77-23 Plant Nutritive Value of Composted Polylactic Acid (PLA) Plastic Ware.



Monday, October 17, 2011
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall C, Street Level

Waneta Kratz, Robert Michitsch and Aga Razvi, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
Petroleum-based plastics are commonplace in the MSW stream of modern, throwaway societies. Once in landfills these plastics do not break down naturally in a convenient timeframe and take up large volumes of space. Compostable plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), offer a sustainable solution to problems with petroleum-based plastics. PLA is made from 100% annually renewable resources (corn in the U.S.) and is compostable at industrial composting conditions (high heat, high moisture). Once composted, the PLA is no longer visible; a new compost product is created—PLA-containing compost. However, research on PLA-containing compost nutritive value to plants is scarce. To test effects on plants from PLA-containing compost a greenhouse trial was conducted. Two PLA-containing composts (derived from peat moss, chicken feed and EcoProducts, LLC® PLA plastic ware; composted at 40°C and 50°C) were applied to the soil surface of young sweet corn plants grown in a temperate climate greenhouse setting. Evaluation of the two PLA-containing compost treatments was performed based on corn plant growth response and mineral nutrient status. Several controls were used for comparison, including a locally-obtained commercial compost brand and similar peat moss/chicken feed composts that did not contain PLA. Preliminary findings demonstrated that PLA-containing compost is not detrimental to plant health.
See more from this Division: ASA Section: Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Resource Management and Monitoring: Impact On Soils, Air and Water Quality and General Environmental Quality (Graduate Student Poster Competition)