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The incubation tests showed that the burial of new MULCHING+ films can have a positive impact on soil properties. In particular, the films enriched with MAP increased the nitrification in soil and the available phosphorus beyond 60%. The enzyme activity was only partially affected; indeed, lipase activity (indirect marker of polymers degradation) generally resulted higher in all soils where films were buried.
Moreover, after 30 days from burial, the β-glucosidase increased in presence of films, and at the end of the 120 days incubation, the N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase resulted higher in soils containing films with 17:3 ratio, suggesting the chitosan degradation, one of the films components.
Also, the microbial community structure was affected with a bacteria increase, especially Gram-positive, compared to fungi. These results were presented as oral presentation at the Third Joint Conference SICA, SISS, SIPe, 2023 (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.spa2023.it/assets/img/programma/LIBRO_RIASSUNTI_SPA2023.pdf) and at the International Union of Soil Science centenary meeting (Abstract book, p 591).
Next steps
In collaboration with University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart, Germany) we are actually using films enriched with 13C for tracking their fate in soil. We are also assessing the impact of a lower MAP enrichment percentage. We are evaluating not only the films mineralization (therefore their biodegradation), but also the films components absorption from microorganisms in soil, through the analysis of 13C of phospholipidic fatty acids from the cell membranes of soil microorganisms. This study aims to clarify the fate and the impact of the films burial in soil.
Research Team: Vito Armando Laudicina, Luigi Badalucco, Delia Francesca Chillura Martino, Pellegrino Conte, Gabriella Lo Verde, Sara Paliaga, Veronica Concetta Ciaramitaro (University of Palermo, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences)
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