Effect of plastic film mulching on cotton and its challenge in China

Studies on the regions of plastic film mulching on cotton planting areas and the effect on cotton yield, as well as plastic film residue pollution, provide some support for the rational utilization of plastic film mulching in cotton production. In this study, two methods were adopted. One was field research in the primary cotton planting regions. The application of plastic film mulching and residual pollution were investigated and sampled, and first-hand data were obtained. The other method was to collect relevant literature and statistical data to review and analyse the use of cotton plastic film mulching in the past decades. Results showed that plastic film mulching is one of the most widely used agronomic technologies in China. This technology has significantly increased the unit yield of cotton, changed cotton planting areas, and greatly promoted the development of the cotton industry. However, at the same time, plastic film residue pollution has become a serious problem in the intensive cotton planting regions, that threatens the sustainable development of cotton industry. Taken together, the plastic film mulching technique plays a key role in maintaining the stability of cotton production. However, plastic film residue pollution will be increasingly serious in the future, and some measures must be taken to keep the residual pollution within limits.