Study of the properties of biodegradable mulching coating obtained from waste water treatment waste

The problem of cumulative contamination of agricultural land with spent polymer coatings based on polyethylene remains unresolved. For sustainable use as a raw material, raw materials with a standard content of the main components are needed, without sudden fluctuations in composition and characteristics. At the same time, it is advisable not to use polysaccharides used in the food industry for food safety purposes. To avoid the stage of biopolymer isolation and purification, a biocenosis of excess activated sludge from water treatment plants can be used, the cellular and extracellular substances of which are biopolymers. The main, but not the only, requirement for biodegradable films is the rate of degradation of the material. The main requirement for a mulching soil coating is high mechanical properties (bending strength, tensile strength in the transverse and longitudinal directions), moisture and gas permeability, stable over a certain period of operation. Mulch performs a number of important functions (reflection of light, heat retention in the soil, slowing down weed growth, etc.), which can be assessed indirectly by influencing soil characteristics (aerability, air capacity, wettability, etc.) and the final product (yield, green mass growth index, fruit color, content sugars, anthocyanins, and acids). A wide range of indicators and methods for their determination complicates the comparison of data from various studies. The results of experimental studies of the composition and properties of a mulching coating, the main component of which is excess activated sludge from water treatment plants, are described. The purpose of the work is to prove the possibility of obtaining a high-quality mulching coating based on it, which does not harm the environment for use in agriculture. The properties of the mulching film, microbiological safety, and the effects achieved have been studied in detail experimentally.