Performance of Paper Mulches Using a Mechanical Plastic Layer and Water Wheel Transplanter for the Production of Summer Squash

Abstract

<jats:p>Polyethylene mulches are widely used in vegetable production. Advantages include improving yields, controlling weeds, and enhancing quality. However, the removal and disposal of plastic mulch used for vegetable production represents a significant financial cost for farmers and can be detrimental to the environment. A study was conducted in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash (<jats:italic>Cucurbita pepo</jats:italic> ssp. <jats:italic>ovifera</jats:italic>) ‘Conqueror III’. Four paper mulches, 50-lb kraft paper, 50-lb polyethylene-coated kraft paper, 40-lb white butcher paper, and 30-lb waxed paper were compared with 1-mil black polyethylene mulch, bare-ground hand-weeded, and bare-ground nonweeded treatments. Mulches were placed using a traditional plastic mulch layer and seedlings were transplanted using a water wheel transplanter. Crop yield and quality, weed biomass, soil temperatures under the mulch (Spring 2008 only), and mulch degradation were evaluated. Most paper mulches were able to be placed with a mulch layer, but were not well suited for use with a water wheel transplanter. In Fall 2007, butcher paper and polyethylene-coated kraft paper controlled weeds as well as black plastic mulch. However, in Spring 2008, black plastic mulch provided superior weed control compared with other mulches. Yields among waxed, butcher, and polyethylene-coated kraft papers were similar to black plastic mulch in 2007, though yields in paper mulch plots were significantly less than plastic mulch in Spring 2008. The results of this study suggest that although paper mulches can be effective, cropping conditions and the environment will influence effectiveness.</jats:p>

Impact of Tillage and Irrigation Management on Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Grown in Organic and Conventional Production Systems

“…However, plastic mulch-grown plants still had significantly greater yields than strip-tillage-treated plants ( Table 2). Black plastic mulch has been shown to increase yields of early-spring planted warm-season crops such as summer squash (C. pepo) compared with bare-ground production (Coolong, 2010). This is generally attributed to the soil-warming capabilities of black plastic mulch (Lamont, 1993).…”

Synthetic Mulches in Organic Hardneck Garlic (Allium sativum subsp. ophioscorodon) Production

“…Organic matter and soil tend to collect on the material, which makes recycling the plastic almost impossible (Steinmetz et al 2016). Most plastic mulches are disposed of in landfills, burned, illegally dumped, or incorporated into the field soil due to the cost or inaccessibility of recycling (Lamont 2005;Coolong 2010). Plastic mulches can be used in certified organic systems, but they are often controversial.…”

“…These mulches were once popular before the development of polyethylene mulches that provided different benefits to crops. Although paper has its limitations, recent results have shown paper to be a viable alternative to traditional black plastic mulches; for example, paper mulch provides some weed suppression, decreases soil temperatures, retains moisture, and allows water to infiltrate from the mulch surface during sprinkler irrigation or rainfall (Schonbeck and Evanylo 1998;Coolong 2010;Saglam et al 2017). These benefits are more pronounced in cool-season crops such as garlic.…”

“…New paper mulches use varying paper thicknesses and plant-based treatments to increase strength, reduce the rate of decomposition, and increase available nutrition with fortified nutrients. Other considerations that limit paper mulching include the immobilization of nitrogen as the mulch decomposes, increased labour to apply and repair, higher cost of material and transportation than plastic mulches, and unreliable soil temperature modification (Coolong 2010).…”

The effect of novel biodegradable films on agronomic performance of zucchini squash grown under open-field and greenhouse conditions

“…Furthermore, mulching can significantly reduce the demand for irrigation and improve water use efficiency (Kirnak and Demirtas 2006), and may also help to control harmful insects or pests (Necibi et al 1992). Black mulching films also allow to suppress weeds (Anzalone et al 2010;Coolong 2010) and pathogens (Li et al, 2014;Liu et al, 2010), while a large part of pre-harvest costs are due to weed control (Jenni et al 2004). Therefore, mulching allows to reduce production costs.…”