MULCHING STRAWBERRIES WITH CHOPPED NEWSPAPER - A PRELIMINARY TRIAL

A preliminary trial was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using chopped newspaper for winter mulch over strawberries. Crown temperatures recorded throughout the winter suggested that the insulating value of the newspaper was comparable to that of straw mulch with both decreasing if they were not kept dry. Yields however, were lower when paper was used compared to straw and also lower when both paper and straw mulch were covered with clear polyethylene plastic. Preventing chopped paper mulch from blowing was a major problem.