Slow-release pesticide carried by degradable bio-mulch film

Overview

Pesticide loss during agricultural application remains a major source of inefficiency, environmental contamination, and added cost for growers. This solution replaces conventional plastic mulch with a degradable bio-mulch film that simultaneously acts as a slow-release carrier for pesticides such as glyphosate. Fabricated from agricultural waste biomass and protein-rich food processing wastewater, the film is designed to biodegrade in the field after its useful life, reducing plastic pollution while delivering targeted agronomic benefits. By tuning the release curve and degradation period to match crop growth cycles, the technology aims to significantly enhance pesticide utilization efficiency and reduce the total volume of pesticide required.

Technical specifications

Material composition:

• Crosslinked network of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and humus sourced from agricultural residues such as rice straw
• Nanonetwork-structured clay integrated as the primary release-control component
• Protein-rich food processing wastewater incorporated as a value-added raw material
• Environmentally-friendly crosslinker used under mild fabrication conditions

Functional mechanism:

• Pesticide slow release governed by the netting effect of nanoclay and the chelation effect of active functional groups within the film matrix
• Film degradation period and pesticide release profile can be engineered and adjusted to align with specific crop growth stages
• Demonstrated slow-release duration of up to five months for glyphosate in laboratory-prepared films

Key advantages:

• Replaces non-degradable plastic mulch with a fully biomass-derived alternative
• Converts two waste streams (crop residue and food processing wastewater) into a high-value agricultural input
• Reduces pesticide loss, potentially lowering application rates and environmental runoff
• Provides growth-promoting effects through soil-enriching degradation products

Technology readiness level

The technology has been demonstrated at the laboratory scale, with a prototype glyphosate slow-release mulch film successfully fabricated from rice straw and protein-rich wastewater and characterized to show a release duration of up to five months. Remaining validation steps include screening suitable waste biomass and concentrated organic wastewater feedstocks, refining the unique physiochemical method for producing nanonetwork-structured clay, optimizing the mild-condition fabrication process, quantifying slow-release behavior and utilization efficiency, and conducting pot and field trials to evaluate degradation timing and growth-promoting effects under real agricultural conditions. The solution is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development and is ready for collaborative optimization and field validation with industry partners.