Plastics in the Environment: Enhancing carbon sequestration and crop production

环境中的塑料：加强碳封存和作物生产

• 批准号: 2890919
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2890919
• 关键词: Plastics; Environment; Enhancing; carbon; sequestration

Plastics in the environment are high on environmental and political agendas around the world generally in a negative context, but their use in agriculture in the form of plastic mulch films continues to grow and are now integral in theproduction of many crops worldwide. One of the main problems associated with the use of plastics is their disposal after use. This can be addressed by designing them so that they naturally biodegrade. Biodegradable plastic mulch film is used to accelerate and protect emergent high value and long season crops in-field to improve product yield and quality. However, scarce consideration is currently given to the chemical properties of the plastic beyond its broad biodegradability properties and the benefits it might be able to give to the agricultural environment. For example, given the correct formulation, it could actually benefit soils by providing beneficial carbon which can be sequestered by soil microbes, deliver herbicides and pesticides in slow release fashion, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly, or as a mechanism for delivering nutrients to soils. This project will explore a unique opportunity to exploit the potential to deliver additional benefits to the crop and environment through the manipulation of the chemical formulation of biodegradable plastic films for the enhancement of soil quality and crop nutrition, which are two of the greatest challenges facing modern day agriculture. Through working with a combination of research expertise at University of Bristol and Rothamsted Research, training in advanced laboratory techniques, controlled environment studies and field trials will be provided, meaning the student will acquire a wide range of skills and technical expertise in soil science, but also within other areas of scientific research or non-academic career paths.

环境中的塑料在世界各地的环境和政治议程中占据重要地位，通常是在负面背景下，但其在农业中以塑料地膜形式的使用继续增长，现在已成为全球许多作物生产的组成部分。与塑料使用相关的主要问题之一是使用后的处置。这可以通过设计它们使其自然生物降解来解决。可生物降解地膜是利用生物降解地膜对高值、长季节作物进行田间促生和保护，以提高产量和品质。然而，目前很少考虑塑料的化学性质，除了其广泛的生物降解性和它可能给农业环境带来的好处。例如，如果配方正确，它实际上可以通过提供有益的碳来有益于土壤，这些碳可以被土壤微生物隔离，以缓释方式提供除草剂和杀虫剂，使它们更有效，更环保，或者作为向土壤提供养分的机制。该项目将探索一个独特的机会，通过操纵可生物降解塑料薄膜的化学配方来提高土壤质量和作物营养，为作物和环境带来额外的好处，这是现代农业面临的两个最大挑战。通过与布里斯托大学和罗萨姆斯特德研究中心的研究专业知识相结合，将提供先进的实验室技术，受控环境研究和田间试验的培训，这意味着学生将获得广泛的技能和技术专长土壤科学，而且在科学研究或非学术职业道路的其他领域。