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Subject: Market Farming
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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
|
-
Plasticulture, was Re: soil improvement,
Marie Kamphefner, 01/28/2001
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: Plasticulture, was Re: soil improvement, Bill Shoemaker, 01/29/2001
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