Sustainable fabrication of hydrophobic lignocellulose micro and nanofibrils mulch films and spray coatings

The increased level of plasticulture recently practiced has increased the volume of waste plastics in the soil and consequently decreased productivity in arable lands with the concomitant health and environmental hazards poised. This work designed based on the second sustainable development goal of ensuring more productive and less wasteful agriculture systems demonstrated a facile way of producing compostable mulch films and coatings. The mulch films were fabricated from waste agricultural stalks converted to lignocellulose micro & nanofibrils (LCMNFs) through a mechanochemical action which also involves addition of Methyltrimethoxysilane to make the LCMNFs hydrophobic. The 63 µm films formed by casting for both LCMNFs showed excellent ability to shield UV-B and UV-A rays (below 300 nm) and a paper-like tensile strength of about 16 MPa. With its good thermal properties of withstanding above 150 °C before deterioration and low water vapour permeation of less than 3.41 × 10 –08 g/m.h.Pa, it is believed that improvement of its elongation at break which lags at less than 11% will make the films excellent for mulching. However, the LCMNFs concentrate sprayed as coating on the soil showed good adhesion to the soil topography with little cracks when dry. Graphical abstract