2023 Volume 52 Issue 1 Pages 34-40
This research typically aims to develop biodegradable mulching sheets for sustainable agriculture using soybean residues, one of the unused herbaceous biomasses. The mulching sheets were efficiently produced by the making process proposed in this research, and their mechanical properties were evaluated. It was produced under 10 different pressure loads during the forming process at 110℃ for 30 minutes. As a result, it can be produced successfully under all the experimental conditions. From the strength test, the tensile rupture stress of mulching sheets increased with the increase in density, and it was in the range of 1.56～9.83 MPa. In addition, the light shielding ratio of the mulching sheets was in the range of 99.76～99.95％. It showed the sheets had sufficient light shielding performance. The forming of mulching sheets was naturally obtained by the hydrogen bond between the fibers without using any chemicals or adhesives.
Therefore, the mulching sheet is fully biodegradable, and could reliably be used as a substitute material for polyethylene agricultural mulching film.
