Biodegradable materials for planting pots

Abstract

In the last six decades, the massive production of plastics has led to an enormous amount of waste worldwide. Over 320 million tons of polymers were produced across the globe in 2015; but unfortunately, less than 10% of the manufactured plastics are actually recycled, and a huge amount is gathering in landfills or thrown away into the environment as litter [1].Non-renewable petroleum-based plastics are being used in a wide variety of fields. Particularly, modern agriculture uses a huge quantity of plastics stuffs, i.e. direct coverings, greenhouse covering films, soil mulching and solarization films, silage films, shading and protective nets, nets for harvesting and post-harvesting operations, irrigation and drainagepipes, strings and ropes, pots, packaging containers and sacks [2,3].The practice of using plastic materials in agriculture is often referred to as plasticulture. Even though there are many advantages to the many applications of plastics in agriculture, there are also many concerns. Plastic waste may reduce soil porosity and, therefore, decrease circulation of air. It can also affect microbial populations, and potentially decrease the fertility of the farmland. Fragments of plastic materials have also been shown to release phthalate acid esters into the ground (potentially carcinogenic compounds), wherethey can be accumulated in crops and, hence, pose a hazard to human health whenconsumption of contaminated vegetables occurs.