ASHS 2025 Conference

Biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) have been introduced as a sustainable alternative to polyethylene (PE) mulches, which can contribute to plastic contamination and incur high removal and disposal costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and suitability of BDMs for winter strawberry production in Florida. We conducted field experiments using ‘Florida Brilliance’ short-day strawberry during the 2023–2024 (Season 1) and 2024–2025 (Season 2) winter seasons in West Central Florida. Five mulch treatments were evaluated: black PE mulch, black Mater-Bi® BDM (black MB–BDM), black Ecovio® BDM (black EV–BDM), white Mater-Bi® BDM (white MB–BDM), and white Ecovio® BDM (white EV–BDM ). Mater-Bi® is primarily starch-based but also contains polyester resins such as polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polycaprolactone. By contrast, Ecovio® is predominantly resin-based, comprising PBAT, polylactic acid, and other biodegradable polymers. The film thickness was 27.9 μm for the black PE and 22.9 μm for all BDMs. Season-dependent trends were observed in some results. In Season 1, all BDMs exhibited minimal deterioration with only minor tearing, and there was no significant difference in marketable yield compared to the black PE. In Season 2, all BDMs developed splits or tears within a month after transplanting, with the black EV–BDM and both white BDMs showing higher deterioration rates than the black PE. Orthogonal contrast analysis was used to assess BDM performance based on color and composition. Compared to the black PE, marketable yield was reduced by 28% for the black BDMs (34.0 vs. 26.5 t·ha–1) and by 8% for the white BDMs (34.0 vs. 31.3 t·ha–1). The white BDMs produced 18% higher yield than the black BDMs (31.3 vs. 26.5 t·ha–1), whereas no significant difference was found between the MB–BDMs and the EV–BDMs (28.8 vs. 29.1 t·ha–1). Soluble solid content remained unaffected by mulch treatment across both seasons and all growth stages. These results suggest that the performance of BDMs depends on seasonal weather conditions, mulch color, and composition, presenting challenges for commercial adoption. Enhancing the reliability and adoption of BDMs may require optimization of color, material composition, and film thickness.