• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the usability of biodegradable plastic in the mulching cultivation of sweetpotato. For this, we investigated the physical characteristics, biodegradability, leaching, yield, workability, etc. of biodegradable films. Compared with general mulching materials, biodegradable Poly butyleneadipate-co-butylene succinate (PBSA) and PLC+starch showed $2{\sim}27$% higher tensile strength, but $2{\sim}22$% lower elongation and $2{\sim}6$% lower tear strength. In the leaching test on the biodegradable films, heavy metals were detected very little or not at all. As to difference in ground temperature according to mulching material, the temperature was high in order of PLC+starch > PBSA > Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) > Control during the period from late June to mid July, but in order of LDPE > PLC+starch > PBSA > None during the period from late July to late September. In the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films PBSA (EA, EB, EC) and PLC+starch (DD, DE, DF) began to degrade after 60 days from the cut planting of sweet potato, and over 95% degraded after 120 days. The quantity of roots was 3,070 kg/10a for PBSA, 3,093 kg/10a for PLC-starch, and 2,946 kg/l10a for LDPE, showing no significant difference according to mulching material. Considering the physical characteristics, biodegradability, environment, convenience in harvesting work, yield, etc. of the films in the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films are expected to be very useful.