scholarly journals Assessing Biodegradable Mulch Duration and Nutsedge Suppression during Late Summer Cucumber Production in Mississippi and Louisiana

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Kathryn Fontenot ◽  
Heather Kirk-Ballard ◽  
Christine Elizabeth Harris Coker ◽  
Ronald Strahan ◽  
Isabel Bacas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Heavy Weight ◽  
Industry Standard ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Black Plastic

Environmental concerns as well as labor costs associated with the use of polyethylene plastic mulch have turned producers’ focus to alternative mulch treatments. A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate nutsedge control, mulch degradation, and cucumber yields on biodegradable mulches at two locations (Louisiana and Mississippi). Mulch treatments included two paper-based mulch products, two biodegradable plastic mulches, the industry standard non-biodegradable black plastic mulch, and an unmulched control. The heavy weight paper-based mulch and light weight paper mulches in the Louisiana location were reduced to 50% or less coverage at the end of the study. Similarly, the paper-based mulches both degraded below 40% at the conclusion of the study at the Mississippi location. The heavy weight paper mulch was able to hold back nutsedge (p ≤ 0.05) at similar rates as the two biodegradable plastic mulches and industry standard plastic mulch, while the light weight paper mulch and unmulched plots were ineffective at reducing emerged sedges. There were no statistical differences in nutsedge control (averaging < 14 emerged plants per 1.5 m subplots) between all mulch materials at the conclusion of the study in the Mississippi location. Combining both states yield data, the heavyweight mulch (8.7 fruit, 5.3 lb) performed comparably to the industry standard plastic mulch (5.8 fruit, 3.5 lb) in terms of both average fruit number and average weights harvested off 9.1 m rows at each harvest date.

Management of Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Using Reflective Plastic Mulch

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 2840-2849
Author(s):  
Louis B Nottingham ◽  
Elizabeth H Beers
Keyword(s):  
Field Tests ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Reflected Light ◽  
Pear Psylla ◽  
Pear Trees ◽  
Black Plastic

Abstract Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster), has remained the most challenging pest of commercial pears in Washington and Oregon, the top producers of pears in the United States. The lack of effective integrated pest management tactics for this pest has been a major barrier to effective management. In this study, we examined the potential for reflective plastic mulch affixed beneath pear trees to suppress pear psylla. In 2017 and 2018, single pear tree (cv. Bartlett) plots of reflective plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, and no mulch (check) were established in a research orchard to compare their effects on pear psylla. Arthropods were sampled every 7–14 d from March through late summer. In both years, reflective mulch plots had significantly fewer pear psylla adults, eggs, and nymphs of the first generation compared with black plastic and check plots. However, later generations of psylla were not suppressed by reflective mulch. Semi-field tests were conducted in 2019 and 2020 using uniformly pruned potted pear trees on either reflective plastic mulch or grass to determine whether summerform adults were tolerant to reflected light from mulch, or if shading from vegetative growth negated the effect of the mulch. In both years, significantly fewer summerform adults and eggs were found in reflective mulch plots, suggesting that shading, rather than summerform tolerance, reduced effects from reflective mulch in the summer. This study demonstrates the potential for reflective mulch to suppress pear psylla and justifies future examination as part of a season-long management program.

Yield and Quality Evaluation of Zucchini and Yellow Squash Varieties

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 470b-470
Author(s):  
M.L. Infante ◽  
S.A. Garrison ◽  
S.A. Mangano ◽  
P.R. Probasco
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Green Light ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Significant Yield ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Dark Green ◽  
Extension Center

