25/02/2018 The Benefits of Using Plastic Mulch in Commercial Vegetable Production | North American Farmer

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Using Plastic Mulch In CommercialVegetable Production

by Jace Serrano

Mulching is the act of spreading aprotective layer of material on top of soilin crop production. The activity o�ersnumerous bene�ts, including theconservation of soil moisture, the limitingof soil erosion, and the maintenance ofan even soil temperature.

There are a wide variety of materials thatmay be used — they include organicoptions such as bark chips, grassclippings, and straw, and inorganic options such as brick chips and stones (NaturalResources Conservation Service).

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However, in the world of commercialvegetable production, no alternative is ashigh-pro�le as plastic mulch.

The story of plastic mulch begins in the1950s. During that period, Dr. EmeryEmmert of the University of Kentuckyexperimented with using polyethylene �lmas a cover for greenhouses instead of glass.Emmert then extended this application tovegetable production, �nding that the �lm

helped warm the soil. His work lead directly to the usage of plastic as mulch material incommercial plant production in the 1960s (Plastic Mulch Films). Since then, its adoptionhas become widespread — in fact, approximately 2,500 square miles of agricultural landworldwide makes use of polyethylene mulch for crop production (TechAgro).

Plastic mulch is popular because it provides a number of advantages over other varieties.These include the following (Schonbeck; Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation):

Earlier Crop Growth — Plastic mulch has a “greenhouse” e�ect on soil, e�ectively

trapping heat to raise its temperature. This enables growers to begin planting

sooner in growing season than they could with organic varieties, and also results in

more rapid crop development and earlier yields. Many consider this the biggest

value of using plastic.

Of note, there is a circumstance in which a higher temperature may not be desired.

If plants are being produced during the summer, they do not require more heat. In

this situation, it is ideal to use a white plastic mulch, as the color re�ects heat

instead of absorbing it.

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Stronger Weed Control — Sunlight helps foster the growth of weeds by compacting

soil; plastic mulch blocks sunlight from reaching the soil around the plant, thus

preventing weeds from appearing. Black polyethylene and other opaque �lms in

particular are useful for this purpose, blocking a wider range of weeds than organic

mulches. The only exception is clear plastic, which lets sunlight in. The presence of

fewer weeds also reduces the necessity for mechanical cultivation, leading to less

root damage.

Better Moisture Retention — Plastic mulch helps limit evaporation of water from

soil, leading to better moisture retention. Because of this, less water is required for

irrigation. It also facilitates more even distribution of water through the soil.

Minimized Fertilizer Leaching — Plastic mulches prevent an excess of water from

going into the soil, helping to limit the loss of plant nutrients through leaching.

Because the mulch is restrictive in this sense, it is most ideal to use it in conjunction

with the drip irrigation method, which allows the addition of water and fertilizer in

small amounts.

Higher Crop Quality — Plastic mulch helps crops avoid direct contact with soil; this

results in the plants being cleaner, which is desirable for fruits such as

strawberries. It also works to prevent rot as mud from irrigation is not splashed on

the crops.

As the list above shows, using plastic mulch for commercial crop production yields anumber of positive outcomes. Growers encouraged to adopt the practice based on thesebene�ts should be aware of certain guidelines that will ensure the success of the activityin its four key areas: preparation, application, transplantion, and removal.

In preparing a surface for mulch, there are some conditions that need to be met. Plantbeds should be loose and free of clods, stones, and organic residue. The presence ofthese materials can result in insu�cient contact between the soil and the mulch, reducing

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its e�ectiveness. Soil should be su�ciently moist to ensure �rm beds. The NaturalResources Conservation Service recommends an available water capacity (AWC) of 60 —80 percent; its websites o�ers guidelines on how to make �eld estimates (NRCS inAlabama).

Once the �eld is prepared, the surface is ready for mulch application. In the commercialworld, the simplest way to accomplish this process is through the use of a mechanicalmulch layer. (Plastic Mulch Films). The device rolls over the �eld, laying down a sheet ofplastic mulch over the plant beds. The sheet can be �at (meaning it is level with the soilsurface) or raised (meaning that it is thicker so that the top of the sheet is higher o� thesoil). The machine also facilitates drip irrigation by placing drip tubing under the plasticduring the laying process. Drip irrigation is bene�cial for plastic mulching because itdelivers water and fertilizer to the soil in small amounts, preventing an excess of theformer and leaching of the latter. Placement of the tubing is important and varies by soiltype. In heavier soils, movement of water tends to be lateral, so it is �ne to place thetubing 1-2 inches below the surface. However, in lighter sandy soils, downward movementof water is more likely, so tubing should not be placed more than 1 inch below the soilsurface, to ensure that it receives enough moisture (NRCS in Alabama).

