The effect of plastic mulch and row covers on the growth and physiology of cucumber

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ibarra-Jiménez ◽  
M. R. Quezada-Martín ◽  
M. de la Rosa-Ibarra

To determine the effectiveness of black plastic mulch alone and in combination with row covers, on growth and physiological changes of cucumber plants, 6 treatments were established in a randomised complete block design with 4 replications: bare soil (control); black polyethylene mulch alone (B); B plus a clear cover of perforated polyethylene (BRCP); B plus a white cover of perforated polyethylene (BRWP); B plus an Agribon cover of polypropylene (BRA); and B plus a Kimberly farm row cover (BRK). For the plants grown with mulch or mulch combined with row covers, the dry weight of leaves 50 days after seeding (DAS), and the dry weight of whole plants (at 50 and 110 DAS) were significantly (P<0.05) different from the control. Early yields of treatments B, BRCP, BRWP, BRA and BRK were 2.1, 1.9, 2.6, 1.9 and 2.4 times higher than the control, which yielded 10 t/ha. Total yields were increased by 9.7, 15.4, 19.8, 14.9 and 20 t/ha, over the control which yielded 104 t/ha. Increases in plant dry weight explained the changes in yield. Stomatal conductance may explain in part, the increase in photosynthetic rate, but may not explain yield increase.

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ibarra-Jiménez ◽  
J. Munguía-López ◽  
A. J. Lozano-del Río ◽  
A. Zermeño-González

The effect of row covers on watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) grown on plastic mulch is well documented. However, row covers have not been adequately evaluated under Mexican growing conditions. Watermelon plants were grown on plastic mulch alone or with row covers to study their effect on photosynthesis, and early and total yields. Treatments were clear plastic mulch (C); black plastic mulch (B); B plus a Vispore cover of polypropylene (BV); B plus a white cover of perforated polyethylene (BW); B plus a clear cover of perforated polyethylene (BC); B plus an Agribon cover of polypropylene (BA); and bare soil as the control. For plants grown in treatment C, B or B combined with row covers, plant dry weight and number of leaves 40 days after seeding (DAS) were higher than the control (P<0.05), except BC which was comparable to the control. Total yields of treatments C, B, BV, BW and BA differed (P<0.05) from BC and the control. Total yields increased by 46.1, 43.2, 35.7, 41.6, 13.3, 15.4 and 35.8 t/ha for the C, B, BV, BW, BC and BA treatments, respectively, over the control, which yielded 27.1 t/ha. Total yield was highest for the C and the B treatment suggesting that there was no need for additional covers. The number of leaves per plant or dry weight per plant better explains the changes in yield than net photosynthesis rate. Stomatal conductance was explained in part by changes in photosynthesis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia M Echer ◽  
Graciela M Dalastra ◽  
Tiago L Hachmann ◽  
Elcio S Klosowski ◽  
Vandeir F Guimarães

An important aspect in the cultivation of vegetables is the quality of the product to be marketed, free from dirt and damage and the practice of mulching could be an option, but there is scarse information. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of mulching on the production traits of three cultivars of Pak Choi. The experiment was set up during March to May 2013 using a split plot randomized block design, with four replications. Soil cover treatments (white agrotextile, black agrotextile, black plastic, silver plastic, tifton straw and bare soil) were arranged in the plots, and three cultivars of Pak Choi (Green Pak Choi, White Pak Choi and Chingensai Natsu Shomi) in subplots. Height and diameter of shoots, number of leaves, fresh weight of the head and petiole, base diameter, dry weight of stem, petiole, and leaf were evaluated thirty-five days after transplantation. The total dry weight and leaf area were measured, and then we estimated the yield. There was a significant effect of soil cover and cultivar. In general, the cover with synthetic materials showed higher values on production of Pak Choi. The cultivar White Pak Choi was better adapted to the growing conditions, with an average yield of 57.78 t/ha.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1021-1033
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Loan ◽  
Tran Thi My Can

