Effects of agricultural mulch film on swine manure composting: Film degradation and nitrogen transformation.

The utilization of biodegradable mulch films (bio-MFs) is essential for agricultural safety. This study explored the effects of no MF (CK), aging bio-MF (BM), non-aging bio-MF (NBM), and aging polyethylene (PE)-MF (PEM) on swine manure composting. The results demonstrated that outdoor aging (45 days) accelerated the macroscopic degradation of bio-MF in the BM. A reduction in NH ₄ ⁺ -N and NH ₃ emissions in the initial composting was observed owing to an increase in the carbon source or the bulking effect provided by the MFs. N ₂ O emissions from days 9 to 21 were higher in the PEM than other treatments because of the formation of anaerobic zone in the MF-based aggregates. An obvious increase of amoA in PEM indicated a promoted nitrification during the maturation phase, meanwhile the increase of NO ₂ ^- -N and aggregate promoted denitrification. Altogether, MF influenced composting through the synergistic effects of increasing the carbon source, bulking effect, and aggregates.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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