Fig. 1: Plastic films applied to the soil surface as physical mulches. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Plastic films applied to the soil surface as physical mulches.

From: Plastic mulch productivity-sustainability tradeoffs and pathways toward an eco-friendly framework: insights from a global meta-analysis

Fig. 1: Plastic films applied to the soil surface as physical mulches.

a Thin, low-density films (0.008–0.051 mm thick; 0.72 g cm–3) laid before sowing to conserve soil moisture and enhance germination. b In colder regions, mulches increase soil temperature during seedling establishment. c Throughout the growing season, mulches improve soil microenvironments, promoting microbial and enzymatic activity. (Photo on plastic-mulched terraces in Jingyuan County, Gansu Province, China, taken by local agrologists).

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