PERFORMANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RICE STRAW FIBER MULCHING FILMS MANUFACTURED WITH A WARMING AGENT

摘要

This research evaluates the effects of adding various warming agents to rice straw fiber (RSF) films as sustainable alternatives to polyethylene-based films. The results for the mechanical properties of the RSF films with various warming agents show that the mean values of dry tensile strength and bursting strength of the films significantly differed according to the warming agent; in contrast, the mean wet tensile strengths and tearing strengths were not significantly different. The dry tensile strengths of films containing titanium dioxide were 9.7% and 26.8% higher than those of the films containing talc and kaolin, respectively. Additionally, the bursting strengths of the films containing titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and talc were 10.5%, 4.4%, and 15.8% higher, respectively, than those of the films containing kaolin. Thus, titanium dioxide was considered the best of the four warming agents for implementation in these films. The absorption peaks of the films with and without titanium dioxide were similar, with some differences in the peak position and relative intensities by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Soil covering tests were conducted with films containing titanium dioxide (TDF), films with no added titanium dioxide, and a blank group. The degradation rate of the TDF reached grade 3 during the bolting stage of bok choy. At soil depths of 0, 5, and 10 cm, the total accumulated temperature of the TDF group was 11.53%, 7.78%, and 5.38% higher, respectively, than that of the blank group. Both TDF degradation and increased soil temperature improved the crop growth and soil microclimate. These results can serve as a reference to further improve the popularization and application of RSF film.