After the mulch has been applied, next comes transplanting, or planting. Commercially,this process also utilizes special equipment — a waterwheel-type transplanter. Themachine has a rotating drum with spikes that, when rolled over the plastic mulch,puncture its surface, creating holes. The drum simultaneously �lls the holes with waterand fertilizer. The individuals operating the transplanter then place a plant in the hole.The transplanter can puncture the mulch at speci�ed intervals to ensure the preferredamount of spacing for the crops (Coolong). After the plants have grown and the harvest has been completed, the plastic mulchshould be removed. There are number of equipment types available for this purpose;however, at their most basic, they cut the plastic down the middle and pull it up from each

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side. Following this activity, the plastic should be disposed of in accordance with local laws(Plastic Mulch Films).

An alternative to plastic mulch aimed at eliminating the need for removal and disposal isbiodegradable plastic. This variety theoretically works by breaking down over timethrough exposure to the environment, so that no mulch remains. The ultimate goal is tosave growers the time and expense posed by having to remove and discard plastic mulchat the end of a season; these tasks can represent a particularly signi�cant cost formedium and large operations. Biodegradable plastic mulch has been in development fordecades. Initial versions of the material were photodegradable, meaning that theydecomposed when placed under light. These were spurned by growers because they leftpieces of undecomposed mulch in the �eld. In the past few years scientists haveintroduced another option, black plastic �lms made of plant starch; these �lms are torndown by soil microbes into water and carbon dioxide. They compare favorably totraditional black plastic in terms of soil warming and weed control, and appear toexperience thorough decomposition. Even though they can be priced as much as two tothree times the cost of black plastic, these expenses would be o�set by the avoidance ofdisposal costs. Unfortunately, the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) is yet to approvethis option because it features synthetic components whose residues may stay in the soilonce the mulch has broken down. The most prominent biodegradable mulches beingstudied currently are BioTelo by Dubois Agrinovations and Eco-One by Heartnut Groves(Schonbeck; Plastic Mulch Films).

Another oft-discussed alternative to plastic mulch is paper mulch. This variety has beenstudied for use in commercial crop production for decades, and was once highly used;however, it was largely abandoned once the advantages of plastic mulch were discovered.Recent years have seen renewed interest in the material due to three qualities: it isbiodegradable, it is manufactured from a source that is renewable, and it does not requiredisposal following harvest. Further, the aforementioned NOP has approved severalversions of the product. However, paper mulch also presents many disadvantages. For

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one, it is pricier than plastic mulch. These expenses include higher transportation costs, asit is heavier. Paper mulches can also degrade too quickly for them to be e�ective.Moreover, some studies have shown that the mulches do not warm soil su�ciently,leading to smaller crop yields. Despite these realities, some researchers believe thatcombining paper with biodegradeable plastic could address some of these issues(Schonbeck; Coolong).

In summary, plastic mulch o�ers a wide number of signi�cant advantages over organicmulches and many of its inorganic counterparts in commercial vegetable production.These bene�ts touch all parts of the mulching process, from soil protection totemperature control to plant quality preservation. In pursuing this activity, it is in the bestinterests of growers to follow the guidelines previously outlined. Doing so will help toensure that the process runs as smoothly and e�ciently as it can, and that one’s crops arein the best possible shape they can be.

Bibliography

Coolong, Timothy. “Performance of Paper Mulches Using a Mechanical Plastic Layer andWater Wheel Transplanter for the Production of Summer Squash.” Hort Technology 20.2(2010): 319-324. Website. 13 July 2015.<http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/20/2/319.full>.

Samuel Roberts Nobel Foundation. “Permanent Raised Bed Gardening: Plastic MulchApplication.” n.d. Website. 13 July 2015.

Natural Resources Conservation Service. Mulching. n.d. Website. 13 July 2015.<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/az/home/?cid=nrcs143_023585 >.

NRCS in Alabama. “Plastic Mulch and Drip Irrigation.” n.d. 13 July 2015.

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Permaculture And Its Future Choosing The Right Greenhouse For You

< Plastic Mulch Films. n.d. Website. 13 July 2015. <http://nevegetable.org/cultural-practices/plastic-mulch-�lms>.

Schonbeck, Mark. “Synthetic Mulching Materials for Weed Management.” OrganicAgriculture (2012). Website. 13 July 2015.<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/az/home/?cid=nrcs143_023585 >.

TechAgro. Plastic Mulch. 12 July 2009. Website. 14 July 2015.<http://techagro.blogspot.com/2009/07/�rst.html>.

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