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Enhancing hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of cationic starch-modified cow dung-based cellulose mulch film via stearic acid coating.

Feixiong Zhao,Mengyang Wang,Shuhang Deng,Wenxin Li,Tao Li,Ping Yuan,Lijing Zhou,Yongsong Mu,Kunshan Yang,Aimin Zhang,Xiangjun Yang

Published 2025 in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

ABSTRACT

Cellulose-based mulch films offer agronomic benefits such as soil temperature regulation, moisture retention, weed suppression, and crop growth promotion, being environmentally benign due to their biodegradability. However, their practical application is hindered by suboptimal mechanical strength and hydrophobicity. In this study, a multifunctional cow dung-based cellulose mulch film was developed by synergistically combining cationic starch modification with stearic acid (SA) coating. The starch-pretreated mulch (S2) was coated with SA at varying concentrations (10 %, 20 %, and 30 %, denoted as S2H10, S2H20, and S2H30). At 10 % SA(S2H10), the composite mulch film exhibited optimal performance: tensile strength increased from 6.51 MPa (uncoated) to 8.29 MPa, and water contact angle rose from 77.8° to 116.6°, demonstrating enhanced mechanical properties and hydrophobicity. Field trials with coriander cultivation confirmed that S2H10 effectively maintained stable soil temperature and humidity while suppressing weeds throughout the growth cycle. This study presents a scalable strategy to improve the functionality of biodegradable agricultural mulches.

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