It just makes sense, especially in farming. They go to the trouble of using the plastic for weed control and moisture retention/water conservation. Go the extra step and use the expended material for fertilizer when it's lifespan has reached it's end. It always made me chuckle when the grape farmers used the rain birds in the middle of winter on potentially frosty nights. They don't mind icicles hanging off the bare dormant vines, but frost apparently had vile effects on those same vines. They have utilized drip irrigation to reduce their water consumption.