Polyethylene mulch is widely used for intensive vegetable production worldwide as a tool to control weeds, conserve water, and produce earlier and cleaner products (i.e., less attached soil). Mulched land area has increased during the past two
Heins, 2002 ). One of the limitations of photoselective (P) polyethylene (PE) films is that they reduce photosynthetic photon flux density ( PPFD ) affecting the photosynthetic rate of the plants ( Wilson and Rajapakse, 2001 ). Furthermore, light
2.5 cm by 2.0 cm impermeable polyethylene plastic zip-lock bag (S-15165; Uline, Pleasant Prairie, WI), weighed using an electronic analytic balance (AJ100; Mettler Toledo, Columbus, OH), and the dry weight was recorded before the harvest. For each
. Farmers commonly use black plastic mulch to increase the yield and quality of vegetable crops ( DoVale and Medeiros, 2012 ). Black polyethylene mulch is known to increase soil temperatures ( Tarara, 2000 ) and decrease weed competition ( Lamont, 1993
Abbreviation: PE, polyethylene. 1 Professor. 2 Associate Professor. 3 Former Graduate Assistant Current address: Univ. of Vermont Extension Service, Box 2430, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Cornell Univ. Dept. of Fruit and Vegetable Science paper no. 21
northeastern United States to reduce tillage by decreasing weed pressure and maintaining prepared beds before planting. Tarps are reusable sheets of 0.15-mm (5–6 mil) opaque polyethylene impermeable to water and sized to cover multiple crop rows at one time
leaves removed ( Decoteau, 1990 ). Various cultural practices and environmental factors have profound effects on crop development resulting in modified overall canopy structure and appearance. In commercial tomato production, polyethylene (plastic
recommendations can be made. A University of Georgia Extension publication ( Coolong, 2020 ) states that much of the acreage of hemp grown for floral material is being produced using polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation with early spring plantings on black
Polyethylene mulch is traditionally used in the production of some fruits and vegetables to maintain soil moisture and increase soil temperature, control weeds, improve crop quality, and increase yield ( Emmert, 1957 ). In the United States, 1
, has been widely used under polyethylene mulch for effective weed control in vegetable production, including bell pepper ( Duniway, 2002 ). However, because of its ozone-depleting potential, methyl bromide is being phased out from the U.S. agricultural