A comprehensive lifecycle assessment of plastic mulching for maize

Abstract

While plastic mulch (PM) can increase crop yield and reduce weed growth, there are negative environmental impacts associated with the production, use, and disposal of PM films. There is currently a gap in the literature on the negative impacts of PM throughout its entire lifecycles, with most studies limited to investigating the global warming potential (GWP) of the practice during field operations. The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) for low density polyethylene PM for maize to investigate the environmental impacts of all stages of mulching. The LCA was conducted using SimaPro with data obtained from relevant literature and from the Ecoinvent database. The system boundaries include the production, transportation, installation, operation, removal, and disposal of the PM. The results reveal that the field operation of the PM has the highest impact in GWP. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effect of parameter variability for the field operations stage, and the GWP impact was observed to be sensitive to changes in carbon dioxide and net ecosystem carbon budget. The production of PM has the highest impact in abiotic depletion, but this impact can be reduced through energy recovery. Incineration yields the least harmful impacts, but the results of the study may vary depending on the exact disposal method. More data on the disposal of PM is needed to assess its impacts reliably and reduce uncertainties in the results. The impact of PM can be mitigated through proper waste management and mitigation measures, including regulations on disposal.