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market-farming - Re: Plasticulture, was Re: soil improvement

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Plasticulture, was Re: soil improvement
  • Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 08:40:49 -0600

Plastic mulch can be very effective for weed control and moisture conservation. But it's most important attribute is to promote plant growth. It does this through the greenhouse effect. Light hitting it is converted to heat. The heat rises, bathing the plant. Heat is fundamental to plant growth so additional heat hastens growth. As you can imagine, crops that love heat respond best. That would include summer vegetables like melons. peppers, tomatoes, summer squash, etc. And it works best on early plantings.
 
The problem with plastic mulch is disposal. Though there are photodegrable versions, these have mixed reviews, with many growers complaing about incomplete degradation. It's best to remove the plastic at the end of each season. But that's a little difficult with a perennial crop like strawberries. Usually, when plastic mulch is used with strawberries it is used only with day-neutral varieties, which are largely replaced annually.
 
Plastic mulch is just a tool that has to be managed within it's limitations. If it isn't, growers run into problems. As to disposal, some growers burn it where legal (and sometimes otherwise). It can be recycled but because it's dirty, some recycle centers refuse to take it.
 
Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Marie Kamphefner <kampy AT grm.net>
To: market farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Date: Sunday, January 28, 2001 9:31 PM
Subject: Plasticulture, was Re: soil improvement

Hi Jacqueline,

We were just talking about maybe using some plastic in the strawberry patch and maybe in some of the vegetables to keep down weeds.  I take it that you don't recommend it?  Is it just easier to use mulch and a hoe?  Or what?

Thanks.

Marie in Missouri


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