This paper investigates the biodegradation properties of cellulose fibers and PLA biopolymer. For that purpose, hemp, jute, and sisal fibers as lignocellulose fibers; viscose fibers (CV) as regenerated cellulose; and polylactide (PLA) as biopolymer were buried in farmland soil for periods of 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11 days under controlled conditions. The influence of their biodegradation on the fiber mechanical properties, bacteria and fungi population, as well as on the soil quality were investigated. After exposure to microorganisms, analyses of the fibers’ morphological (SEM), chemical (FTIR), and thermal (TGA) properties were conducted to achieve a comprehensive understanding of their biodegradability. The analysis concluded that lignin and pectin content have a greater impact on the biodegradation of hemp, jute, and sisal fibers than factors like crystallinity and degree of polymerization. The viscose fibers showed lower biodegradability despite their lower degree of polymerization, indicating a resistance to biodegradation due to the “skin” formed during the spinning process. PLA fibers experienced chemical hydrolysis and significant microbial attack, resulting in reduced tenacity. The acquired findings yield valuable insights into the biodegradability of the fibers, thereby facilitating the selection of appropriate fibers for the development of environmentally sustainable products. Notably, a literature review revealed a paucity of research on fiber biodegradability, underscoring the significance of the present study’s contributions.

As society becomes more aware of environmental pollution, global warming, and environmental disasters, people are increasingly turning to sustainable materials and products. This includes agrotextiles in a wide range of products, including nonwoven agrotextiles for mulching. This review provides insight into relevant available data and information on the condition, possibilities, and trends of nonwoven mulches from natural fibres, biopolymers, and recycled sources. The basic definitions and differences between biodegradation and composting processes are explained, and the current standards related to biodegradation are presented. In addition, an insight into the biodegradation of various nonwoven mulches and films, including their advantages and disadvantages, is provided, to predict the future directions of nonwoven mulches development.

Agrotextile belongs to one of the twelve sectors of technical textiles covering textile products with application in agriculture, horticulture, cattle breeding and aquaculture as well in agro engineering. The significance of agrotextiles can be stated substantial all over the world since it has been proven to be very versatile and cost effective materials. Nonwoven agrotextiles are innovative products with special structural performances designed for agricultural applications and practices such as weed control, wind protection, frost cover fabric that is used for adjustment of weather conditions from the sudden changing of temperature and seasonal changes. Furthermore, common application of nonwoven agrotextiles are for reducing the sun radiation as well as thermal protection of plants as shade cloth, furthermore for preventing insect and other pests on crops, preventing soil drainage and sediment creation. All over the world, applications of nonwoven agrotextiles products in agriculture have shown great positive impacts on growth, production and protection of various crops and vegetables. Many studies have been proving that nonwoven agrotextile covers accelerate the growth and development of seedlings as well as their nutritive values. By preventing weed growth and insect protection, the use of herbicides and pesticides are reduced. Agrotextiles made of natural fibres can be considered as a potential candidate for replacing some of today’s popular synthetic agrotextiles which are becoming ecologically less acceptable nowadays. Usage of agrotextiles is one of the growing alternatives in today’s context with respect to the increase in global population thus food quantity and food quality and in the same time growing environmental concern. Sustainable socio-economic development considers natural fibre usage in agrotextile production in all possible areas covered by agrotextile application. The main purpose of the review is to give an overview and importance of nonwoven agrotextiles with indication of nonwoven agrotextile perspective in future.

The need for sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic mulches in agriculture has led to the development of various types of biodegradable mulches made from natural fibres and biopolymers to reduce environmental pollution and mitigate soil pollution caused by conventional plastic mulch usage. Degradation, impact on soil temperature and humidity, and weed suppression properties of needle-punched nonwoven mulches of different mass per unit area, made of jute, hemp, viscose, and PLA biopolymer, are investigated. Their biodegradation is determined by changes in the mulch properties (mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, tensile properties, microscopic images, and FTIR analyses) during 300 days of exposure to the environmental conditions in the period from May 2022 to February 2023. The change in mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, and tensile properties of nonwoven mulches did not show a tendency to degrade during exposure to environmental conditions. The microscopic and FTIR analysis showed the degradation of the fibres from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The environmental conditions influence the change in the dimensions of the mulches (shrinkage and expansion)—which impact periodically tested mass results per unit area—as well as their thickness and air permeability. The nonwoven mulches provide higher temperatures compared to bare soil, though not as high as those observed beneath traditional agricultural foil. When comparing the humidity in bare soil and soil covered by mulches during the plant growth period (June to October), it was found that soil humidity was higher beneath all mulches. The nonwoven mulches provide superior soil moisture retention compared to conventionally used agrofoil. Almost all nonwoven mulches effectively suppressed weed growth, except hemp mulches. The newly produced mulches have the potential to replace traditional agrofoil, offering improved conditions for plant growth, effective weed control, and faster degradation without causing harm to the environment.

The influence of the calendaring process of nonwoven geotextiles on the water permeability normal to their planes, including influence of different loads, as well as pore characteristics investigated by two different methods has been studied. Methods of pore characteristics differ in obtaining different pore parameters. Two groups of samples were produced whereas first group is bonded by needle punching, while second group is needle punched samples taken from first group and additionally bonded by calendaring. Mass per unit area for both groups is in range of 150 to 500 g/m², with increasing by 50 g/m² for the next sample within groups. Calendaring process decrease water permeability of geotextile, but also decreases interval of geotextile water permeability change due to the applied pressure. Calendared geotextiles have controlled and predictable compressibility, respectively structure which will not significantly change in the practical application.