Assessment of the biodegradation capacity in the soil of cellulose cells intended for industrial cultivation of seedlings

This study assessed the rate and extent of biodegradation in soil of cellulose cells intended for industrial seedling cultivation, as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic cassettes. The experiment utilized two types of cellulose fiber-based compositions embedded in three types of soil substrates (soil from a blueberry spruce forest, compost, and a peat-soil mixture). A gravimetric method was used to determine sample mass loss. The average decomposition rate of the materials was 87 % and 84 % for the two compositions, respectively. Based on the data obtained, the predicted time for complete decomposition is estimated at 57–59 days. The highest degradation rate was recorded in the peat-soil mixture. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant impact of the cellulose composition type on the rate of biodegradation. An experiment using earthworms of the genus Allolobophora as bioindicators revealed no visually observable negative impacts of decomposing materials on soil fauna. The results demonstrate the potential of using biodegradable cellulose cassettes for reforestation as a way to reduce the plastic load on ecosystems.