<![CDATA[AbstractShort-life agricultural polybags are difficult to recover after use and may leave residues in cultivated soil, creating a need for degradable planting containers. This study developed urea-containing sugarcane bagasse biopolybags through a glycerol-urea substitution series in a starch-chitosan matrix and preliminary suitability for bok choy planting. Dried bagasse (80 mesh) was mixed with starch, chitosan, glycerol, urea, and water. Formulations U0–U7 followed a constant-mass substitution series, while UK served as a cellulose reference. Physical characteristics, water uptake, water solubility, contact angle, soil-burial mass loss, and bok choy observation were evaluated. The biopolybags were formed into sheets and prototypes of planting containers. The apparent density ranged from 0.88 to 1.10 g cm⁻³, moisture content from 9.41% to 16.76%, the thickness from 0.02 to 0.05 cm, the water uptake from 3.57% to 16.92%, the water solubility from 32.18% to 68.17%, and the mean contact angle was 82.68°. The 28-day soil-burial test produced an 85.52% mean mass loss. Low-substitution formulations, especially U1, resulted in more favorable bok choy establishment. These findings support the preliminary feasibility of water-sensitive biopolybags with rapid soil disintegration, non-controlled release, mechanical validation, carbon mineralization, and quantitative agronomic superiority.Keywords: degradable planting container, soil-burial mass loss, starch bioplastic, sugarcane bagasse, urea-containing matrix Abstrak Limbah polybag pertanian berumur pakai pendek sulit dipulihkan dan berpotensi meninggalkan residu di lahan sehingga wadah tanam degradable perlu dikembangkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan biopolybag ampas tebu yang mengandung urea melalui seri substitusi gliserol–urea dalam matriks pati–kitosan dan mengevaluasi kelayakan awalnya sebagai wadah tanam pakcoy. Ampas tebu kering 80 mesh dicampurkan dengan pati, kitosan, gliserol, urea, dan air. Formulasi U0–U7 disusun sebagai seri substitusi bermassa tetap, sedangkan UK digunakan sebagai referensi selulosa. Evaluasi mencakup karakter fisik, serapan air, kelarutan air, sudut kontak, kehilangan massa selama penguburan tanah, dan pengamatan pakcoy. Biopolybag dapat dibentuk menjadi lembaran dan prototipe wadah tanam. Densitas semu berada pada 0,88–1,10 g cm⁻³, kadar air 9,41–16,76%, ketebalan 0,02–0,05 cm, serapan air 3,57–16,92%, kelarutan air 32,18–68,17%, dan sudut kontak rata-rata 82,68°. Uji penguburan tanah selama 28 hari menghasilkan rata-rata kehilangan massa 85,52%. Formulasi substitusi rendah, terutama U1, tampak lebih mendukung kemapanan pakcoy. Temuan ini menunjukkan kelayakan awal biopolybag yang peka terhadap air dan cepat terdisintegrasi di tanah, tetapi belum membuktikan pelepasan terkendali, kinerja mekanik, mineralisasi karbon, atau keunggulan agronomis kuantitatif.Kata kunci: ampas tebu, bioplastik pati, kehilangan massa dalam tanah, matriks urea, wadah tanam degradable]]>
