Mechanical properties of biodegradable mulch films: from standards to field application Dr. Glauco Battagliarin BASF Biopolymer research Olivier de Beaurepaire BASF Market development biopolymers in agriculture XXI CIPA CONGRESS Arcachon, France – May 30th, 2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

15806-02.pptx Mechanical properties of biodegradable mulch films: from standards to field application 1. EN 17033: „Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture – requirements and test methods“ 2. Materials, mechanical properties and service life 3. Field factors affecting mechanical properties 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research STRENG VERTRAULICH

15806-02.pptx Mechanical properties of biodegradable mulch films: from standards to field application 1. EN 17033: „Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture – requirements and test methods“ 2. Materials, mechanical properties and service life 3. Field factors affecting mechanical properties 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research STRENG VERTRAULICH

EN 17033: „Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture – requirements and test methods“ Control of constituents Biodegradability Dimensional, mechanical and optical properties Ecotoxicity EN 17033 Transfer into certification schemes New working item proposal to ISO 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

EN17033: Dimensional, mechanical and optical properties of the films Table content extracted from EN 17033 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

15806-02.pptx Mechanical properties of biodegradable mulch films: from standards to field application 1. EN 17033: „Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture – requirements and test methods“ 2. Materials, mechanical properties and service life 3. Field factors affecting mechanical properties 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research STRENG VERTRAULICH

ecovio® M2351 biodegradable mulch films ecovio® M2351 is the trade name for BASF’s compounds based on ecoflex® + polylactic acid (PLA) ecoflex® F (PBAT) terephthalic acid 1,4-butandiol adipic acid 1,4-butandiol Polymer molecular weights determine mechanical properties and service lifetime 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Biodegradable mulch films: the challenge to combine service life and biodegradability Factors influencing polymer molecular weights distribution and mechanical properties: Material and production Conversion and distribution Application and agricultural practices Environmental factors and microbiology 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Mechanical properties of ecovio® mulch films Transparent ecovio® mulch film (12 um) Relative elongation at break (%) Cross Direction (CD) Machine Direction (MD) Black ecovio® mulch film (3,5% carbon black loading, 12 um) Relative elongation at break (%) Cross Direction (CD) Machine Direction (MD) Weathering acooriding to EN ISO 4892-2:2013 [15], Method A, Cycle 1 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Film production issues: uneven distribution of material and carbon black loading and consequences during field application Film with inhomogenous distribution on lighting board Detail Premature phtotodegradation of film shown on the left 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Impact of storage on loss of mechanical properties Film stored in orginal packaging: material partially disintegrated and retaining mechanical properties after 2 weeks accelerated disintegration test 12 µm ecovio® mulch films Film stored for 2 months without original packaging: material strongly disintegrated and extremely brittle after 2 weeks accelerated disintegration test Unproper storage may not affect initial mechanical properties of the film, but will impact service life on field 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

15806-02.pptx Mechanical properties of biodegradable mulch films: from standards to field application 1. EN 17033: „Biodegradable mulch films for use in agriculture and horticulture – requirements and test methods“ 2. Materials, mechanical properties and service life 3. Field factors affecting mechanical properties 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research STRENG VERTRAULICH

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Soil preparation Soil should be well prepared with a slightly rounded seed bed. Buried edges in rounded gutter shape should be avoided 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Crop residues and stones Soil shall be finely prepared and any crop residue or stones shall first be dug by using appropriate mulch film laying machines, in order to avoid a premature damage while the film is laid 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Irrigation pipes Drip irrigation pipe should be slightly buried ( -1/-2cm) to avoid risks of premature degradation like splitting at film contact 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Irrigation Fields should be irrigated according to official recommendations; any excess of water may degrade films prematurely 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Soil activity Organic fertilizers accelerate biodegradation and must be incorporated into the soil about a month before laying out Fumigation will slow down biodegradation instead 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties UV exposition Always lay out and then plant as soon as possible (about 2-3 days in between). Prefer transplanting than sowing. Sowing instead of transplanting increases light exposure of 2-3 weeks 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Field factors affecting mechanical properties Laying out A for the thinner films (between 8-12 µm), start laying out smoothly, then increase to normal speed adapted to soil conditions (3-5 km/h). Brakes should be taken out, if present. Rolls shaping seed beds must not be applied on mulch, but before mulching 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

General recommendation Always test at small scale first (below 1ha) with all new applications 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

10 basic recommendations for ecovio mulch films applications Storage: all rolls should be kept under shield ; they can be kept for the following season; ensure any remaining rolls are left in their original packaging Soil preparation: prepare soil well with slightly rounded seed bed and ensure any organic residues are sufficiently buried Irrigation pipes: slightly bury drip irigation pipe ( -1/-2 cm) to avoid risks of premature degradation like splitting at film contact Irrigation: irrigate according to official recommendations as a maximum ; any excess of water may degrade films prematurily Fertilization: Organic fertilizers must be incorporated into the soil about one month before laying out Fumigation: keep in mind fumigation will slow down biodegradation Planting: always lay out and then plant as soon as possible ( about 2-3 days in between) and prefer transplanting than sowing; sowing instead of transplanting increases light exposure of 2-3 weeks Laying out: for the thinner films (between 8-12µ), start laying out smoothly, then increase to normal speed adapted to soil conditions (3-5 km/h), but make sure to take out the brake of the roll, if any New applications: always test at small scale first (below 1ha) with all new applications Biodegradation: bury plastic residues at crop-end as soon as possible to initiate biodegradation process 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research

Thank you! 30.05.2018 Glauco Battagliarin - BASF Biopolymer research