Dimensions and Costs of Polyethylene and Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulch
Farmers use mulch to control weeds, conserve soil moisture and help improve crop yield and quality. Information on mulch roll length, thickness, weight, and cost can help farmers determine whether soil-biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) is a profitable option for their farm compared to polyethylene (PE) mulch. Table 1 compares this information for PE mulch and certified BDM products (supported by biodegradation testing and standards). Table 2 provides information regarding the number of bed feet per acre based on the distance between bed centers. This information is used to calculate the number of mulch rolls required per acre based on roll length (Table 3), and farmers can calculate cost of mulch based on price per roll and number of rolls needed. It is important to note that short roll length increases the cost of application if the farm is more than 1 acre as a new roll will need to be placed on the mulch laying machine more often.
At the end of the season, BDM can be tilled into the soil, which eliminates the cost of mulch removal, whereas PE mulch must be removed from the field and disposed of. Table 4 provides the time and cost associated with PE mulch removal, as well as the amount of soil removed with PE mulch. Removal time is based on a survey of Tennessee fruit and vegetable growers (Velandia et al. 2024), and removal costs are calculated using the 2025 median adverse effect wage rate ($17.74/hour) and a landfill fee of $17.8/acre for used PE mulch (assuming $58/ton; EREF 2024). The contamination of field-retrieved PE mulch ranged from 33 to 87% on a dry weight basis (Adesina et al. 2026). Field-retrieved PE mulch was oven-dried at 80 °C for 30 minutes, weighed, then washed four times at a temperature of 50–60 °C to remove adhered soil and debris, oven-dried at 80 °C for 30 minutes, and reweighed. Soil contamination was calculated as the difference between these two weights (other contaminant debris was very minor), expressed as a percentage of the initial dry weight including adhered soils and debris.
For a list of BDMs that are commercially available in the U.S. as of 2026, see Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches (BDMs) Commercially Available in the U.S.
| Attribute | Polyethylene mulch | BDMi | Decision relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available roll length | Up to 4,000 ft | Up to 8,000 ft | Longer rolls can reduce roll changes during installation. |
| Available roll width | 3-6 ft | 3-6 ft | Both are compatible with common raised-bed systems. |
| Roll thickness | 1.0-1.5 mil | 0.5-1.0 mil | Thinner BDM may require careful handling and equipment adjustment. |
| Purchase costii | $21-$107 per 1,000 ft | $40-$175 per 1,000 ft | BDM generally has a higher purchase cost. |
| Weight | 15-36 lbs per 1,000 ft | 10-33 lbs per 1,000 ft | Weight affects handling, transport, and PE disposal. |
| Certified organic production in the United States | Allowed if removed from field. | Not currently allowed. | Organic growers must confirm product status with their certifier. |
- BDM = soil-biodegradable plastic mulch.
- Purchase costs for PE and BDM are based on March 2026 prices from mulch distributors and exclude bulk discounts, shipping charges, taxes, and other fees. BDM purchase costs are based on BioGuard and Bio360 pricing.
This table was adapted from Table 3 of Ghimire, S. et al. 2026. Soil-biodegradable Plastic Mulches: Certification Status and Economic Considerations for Growers and Extension Professionals in the United States. HortTechnology 36(5):1049–1057. Adapted under CC BY-NC 4.0.
| Spacing (bed center-to-center) | 1 acre | 3 acres | 5 acres | 10 acres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft | 8,712 | 26,136 | 43,560 | 87,120 |
| 6 ft | 7,260 | 21,780 | 36,300 | 72,600 |
| 7 ft | 6,223 | 18,669 | 31,115 | 62,230 |
| 8 ft | 5,445 | 16,335 | 27,225 | 54,450 |
| Roll Length (ft) | 5 ft spacing | 6 ft spacing | 7 ft spacing | 8ft spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 17.51 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.9 |
| 750 | 11.7 | 9.7 | 8.3 | 7.3 |
| 1,000 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 5.5 |
| 3,000 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
| 4,000 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| 6,000 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
- Number of rolls presented in fraction to help farmers calculate the total number of rolls for more than 1 acre.
| Metric | Per 1,000 bed ft., assuming 6-ft width | Per acrea | Basis or interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch removal and disposal time | 2.4 h | 17.4 h/acre | Removal time based on a survey of Tennessee fruit and vegetable growers (Velandia et al. 2020). |
| Mulch removal and disposal cost | $45 ($38-$51) | $326/acre ($276-$368/acre) | Estimate is based on FY 2025 mean adverse effect wage rate of $17.74/h (range $14.83-$20.08), adding a $17.80/acre landfill fee for used PE mulch (assuming 2023 weighted average tipping fee of $58/ton; EREF 2024). |
| Weight of mulch after field retrieval | 84 lbs | 610 lbs/acre | Weight varies with soil type, moisture, crop residue, and retrieval method. |
| Adhered soil on retrieved mulch | 33%-87% of dry weight (about 28-73 lbs) | About 200-530 lb/acre | Amount of adhered soil was calculated by subtracting the dry weight after washing from the initial weight at retrieval and expressing the difference as a percentage of the retrieval weight (Adesina et al., 2026) |
- Actual requirements vary with field conditions, labor rates, retrieval method, disposal options, and fees.
This table was adapted from Table 5 of Ghimire, S. et al. 2026. Soil-biodegradable Plastic Mulches: Certification Status and Economic Considerations for Growers and Extension Professionals in the United States. HortTechnology 36(5):1049–1057. Adapted under CC BY-NC 4.0.
References
- Adesina, F.A., K.R. Englund, and H. Li. 2026. Impact of soil contaminants on mechanical properties of recycled agricultural mulch films. Clean. Waste Syst. 14:100513.
- Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF). 2024. Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Tipping Fees – 2023.
- Ghimire, S., Miles, C., Galinato, S. P., Wortman, S. E., & Velandia, M. (2026). Soil-biodegradable Plastic Mulches: Certification Status and Economic Considerations for Growers and Extension Professionals in the United States. HortTechnology, 36(5), 1049–1057.
- Velandia M, DeLong KL, Wszelaki A, Schexnayder S, Clark C, Jensen K. 2020. Use of polyethylene and plastic biodegradable mulches among Tennessee fruit and vegetable growers. HortTechnology. 30(2):212–218.
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, under award numbers 2022-51181-38325 & 2016-51181-25404, Hatch Projects 7005372 and 7003737, and CPPM award 2021-70006-35582. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy. Additional support provided by WSARE under award 2019-51181-30012.
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