To study the effects of cover methods and nitrogen (N) levels on the growth and yield components of tomato Cv. Pear F1, field experiments with a 4x3 factorial design were conducted in the 2019 spring and winter seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cover methods included four treatments: bare soil (BS), black plastic mulch (BPM), transparent polypropylene row cover (RC), and a combination of BPM and RC (BPMRC) with the RC removed approximately 30 days after transplanting. Nitrogen (N) was applied at three levels (150, 180, and 210 kg N ha-1). Using BPM and RC generally led to an increased air temperature, air humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature compared to the BS treatment. Higher N rates (180 and 210 kg N ha-1) did not result  in different tomato fruit sizes and fruit weights but positively increased fruit yield and quality (Brix values and fruit dry weight) as compared to the 150 kg N ha-1 addition. The cover methods positively affected the yield components and fruit yield of tomato as well as the fruit characteristics compared to the BS treatment. Using cover materials (BPM and RC) combined with a higher N application significantly increased the yield attributes and fruit yield. The highest fruit yield was achieved under the mulching treatment by black plastic (BPM treatment) combined with a 210 kg N ha-1 application, resulting in 50.90 tons ha-1 in the spring and 58.27 tons ha-1 in the winter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-394
Author(s):  
Fabio Luiz Oliveira ◽  
Cristiano Henrique P Venturim ◽  
Diego Mathias N Silva ◽  
Mateus Augusto L Quaresma ◽  
Leandro P Dalvi

ABSTRACT In Brazil, studies on commercial exploitation of yacon are still scarce. A growing interest in this vegetable has demanded some researches on this crop cultivation management, though. Considering that yacon has a long cycle, which exposes the soil, studies on mulch management will be of great value. We used a randomized complete block design, with five replicates, under different soil mulches for yacon cultivation: two plastic film covers (black and double-sided), four mulches (corn husk, coffee husk in three levels), and the control (bare soil). Plastic mulch can be used for yacon cultivation, considering that the double sided plastic provides greater production of total roots; however, the same yield of the most valued roots was obtained using black plastic. The second highest total productivity and the highest commercial yield in the most valued root classes were obtained using 50 L m-² of coffee husk as mulch, representing a good alternative for farmers.


HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline A. Ricotta ◽  
John B. Masiunas

Black polyethylene mulch and weed control strategies were evaluated for potential use by small acreage herb producers. In both 1988 and 1989, the mulch greatly increased fresh and dry weight yields of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Nym.) yield did not respond to the mulch. Preplant application of napropamide provided weed control for 2 weeks, but was subsequently not effective on a heavy infestation of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.). Hand-hoed and glyphosate-treated plots (both with and without plastic) produced equivalent yields. Chemical names used: N, N -diethyl-2(1-napthalenoxy)-propanamide (napropamide); N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine (glyphosate).


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Gordon ◽  
Wheeler G. Foshee ◽  
Stewart T. Reed ◽  
James E. Brown ◽  
Edgar L. Vinson

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus ‘Clemson Spineless’) was grown on an Orangeburg sandy loam soil in Shorter, AL. Okra was direct-seeded in single rows. Treatments consisted of five mulch colors: black, white, red, silver, and blue installed either with or without spun-bonded row cover. Soil temperatures were 4 to 7 °C lower than air temperatures in all treatments. The use of darker (black, blue, red) -colored plastic mulches increased early and total yield of okra compared with bare soil with and without row cover. Increased soil and air temperatures did not always correlate to an increase in yield. It can be concluded that the use of dark plastic mulch is advantageous to growers of okra in climates that do not have cool springs, but the added use of row covers to plastic mulch has no effect on growth and yield. The profit of marketable okra produced using a row cover was $1.37 versus $1.35 per pound without a cover in 2003 and $1.28 versus $1.29 per pound in 2004. Blue plastic mulch is ≈$0.08 per foot more expensive than black plastic. Our data do not show an economic advantage for blue over black mulch for okra, but the positive effect cited by other authors may be more pronounced with leafy vegetables.


