A recent study by the Advanced Water Conservation Materials & Agricultural Film Pollution Prevention Group at the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences evaluated the sustainability tradeoffs in crop cultivation associated with agricultural plastic mulching through a global meta-analysis.The related findings have been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

The technology of mulch films has evolved from organic to synthetic materials, which can enhance agricultural productivity through reducing evaporation, weed growth, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Soil-biodegradable mulch films (BDM) can be completely broken down, making them a primary alternative to polyethylene mulch films (PM).Current research has quantified the agronomic benefits of both film types and compared their material characteristics, it has not yet provided a systematic multi-indicator assessment or comprehensive comparison of their differences.

Based on a meta-analysis of 4,331 datasets from 724 publications, this study systematically assessed the sustainability synergies of BDM relative to traditional PM.The result revealed that both BDM and PM significantly increased crop yield (by 27.72% and 29.53%, respectively) and water use efficiency (by 20.28% and 47.27%, respectively), reduced CH₄ emissions (by 31.68% and 48.28%, respectively), and increased N₂O emissions (by 8.60% and 24.03%, respectively).This work showed that BDM reduced global warming potential significantly, whereas traditional PM showed no significant reduction.Regional analysis indicated that BDM exhibited greater advantages in temperate and humid zones, demonstrating higher potential for water conservation and GHG emission reduction.This study provides crucial scientific evidence for promoting BDM globally as a tool for sustainable agriculture.

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, Inner Mongolia Science and Technology Program, etc.

Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146445