Microclimate Modification with Plastic Mulch

Tarara, Julie M.

doi:10.21273/hortsci.35.2.169

Cited by 258 publications

(191 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…The positive effect of plastic mulch on soil temperature directly impacts the microclimate around the plant and modifies the balance between the absorbed and reflected radiation transmitted through the plastic mulch. The color of the plastic largely determines the behavior of radiant energy and its influence on the microclimate, which in turns affect soil temperature (Tarara 2000;Lamont 2005). In general, plastic mulch increased soil temperature in relation to bare soil, being greater for plastics of darker colors in contrast to colors with high reflectance, such as white, silver, and aluminum (Rangarajan & Ingall 2001).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature, growth, nutrient status, and yield

Ruíz-Machuca¹,

Ibarra-Jiménez²,

Valdéz-Aguilar

et al. 2014

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Sc

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Potato is one of the most important crops in the world because of its high nutritional value; however, traditional cultivation in bare soil may render low yields and poor quality. Crop production efficiency can be increased by using plastic mulching and row covers to modify root zone temperature and plant growth, in addition to reduction in pest damage and enhance production in cultivated plants. However, there is little information demonstrating the effect of row covers in combination with plastic mulch on potato. The aim of this study was to assess the change in root zone temperature and its effect on growth, leaf nutrient, and yield of potato using plastic mulch of different colors, in combination with row covers. Seed of cultivar Mondial was planted in May 2012. The study included four plastic films: black, white/black, silver/black, aluminum/black, and a control with bare soil, which were evaluated alone and in combination with row covers removed at 30 days after sowing in a split-plot design. Higher yields were obtained when no row cover (43.2 t ha −1 ) and the white/black film (42.2 t ha −1 ) were used. Leaf nitrogen, sulfur, and manganese concentration were higher in plants when row cover was used; in contrast, no-row cover plants were higher in Fe and Zn. Mulched plants were higher in Mn concentration than control plants. There was a quadratic relationship between mean soil temperature and total yield (R 2 = 0.94), and between plant biomass and total yield (R 2 = 0.98), between leaf area with total yield (R 2 = 0.98).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature, growth, nutrient status, and yield

Ruíz-Machuca¹,

Ibarra-Jiménez²,

Valdéz-Aguilar

et al. 2014

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Sc

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“…Ham et al (1993) also found that clear polyethylene mulch ability in transmitting shortwave optical properties was the highest among black and silver mulch. Clear mulch absorbs only 5% of short-wave radiation, reflects only 11%, but transmits 84% of short-wave radiation (Tarara 2000). On the other hand, black mulch reflects less short-wave radiation (10%) and absorbs more radiation (90%) (Teasdale and Abdul-Baki 1995).…”

Section: Soil Physical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil properties affected by combinations of soil solarization and organic amendment

Komariah

Ito

Onishi

et al. 2011

Paddy Water Environ

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A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects on soil properties of solarization combined with rice bran additive. The treatments included control (bare soil), black polyethylene film mulch (BM), clear polyethylene film mulch (CM), rice bran mixture (RBMx), rice bran mulch (RBM), rice bran mixture and black polyethylene film mulch (RBMx ? BM), rice bran and black polyethylene film mulch (RBM ? BM), rice bran mixture and clear polyethylene film mulch (RBMx ? CM), and rice bran and clear polyethylene film mulch (RBM ? CM). Initially, 15 kg m -2 of rice bran was applied to each treatment as the organic amendment. A cover of black or clear polyethylene film was then used to begin the soil solarization process. Approximately 49 days later, the polyethylene film was removed and five broccoli seedlings per replication were planted 6 weeks later. The combination of rice bran mixture with the clear/ transparent polyethylene film mulch (RBMx ? CM) raised both the mean and maximum soil temperatures over 0-30 cm of soil depth. Maximum soil temperature under the RBMx ? CM treatment was the highest of all treatments (77°C) and were about 32°C greater than under the control, while it was only 52°C under RBM ? BM treatment. Combining rice bran with clear/transparent polyethylene film mulch during the soil solarization process is recommended for raising soil temperatures. Further investigation over a longer period of soil solarization process with rice bran-organic amendment and polyethylene film mulch combinations is required to more accurately determine their effects on soil properties and crop production.

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“…Here, spruce seedlings exhibited more growth in black plastic than under other treatments (Figure 2). This may indicate that the chief benefit of the black plastic is to decrease competition, although the plastic cover also increases soil temperature and moisture (Tarara, 2000;Green et al, 2003). Black plastic was least effective at FA.…”

Section: Facilitation By Black Plastic Mulchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastic mulch inhibits competition from herbaceous cover, increases soil temperature and moisture, and ameliorates the problem of frost heaving (Flint & Childs, 1987;Tarara, 2000;Green et al, 2003). In field trials in Iceland, plastic mulch has benefited seedling establishment of willow (Salix) species (Sigurgeirsson, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facilitation of afforestation byLupinus nootkatensisand by black plastic mulch in south-west Iceland

Riege

Sigurgeirsson

2009

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

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Afforestation has proven difficult in south-west Iceland in a region of degraded soils and high winds. Experiments at Keflavik International Airport began in 2002 to examine whether Nootka lupine (lupin; Lupinus nootkatensis) or black plastic mulch facilitates establishment of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana) or downy birch (Betula pubescens) by ameliorating microsite conditions. By 2008, both lupine and black plastic mulch facilitated growth of all species at most plots. However, survival of spruce and birch seedlings decreased where dense lupine was accompanied by dense grass (but not in dense lupine alone). This indirect mechanism (nurse plant stimulation of competitor species) differs from prior models of shifts in balance from facilitation to competition under the stress-gradient hypothesis. Hooker willow performed best in both lupine and plastic mulch. However, in areas without dense grass, Sitka spruce continued successful growth and has potential for longer term afforestation. Planting seedlings into shallow excavations in lupine improved growth of willow and birch but not spruce. For afforestation in south-west Iceland, it is recommended that a mix of tree seedlings be transplanted directly into young lupine stands with sparse grass cover, with shelterbelts of seedlings planted into black plastic mulch along the stand edges.

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Microclimate Modification with Plastic Mulch

Cited by 258 publications

References 96 publications

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature, growth, nutrient status, and yield

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature, growth, nutrient status, and yield

Soil properties affected by combinations of soil solarization and organic amendment

Facilitation of afforestation byLupinus nootkatensisand by black plastic mulch in south-west Iceland

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