Changes in the Physical, Optical, and Thermal Properties of Polyethylene Mulches during Double Cropping

Ngouajio, Mathieu; Ernest, Jeremy

doi:10.21273/hortsci.40.1.94

Cited by 23 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Results show that plastic mulch was generally the most effective summer fallow program in maintaining weed suppression over growing seasons, whereas chemical fallow program was the least effective summer fallow program. This is not surprising given that plastic mulch effectively inhibits broadleaf weed density (Ashrafuzzaman et al, 2011;Johnson and Fennimore, 2005;Ngouajio and Ernest, 2005). Sunn hemp has been shown to effectively reduce weed populations in many studies (Adler and Chase, 2007;Cho et al, 2015;Javaid et al, 2015;McSorley et al, 2008;Skinner et al, 2012) but it did not have a consistent effect on weed density in the subsequent crop in our research.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 45%

“…This approach distributes the input costs over multiple crops (Nyoike and Liburd, 2013;Santos et al, 2008) and may increase farm revenue and reduce farm income risk due to the diversification effect. This can be achieved by planting the second crop in the same field before (relay cropping) or after (multicropping) strawberry crop termination (Ngouajio and Ernest, 2005;Santos et al, 2008). Relaycropping on the same plastic mulch might be particularly beneficial to Florida growers because relatively warm weather and a long growing season makes it possible to grow two or more crops on the mulch within a single calendar year.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Relay-cropping and Fallow Programs for Strawberry-based Production System: Effects on Crop Productivity and Weed Control

Boyd

Guan

2018

horts

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Many strawberry growers in Florida relay crop vegetables with strawberries or grow multiple crops on the same plastic mulch. The practice can reduce the overall input costs per crop but weed management can be problematic. Field experiments designed as a split plot were conducted in Balm and Dover, FL over two successive strawberry-growing seasons from Oct. 2014 to Mar. 2015 (year 1) and Oct. 2015 to Mar. 2016 (year 2) and two successive muskmelon-growing seasons from March to July 2015 (year 1) and March to July 2016 (year 2). The objectives were to examine the effect of summer fallow programs and the presence or absence of a relay-crop on weed density and strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) yields. Summer fallow programs included leaving the plastic mulch in place and reusing it in year 2, a sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) cover crop, or a conventional chemical fallow. Relay cropping muskmelon with strawberries had no effect on strawberry yield. Summer fallow programs had no effect on muskmelon growth and yield in Balm and Dover, as well as strawberry growth and yield in Balm. In Dover, the plastic mulch summer fallow had 22% to 34% lower berry yield in year 2 compared with cover crop and chemical fallow, respectively. In year 2, relay-cropping was more effective in reducing total weed density compared with strawberry monoculture in Dover but not in Balm. In year 2 in Dover, averaged overall summer fallow programs, the total weed density was ≈3-fold less in relay-cropping than strawberry monoculture. Of all the summer fallow programs evaluated, leaving the plastic mulch in place combined with glyphosate was the most effective summer fallow program, whereas the conventional chemical fallow was the least effective at weed suppression. We conclude that relay cropping or double use of plastic mulch for successive strawberry crops are viable options for Florida strawberry growers.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 45%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relay-cropping and Fallow Programs for Strawberry-based Production System: Effects on Crop Productivity and Weed Control

Boyd

Guan

2018

horts

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“…Plastic mulch had an important effect on DDsoil accumulation. Higher DDsoil accumulation on cucumber with colored plastic mulches has been reported (Ngouajio & Ernest, 2005). Colored plastic mulch may be divided into two groups, light colors and dark colors.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…(1) (Jenni et al, 1996;Ibarra et al, 2000;Ngouajio & Ernest, 2005), Tmax and Tmin are the daily maximum and minimum soil temperatures, and Tbase is the base temperature (10 8C). The rate of photosynthesis was determined only in the 2003 study using a portable photosynthesis meter (LI-6200, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photosynthesis, soil temperature and yield of cucumber as affected by colored plastic mulch

