Sibel Irmak and Samuel Wortman, a professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, recently received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to develop biodegradable mulch films that can be applied to crops to protect them from weed infestations. They are collaborating with Loren Isom of the Industrial Agricultural Products Center to develop the mulch films from low cost, abundant and nontoxic raw materials.
“We will give special attention to the films made of protein-based materials such as chicken feather keratin," Irmak said. "These films can release nitrogen into the soil when degrading and potentially reduce the need for applying inorganic fertilizer.”
Irmak said she and her colleagues expect the chicken feather keratin to be environmentally safe and less hazardous to surface water and groundwater.
They also expect the mulch films to keep soils warmer, helping crops germinate, and to increase soil moisture and decrease weeds, insects and use of pesticides.