In Summer 1997, zucchini (ZC) and yellow squash (YS) varieties were evaluated for yield and aesthetic qualities at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, N.J. Only green ZC varieties and straightneck YS varieties were tested These types are commercially acceptable to fresh markets in New Jersey. Trials included 15 ZC and 11 YS varieties from seven participating seed companies. Experimental design included two sites arranged in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Site 1 included the ZC varieties and Site 2 included YS varieties. Squash plants were grown on raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation. Squash was hand seeded on 30 May and harvests began on 7 July. Pesticides and fertilizers were applied according to the 1997 Rutgers Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Gluide. Plots were harvested, graded, weighed, and yield data recorded three times weekly; 12 harvests (over 4 weeks) for ZC and 15 harvests (over 15 weeks) for YS. Of the 15 ZC varieties, five expressed exceptional quality and highest yields: `Spineless Beauty', `Zucchini Elite', `Select', `XPHT-1776', `XPHT-1777'. Statistics showed that yields for these five varieties and two other ZC varieties were significantly higher than other ZC varieties trialed. There were no statistically significant yield differences among the 11 YS varieties evaluated. Fruit color from ZC and YS was subjectively rated to classify fruit into three categories: Dark Green, Medium Green, Light Green for ZC and Golden, Pale Yellow, and Yellow-Green for YS.

scholarly journals The effects of soil temperature from soil mulching and harvest age on phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant contents of Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus B.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Komariah ◽  
Diora Diah Ayu Pitaloka ◽  
Irmanida Batubara ◽  
Waras Nurcholis ◽  
Apong Sandrawati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Secondary Metabolite ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Total Phenol ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Transparent Plastic ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Main Factor

Abstract Background The environmental conditions resulted by the agronomic management practices may govern the secondary metabolite contents of medicinal plants, including Java tea (Orthosiphon aristatus B). Abiotic factors such as temperatures have been known to determine the secondary metabolite contents of Java tea. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of soil temperature resulting from soil mulching and harvest age on total phenol, flavonoid and antioxidant contents of Java tea. Methods The research was arranged using nested (hierarchy design) with completely randomized design under a screen house at Karanganyar, Indonesia, from July to December 2019. The main factor was soil mulching (control; black plastic mulch, transparent plastic mulch, biodegradable mulch and rice straw mulch) with three replicates. The main factor was nested in the temporal hierarchy factor, namely harvest age which consisted of two levels, i.e., 80 and 100 days. The observation parameters were soil temperature of 10 min (maximum; mean; minimum and soil temperature-based Growing Degree Days, GDD) with sensors and logger; plant growth (plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight); and secondary metabolites including phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant. Results The results confirmed the order of the highest to the lowest mean soil temperature was resulted under the transparent plastic mulch > straw > black plastic mulch > control > biodegradable plastic mulch (26.69 > 26.29 > 26.10 > 26.07 > 25.68 °C, respectively). Overall, the harvest age 100 days resulted in higher plant growth, indicated by the higher fresh and dry weight of biomass, higher phenol and antioxidant contents than 80 days. Soil mulching, especially with plastic and biodegradable plastic mulches with long harvest age (100 days) effected into lower fresh and dry weight of plants. On the other hand, soil mulching indirectly resulted in lower phenol but higher flavonoid contents through higher soil temperature, while antioxidant contents were higher under the big soil temperature-based Growing Degree Day (GDD). The total phenol, flavonoids and antioxidant produced ranging from 193.75 to 412.50 mg GAE/ 100 g DW; 81.13 to 141.47 mg QE/ 100 g DW; and 1875.5–2144.4 µmol TE/g DW. Conclusion Higher maximum soil temperature resulted in lower phenol content, while higher minimum soil temperature and shorter harvest age increased total flavonoid. Longer harvest age produced more total phenol and antioxidant due to bigger soil temperature-based Growing Degree Day (GDD). Graphical Abstract

scholarly journals Metalized-striped Plastic Mulch Reduces Root-zone Temperatures during Establishment and Increases Early-season Yields of Annual Winter Strawberry

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen S. Deschamps ◽  
Shinsuke Agehara
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Canopy Area ◽  
Black Plastic