Ibarra-Jiménez¹,

Zermeño-González²,

Munguía-López³

et al. 2008

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B - Soil & Plant Sc

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Each crop may require a different root-zone temperature to achieve the maximum growth rate and yield. The temperature of the upper soil profile is determined by the soil properties, climate conditions, and site location, and can be either too high or too low for the crop requirements. A proper selection of plastic mulch can be used to modify the root-zone temperature to improve crop growth and yield. Cucumber plants grown in the field were exposed to different soil temperatures in two growing seasons under colored plastic mulches. Field studies were conducted during two growing seasons. Eight colored plastic mulches were tested at each growing season against bare soil. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of plastic mulch on heat accumulation as soil degree-day (DDsoil), photosynthesis rate, and yield of cucumber crop. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with nine treatments (eight colors of plastic mulch plus bare soil as the control) and four replications. The colors of the plastic mulches were: white-on-black, blue, white, black, black embossed, silver-on-black, red, and brown. DDsoil and plant photosynthesis were positively correlated with total yield, suggesting that increases in cucumber yield are due in part to an increase in soil temperature and plant photosynthesis. In conclusion, plants grown under the different colored plastic mulches had similar yields, and most of those plants had higher yields than plants grown in bare soil. We suggest that plastic mulch is useful for farmers of cucumber crops but the specific color of plastic mulch must be determined in each specific region.

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“…However, the authors found RTH to be an unreliable measure of deterioration due to the coalescence of RTH over time, leading to underestimation of deterioration. Other studies have used similar observations to visually rate or evaluate loss of integrity of biodegradable mulch on the soil surface (Minuto et al, 2008;Moreno and Moreno, 2008;Moreno et al, 2009;Ngouajio and Ernest, 2005;Ngouajio et al, 2008), but none have been adopted as a standard of measurement. In addition, other investigators have evaluated changes in mulch mechanical properties over time to evaluate deterioration (Briassoulis, 2006(Briassoulis, , 2007Candido et al, 2006;Cascone et al, 2008;Kijchavengkul et al, 2008;Scarascia-Mugnozza et al, 2006;Tocchetto et al, 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

Visual Assessments of Biodegradable Mulch Deterioration Are Not Indicative of Changes in Mechanical Properties

Cowan

Saxton

Liu

et al. 2016

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The functionality of biodegradable mulch can be evaluated in agricultural field settings by visually assessing mulch intactness over time (a measure of deterioration), but it is unclear if mulch deterioration is indicative of mulch degradation as measured by mechanical properties (like breaking force and elongation). This 3-year study (2010–12) examined mulch percent visual deterioration (PVD) during the summer growing season in open-field and high tunnel production systems, and compared these to mulch mechanical properties at mulch installation (12–30 May), midseason (22 July–9 Aug.), and season end (6–25 Oct.), to determine if the field-based measures reliably predict degradation as revealed by changes in mulch mechanical properties. Four different types of biodegradable mulches [two plastic film mulches marketed as biodegradable (BioAgri and BioTelo); one fully biodegradable paper mulch (WeedGuardPlus); and, one experimental spunbonded plastic mulch designed to biodegrade (SBPLA)] were evaluated against a standard nonbiodegradable polyethylene (PE) mulch where tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Celebrity) was planted as the model crop. Each year for the 3 years, PVD increased earlier for WeedGuardPlus than the other mulches in both the high tunnel and open field, and WeedGuardPlus had the greatest PVD in both high tunnels and the open field (6% and 48%, respectively). Mechanical strength of WeedGuardPlus also declined by the end of the season both in the high tunnel (up to 46% reduction) and in the open field (up to 81% reduction). PVD of BioAgri and BioTelo reached a maximum of 3% in the high tunnel and 28% in the open field by the end of the season. Mechanical strength of BioAgri and BioTelo did not change over the course of the season in either the open field or high tunnel, even though the ability of these mulches to elongate or stretch declined 89% in the open field and 82% in the high tunnel. SBPLA and PE mulches did not show a change in PVD or mechanical properties in either the high tunnel or the open field. Overall, PVD was three to six times greater by midseason in the open field than in the high tunnels. Although there were significant relationships between visual assessments and various mechanical properties for each mulch except SBPLA, the relationships differed for each mulch when evaluated separately and had coefficients of determination (R2) below 30%. Furthermore, PVD overestimated mechanical deterioration of BioAgri and BioTelo. Results of this study indicate that mulch visual assessments may reflect general trends in changes in certain mechanical properties of the mulch; however, visual assessment and mechanical properties provide different information on deterioration. Each should be used as needed, but not as a substitute for each other.

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Changes in the Physical, Optical, and Thermal Properties of Polyethylene Mulches during Double Cropping

Cited by 23 publications

References 15 publications

Relay-cropping and Fallow Programs for Strawberry-based Production System: Effects on Crop Productivity and Weed Control

Relay-cropping and Fallow Programs for Strawberry-based Production System: Effects on Crop Productivity and Weed Control

Photosynthesis, soil temperature and yield of cucumber as affected by colored plastic mulch

Visual Assessments of Biodegradable Mulch Deterioration Are Not Indicative of Changes in Mechanical Properties

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