Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films

Harshal J. Kansara; Yvan D. Hernandez-Charpak; André O. Hudson; Thomas A. Trabold; Jeffrey S. Lodge; Carlos A. Diaz

doi:10.1007/s10532-025-10223-4

Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films

Harshal J. Kansara
, Yvan D. Hernandez-Charpak
, André O. Hudson
, Thomas A. Trabold
, Jeffrey S. Lodge
, Carlos A. Diaz

Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Agricultural mulch films (AMFs) enhance crop productivity by controlling soil temperature and moisture and suppressing weed growth. Conventional AMFs made from polyethylene (PE) pose disposal challenges and contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) offer a promising alternative, but their degradation in soil remains slow and inconsistent. This study employed a culture-enrichment approach to isolate soil bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas guariconensis and Achromobacter denitrificans) capable of accelerating BMF biodegradation. Bioaugmentation with P. guariconensis enhanced CO₂ evolution in soil, with 48% and 36% carbon mineralization for two commercial BMFs (i.e., Bio360 and EcoVio), compared to 17% and 6.2% in non-inoculated soils. These findings demonstrate that targeted bacterial enrichment can accelerate BMF degradation, highlighting the potential for bioaugmentation to mitigate plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

Original language	English
Article number	123
Journal	Biodegradation
Volume	36
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-025-10223-4
State	Published - Dec 2025

Funding

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, #CA19-SS-0000000013, #CA19-SS-0000000013, #CA19-SS-0000000013, #CA19-SS-0000000013, #CA19-SS-0000000013, #CA19-SS-0000000013, New York Empire State Development, #C190155, #C190155, #C190155, #C190155, #C190155, #C190155

Keywords

Bacterial growth
Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs)
Biodegradation
Carbon mineralization
Culture enrichment

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10.1007/s10532-025-10223-4

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title = "Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films",

abstract = "Agricultural mulch films (AMFs) enhance crop productivity by controlling soil temperature and moisture and suppressing weed growth. Conventional AMFs made from polyethylene (PE) pose disposal challenges and contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) offer a promising alternative, but their degradation in soil remains slow and inconsistent. This study employed a culture-enrichment approach to isolate soil bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas guariconensis and Achromobacter denitrificans) capable of accelerating BMF biodegradation. Bioaugmentation with P. guariconensis enhanced CO₂ evolution in soil, with 48\% and 36\% carbon mineralization for two commercial BMFs (i.e., Bio360 and EcoVio), compared to 17\% and 6.2\% in non-inoculated soils. These findings demonstrate that targeted bacterial enrichment can accelerate BMF degradation, highlighting the potential for bioaugmentation to mitigate plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.",

keywords = "Bacterial growth, Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs), Biodegradation, Carbon mineralization, Culture enrichment",

author = "Kansara, \{Harshal J.\} and Hernandez-Charpak, \{Yvan D.\} and Hudson, \{Andr{\'e} O.\} and Trabold, \{Thomas A.\} and Lodge, \{Jeffrey S.\} and Diaz, \{Carlos A.\}",

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language = "English",

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T1 - Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films

AU - Kansara, Harshal J.

AU - Hernandez-Charpak, Yvan D.

AU - Hudson, André O.

AU - Trabold, Thomas A.

AU - Lodge, Jeffrey S.

AU - Diaz, Carlos A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Agricultural mulch films (AMFs) enhance crop productivity by controlling soil temperature and moisture and suppressing weed growth. Conventional AMFs made from polyethylene (PE) pose disposal challenges and contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) offer a promising alternative, but their degradation in soil remains slow and inconsistent. This study employed a culture-enrichment approach to isolate soil bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas guariconensis and Achromobacter denitrificans) capable of accelerating BMF biodegradation. Bioaugmentation with P. guariconensis enhanced CO₂ evolution in soil, with 48% and 36% carbon mineralization for two commercial BMFs (i.e., Bio360 and EcoVio), compared to 17% and 6.2% in non-inoculated soils. These findings demonstrate that targeted bacterial enrichment can accelerate BMF degradation, highlighting the potential for bioaugmentation to mitigate plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

AB - Agricultural mulch films (AMFs) enhance crop productivity by controlling soil temperature and moisture and suppressing weed growth. Conventional AMFs made from polyethylene (PE) pose disposal challenges and contribute to long-term plastic pollution. Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) offer a promising alternative, but their degradation in soil remains slow and inconsistent. This study employed a culture-enrichment approach to isolate soil bacteria (i.e., Pseudomonas guariconensis and Achromobacter denitrificans) capable of accelerating BMF biodegradation. Bioaugmentation with P. guariconensis enhanced CO₂ evolution in soil, with 48% and 36% carbon mineralization for two commercial BMFs (i.e., Bio360 and EcoVio), compared to 17% and 6.2% in non-inoculated soils. These findings demonstrate that targeted bacterial enrichment can accelerate BMF degradation, highlighting the potential for bioaugmentation to mitigate plastic accumulation in agricultural soils.

KW - Bacterial growth

KW - Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs)

KW - Biodegradation

KW - Carbon mineralization

KW - Culture enrichment

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105022523155

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DO - 10.1007/s10532-025-10223-4

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AN - SCOPUS:105022523155

SN - 0923-9820

VL - 36

JO - Biodegradation

JF - Biodegradation

IS - 6

M1 - 123

ER -

Isolation and identification of soil bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable mulch films

Abstract

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Keywords

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