Black plastic mulch is used predominantly for winter strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) production in Florida because of its warming effects. However, black plastic mulch can increase heat stress during establishment, especially when growers advance planting dates (e.g., late September) to improve earliness. Consequently, we designed a new plastic mulch film that has a metalized center stripe with black shoulders. We hypothesized that metalized-striped mulch can minimize heat stress during establishment, while maintaining the warming effects of black mulch during winter. We conducted field trials over two seasons to evaluate black mulch, fully metalized mulch, and metalized-striped mulch using two cultivars differing in heat stress tolerance and fruit production patterns: ‘Florida Radiance’ and ‘Florida Beauty’. The effect of plastic mulch type on plant growth and yield was generally consistent across both seasons. Compared with black mulch, metalized-striped mulch reduced afternoon root-zone temperature (RZT) by up to 3.1 °C and reduced the duration of heat stress conditions (RZT > 30 °C) by 119 hours across October and November, but exhibited equivalent soil warming during winter. Yield increases by metalized-striped mulch compared with black mulch ranged from 19% to 34% in the early season (November–January), 6% to 20% in the late season (February–March), and 12% to 26% over the entire season. Statistical significance was detected for the 2016–17 early-season yield and when yield data were expressed on a weekly basis. Compared with black mulch, metalized-striped mulch improved fruit number significantly without affecting fruit weight or canopy area, suggesting that heat stress on black mulch negatively affects flower and fruit development more than plant growth. Weekly fruit yield data indicate that metalized-striped mulch can produce greater yields than fully metalized mulch. Metalized-striped mulch is an easily implementable strategy for reducing establishment heat stress and improving fruit earliness in subtropical winter strawberry production regions.

scholarly journals Crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under variable moisture regimes and mulching

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-170
Author(s):  
G. V. PRAJAPATI ◽  
R. SUBBAIAH
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Bt Cotton ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Straw Mulch ◽  
Irrigation Regimes ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Crop Coefficients ◽  
Wheat Straw Mulch

An experiment was undertaken for two years (2013-14 and 2014-15) on sandy loam soils of Junagadh (21°30’ N, 70°27’ E) to determine crop coefficients of Bt. cotton under three mulch treatments (M1- silver black plastic mulch, M2- biodegradable plastic mulch, M3- wheat straw mulch and C - control) with two irrigation regimes (I1- 1.0 IW/ETc, I2-0.8 IW/ETc). Actual evapotranspiration was estimated using soil moisture sensors. Results revealed that adjusted FAO Kc predicts higher value than sensor based Kc values at both irrigation regimes. Silver black plastic mulch recorded lower crop coefficient values at all growth stage of Bt. cotton compared to biodegradable plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and control. Sensor based Kc ini and Kc-devvalues of silver black plastic mulch observed 72.2, 29.0 and 66.9 and 14.8 per cent lower than control at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. Overestimated adjusted FAO Kc values caused a loss of 78.1mm and 66.5mm of precious water at 1.0 IW/ETc and 0.8 IW/ETc respectively. This study admonishes blind adoption of published FAO Kc curves for mulch conditions. 

scholarly journals Water levels and soil mulches in relation to strawberry diseases an yield in a greenhouse

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 575-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Célia de Matos Pires ◽  
Marcos Vinícius Folegatti ◽  
Maria Aparecida de Souza Tanaka ◽  
Francisco Antonio Passos ◽  
Gláucia Maria Bovi Ambrosano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Irrigation Level ◽  
Black Plastic

The occurrence of diseases and its influence on strawberry yield in a greenhouse as well as its association with water management are still not well known. So, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different water levels and soil mulches on strawberry plant health and yield in a greenhouse. The experiment was carried out at Atibaia, State of São Paulo, Brazil, from April to December 1995. The experimental design was a 2 × 3 factorial, in randomized blocks, with five replications, and consisted of two soil mulches and three water levels. The soil mulches consisted of clear or black plastic. Trickle irrigation was applied whenever the soil water potential reached -10, -35 and -70 kPa at a depth of ten centimeters. Cultivar Campinas IAC 2712 was used. Plants grown at a soil water potential of -10 and -35 kPa, with clear plastic mulch provided the best yields. A linear function fitted well considering total yield data and irrigation depths. The equation was y = -233.54 + 1.56x (R² = 0.78). The irrigation level of -70 kPa and the use of black plastic favored a greater incidence of soil-borne diseases late in the harvest season.

