environmental system. They provide a more sustainable alternative to conventionally used plastics for mulch films. Providing the same benefits as detailed above, the problem of plastic accumulation in soils could be solved.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Tokiwa, Y., Calabia, B. P., Ugwu, C. U., & Aiba, S.|year=2009|title=Biodegradability of plastics|journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences|volume=10|issue=9|pages=3722–3742|pmc=2769161|doi=10.3390/ijms10093722|pmid=19865515|doi-access=free}}</ref> Aliphatic [[polyester]]s and aliphatic-aromatic co-polyesters have shown to be promising groups of biodegradable polymers.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Müller, R. J.|year=2006|title=Biological degradation of synthetic polyesters—enzymes as potential catalysts for polyester recycling|journal=Process Biochemistry|volume=41|issue=10|pages=2124–2128|doi=10.1016/j.procbio.2006.05.018}}</ref>