winter. In particular, lack of light in cultivating eggplant may result in poor fruit quality ( Sezgin, 2007 ). Therefore, different reflective film mulches are usually used to enhance lighting. Black, white, and reflective film mulches in vegetable crops
( Layne et al., 2002 ). Glenn and Puterka (2007) reported that the use of reflective, aluminized plastic film increased fruit red color and that the use of reflective, particle films increased average fruit weight. These mulches reflect solar radiation
(Pritts, personal communication). Interestingly, all published low tunnel studies with strawberry have used white (or white-on-black) plastic as the ground mulch ( Anderson et al., 2019 ; Lewers et al., 2017 , 2020 ; Petran et al., 2016 ; Willden et
High-value vegetable crops such as bell pepper are typically grown in the United States using plastic mulch with drip irrigation ( Locascio, 2005 ). Plastic mulch can enhance productivity by warming soils, reducing in-row weed competition, and
management is more time-consuming and expensive with plant-based mulches than with plastic groundcovers such as weed mat, especially in certified organic production systems, where herbicides have limited efficacy ( Julian et al., 2012 ; Strik and Vance, 2017
-film treatment (control), and two reflecting film treatments. The first treatment was Extenday™ reflective plastic mulch (Extenday™ New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand), 300-cm-wide strips secured to trees with staples and elastic bands (Extenday™ treatment). The
Board general list. One of the primary issues faced by organic sweetpotato production is suppressing weeds without the use of synthetic herbicides. Sweetpotato grown under plastic mulch with drip irrigation resulted in improved weed suppression, and this
that white plastic covers, which are more reflective than green, may be a better choice. Green covers were associated with higher canopy temperatures in two seasons and higher relative humidity in one season, but otherwise performed similarly. Biofabric
than any other mulch, resulting in what appeared to be lethal leaf temperatures in the canopy of the plants ( Decoteau et al., 1989 ; Ibarra-Jiménez et al., 2012 ; Tarara, 2000 ). Johnson and Fennimore (2005) evaluated seven colored plastic mulches
( Neilsen et al., 2003 ; Williamson et al., 2006 ). Magee and Spiers (1995) found that white-on-black polyethylene-based mulches produced greater plant growth and yield than black plastic or black woven fabric mulches in southern highbush cultivars as a