scholarly journals 209 Initiating a Statewide Evaluation System for Watermelons

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 478B-478
Author(s):  
L. Brandenberger ◽  
M. Baker ◽  
D. Bender ◽  
F. Dainello ◽  
R. Earhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Rio Grande Valley ◽  
The State ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Lower Rio Grande Valley ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
Future Plans

During the past several years, watermelon trials have been performed in the state, but not as a coordinated effort. Extensive planning in 1997 led to the establishment of a statewide watermelon trial during the 1998 growing season. The trial was performed in five major production areas of the state including: The Winter Garden (Carrizo Springs); South Plains (Lubbock); East Texas (Overton); Cross Timbers (Stephenville); and the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Weslaco). Twenty seedless and 25 seeded hybrids were evaluated at each location. Drip irrigation with black plastic mulch on free-standing soil beds was used to grow entries in each area trial and yield data was recorded in a similar manner for each site. Results were reported in a statewide extension newsletter. Future plans include a continuation of the trial in the hope that multiple-year data will provide a basis for valid variety recommendations for watermelon producers in all areas of the state.

Effect of Irrigation Methods and Mulching on Growth and Seed Yield of Semialata

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
SK SRIVASTAVA ◽  
PAWAN JEET
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Water Requirement ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Daily Water ◽  
Black Plastic

A study was conducted to assess the effect of drip irrigation and plastic mulch on growth and seed yield of Semialata. Two types of plastic mulch (green and silver/black) were tested at three levels of irrigation (120%, 100% and 80%) by drip irrigation and one level (100%) by furrow irrigation. The daily water requirement of Semialata was estimated by the equation ETcrop= ETox crop factor. ETcrop is crop water requirement mm/day. ETo (reference evapotranspiration, mm/day) was calculated by FAO calculator which uses temperature and humidity data. In this experiments there were twelve treatments were considered. The treatments were replicated thrice. The experiment was laid in randomized block design. It was observed that drip irrigation with or without plastic mulch is yielding better results in terms of growth parameters and seed yield as compared to furrow irrigation without plastic mulch. It was also observed that maximum suppression (67.58%) of weeds resulted with drip irrigation and silver/black plastic mulch at 80% level of irrigation.

scholarly journals Barriers and bridges to the adoption of biodegradable plastic mulches for US specialty crop production

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica R. Goldberger ◽  
Robert Emmet Jones ◽  
Carol A. Miles ◽  
Russell W. Wallace ◽  
Debra A. Inglis
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Specialty Crop ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Polyethylene Mulch

AbstractCommercial farmers have been using polyethylene plastic mulch since the 1950s. Despite the affordability and effectiveness of polyethylene mulch, the disposal process is financially and environmentally costly. Biodegradable plastic mulches, an ecologically sustainable alternative to polyethylene mulch films, were introduced in the 1980s. Biodegradable plastic mulches can be tilled into the soil or composted at the end of the season, reducing the labor and environmental costs associated with plastic removal and disposal. However, research results are mixed as to the effectiveness, degradability and ease-of-use of biodegradable plastic mulches. In 2008–2012, researchers, funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant, conducted surveys and focus groups in three different agricultural regions of the USA to better understand the barriers and bridges to the adoption of biodegradable plastic mulches for specialty crop production systems. Data on the experiences and views of specialty crop growers, agricultural extension agents, agricultural input suppliers, mulch manufacturers and other stakeholders showed that the major adoption barriers were insufficient knowledge, high cost and unpredictable breakdown. The major bridges to adoption were reduced waste, environmental benefits and interest in further learning. These findings are discussed with reference to the classic innovation diffusion model, specifically work on the innovation–decision process and the attributes of innovations. The study results can be used to guide the activities of those involved in the design, development and promotion of biodegradable plastic mulches for US specialty crop production systems.

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