Optimization of technical parameters for making mulch from rice straw fiber

The technique for producing a kind of bio-degraded mulch from the straw fiber was studied. It is an alternative to plastic mulch with the same price and weed control, reducing evaporation functions. Rice straw fiber was the main material, and KP (wood fiber) as well as environment-friendly additives such as wet strength agent, rosin and bauxite were added. A central composite rotary orthogonal experimental design of RSM, with five factors and five levels for each factor was employed. Conventional paper producing technology was adopted, and pulp degree, mixture ratio, grammage, wet strength agent and conditioning agents were the input variables, dry tension strength, wet tension strength, sizing value were the response functions. The optimal technical parameters were obtained, the grammage value, conditioning agents content, wet strength agent content, mixture ratio and pulp degree were 90 g/m2, 0.2%, 0.8%, less than 68% and more than 45°SR respectively. Under the condition, dry tension strength of the sample mulch was higher than 30 N, the wet tension stress was higher than 10 N, and the sizing value was higher than 100 s. The sample of mulch made from rice straw fiber could meet the need of mechanical performance for laying field.