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The fiber-rich bamboo residue presents a valuable resource of paper mulch film for replacing plastic mulch. To investigate an eco-friendly method of combining microorganism with low-alkali for producing bamboo fiber mulch (BFM), this study systematically studied the impact of three factors – microbial agent dosage, fermentation duration, and low-alkali treatment concentration on the characteristics of bamboo fibers and the performance of the mulch based on orthogonal experimental design. Chemical composition, functional groups, crystallinity of bamboo fibers and the microscopic morphology, physical-mechanical properties, seed germination, soil cover application and degradation mechanism of the prepared BFM were investigated. The results showed that the combined pretreatment could degrade more hemicellulose and lignin than cellulose of bamboo residue. The optimal process conditions were: fermentation time of 12 d, microbial agent dosage of 3 % and alkali concentration of 1.5 % with enhanced fiber weaving self-bonding existing in BFM. The seedling experiment demonstrated that the BFM could enhance the growth height of bean sprouts and garlic sprouts compared to the negative untreated control with similar growth with plastic mulch. Additionally, the simulated rainy-season degradation experiment indicated that the degradation rate of BFM reached at 23.3 % in 30 d. The micromorphology degradation mechanism of BFM illustrated combination function of pretreatment promoted fast lignocellulose mineralization of BFM. BFM film mulching increases plant height, shortens degradation time, reduces the labor cost of plastic film recycling for growers, avoides plastic residue in the soil, and provides a green solution for sustainable agricultural development. • Fast degradable BFM was made by bio / low alkali pretreatment of bamboo residue. • BFM had optimal fiber self-bonding from 3 % microbial agent in 12 d and 1.5 % alkali. • BFM has the potential to replace plastic mulch for mung bean fast breeding. • BFM rapidly degraded to 23.2 % in 30 d under simulated rainy season conditions. • BFM showed lignocellulose mineralization degradation mechanism in raining.
Guan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.