Author(s):  
Dedi Azwardi ◽  
Indra Dwipa ◽  
Malin Dipinto

Aims: The research aimed to study the interaction between chicken manure dose and mulch type to growth and yield of shallot in lowland. Study Design:  Factorial design in Randomized complete block design. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted in experimental garden of Faculty of Agriculture, Andalas University, West Sumatera, Indonesia from September-December 2019. Methodology: Factorial design with 3 factors in block randomized design was used in the research. The first factor chicken manure dose that consisted of three degrees (30 ton/ha, 40 ton/ha and 50 ton/ha). The second factor was type of mulch that consisted of two degrees (black plastic mulch and silver plastic mulch). The observed parameters were height of plant, number of leaves, number of bulb per clump and dry weight per hectare. The data was analyzed by using F test in 5% and followed by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test in 5%. Results: The result showed that the interaction between chicken manure and mulch type did not affect the growth and yield of shallot. Conclusion: Chicken manure and mulch type were not effective to use for increasing the growth and yield of shallot in same time.


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1055B-1055
Author(s):  
Koji Takeuchi ◽  
Carl E. Motsenbocker

Tomato is an important vegetable crop in Louisiana for small- to large-scale growers. Growers often use protected cultivation with structures, such as greenhouses, in order to take advantage of higher prices early in the season and increase profits through increased tomato yield and quality. A negative aspect of greenhouse use is the high investment and production costs associated with these structures. High tunnels, or simple greenhouse-like structures, have been used to protect crops from cold temperature in northern states, as they often provide benefits similar to greenhouses with considerably lower cost. Very little research has been conducted on the use of high tunnels for crops in the southern states. High tunnels in combination with row covers were evaluated for field cultivation of spring season fresh market tomato in Louisiana. The studies were set up in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Tomatoes were transplanted into single rows on four-row raised beds covered with black plastic mulch on 1.2-m centers on 13 Mar. 2004. Row covers were installed immediately after transplanting and removed on 3 May. Plants were harvested for 6 weeks starting 12 May 2004. Both high tunnels and row covers significantly increased minimum and maximum air temperatures at a 15-cm height compared to the black plastic mulch control. Early yield was highest with the tunnel treatment without row cover compared to tunnel with row cover and similar to row cover alone or the control. There were no differences in total marketable yield between treatments. Research results from 2 years will be presented.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 681e-681
Author(s):  
B.W. Roberts ◽  
Jeff Anderson

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was grown in 1989, 1990, and 1991. Cultural modifications were used in an effort to alleviate heat stress, improve fruit set, reduce sunscald, and improve yield quantity and quality. Treatments included bare soil, plastic mulch (both black and white), straw mulch, living rye (Secale cereale) mulch, and row covers (white and black) suspended above the foliage. Soil temperature at 2.5, 10, and 20 cm, soil moisture at 20 cm, and yield parameters were recorded. In general, plots containing white rowcovers produced good yields each year, straw mulched plots produced good yields two out of three years, plots with black plastic mulch gave poor yields two out of three years, and plots with living rye gave consistently poor yields. Yield inconsistency from year to year was correlated with, and can be explained by, soil temperatures. Sunscald was reduced by rowcovers.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 251c-251
Author(s):  
Fahrurrozi Aziz ◽  
Katrine A. Stewart

The types of plastic mulch used in horticultural production often fulfill only a few of the grower's needs. Black plastic mulch controls weeds, but can burn young plants. Clear mulch, while warming the soil and enhancing early crop growth, allows prolific weed growth and development. Accordingly, an experiment using a randomized complete-block design with-four replications was set up to compare the effects of black, microperforated black, silver, and wavelength-selective (IRT-76) green mulches, and bare soil on weed growth and development, and on soil temperature and moisture. Each mulch was evaluated for its optical properties. All mulches significantly reduced final stands of seeded weeds compared with bare soil. IRT-76 green had the warmest mean soil temperatures, followed by silver, black, and microperforated black mulches, and bare soil. Soil moisture content was generally higher under plastic mulches than bare soil.


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