Can-Eco mulches biodegrade faster in compost than in soil, because of the lack of oxygen in soil. The thinner the gauge, the smaller the area, the faster Can-Eco mulches will biodegrade. It is natural, because soil microorganisms can digest a massive tree buried in the soil 100-times faster if it is first shredded into wood chips. Therefore, Can-Eco mulches are recommended to be disked properly before ploughing to accelerate biodegradation in soil.
Although USDA organic regulations were amended to allow for the use of biodegradable biobased mulch films in organic crop production (79 FR 58655), check with your certifying agent prior to cultivating Can-Eco into the soil.
The thicknesses of Can-Eco mulches need to be selected for the growing period of the specific crop being produced (e.g. for lettuce with an 8 week growing period: 0.5 mil film, or for large tomatoes with a 15 week growing period: 0.6 mil) to prevent biodegradation on the soil, which can cause holes or tears leading to the loss of plastic mulching benefits. The climatic conditions at the growing location also need to be taken into account when selecting the thickness of any biodegradable plastic mulch (e.g. a 0.6 mil Can-Eco film will last on the field without any breaks in the temperate climate of Michigan for 15 weeks, but may not in the humid subtropical climate of Florida). Therefore, it is recommended to add 0.1 mil for use in warmer and humid locations.