Response of Melon Genotypes to Polyethylene and Biodegradable Starch-Based Mulching Films Used for Fruit Production in the Western Coast of Sicily

Vetrano, Filippo; Fascella, Salvatore; Iapichino, Giovanni; Incalcaterra, G.; Girgenti, P.; Sutera, P.; Buscemi, Giuseppe

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2009.807.12

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Soil moisture of B3 was similar to that under the PE revealing that suitable biodegradable film can satisfy the changing needs of soil conditions in different seasons and improve plant yield (Table 8). Similar results were obtained for other crops: melon (Vetrano et al 2009;Iapichino et al 2014), tomato (Miles et al 2012;Sekara et al 2019), maize (Yin et al 2019), and cotton (Wang et al 2019). All this comparative information is summarized in Tables 6, 7, and 8.…”

Section: Crop Productionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Current and emerging biodegradable mulch films based on polysaccharide bio-composites. A review

Menossi

Cisneros

Álvarez

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since the 1940s, the introduction of plastic technology caused a true revolution in agriculture. Among the uses of plastics, mulch films have been used to improve yields and crop traits. They are useful to increase air and soil temperatures, protect plants from several agents, improve water management, reduce the growth of weeds, and, consequently, to avoid high dependence on agrochemicals. The low-density polyethylene obtained from non-renewable resources has been mainly used for this purpose due to its mechanical and barrier properties, resistance to all forms of degradation, easy processing and low cost. Unfortunately, low-density polyethylene presents several economic and environmental drawbacks related to their low biodegradability, their removal after the crop cycle and their final disposal. Hence, there is a great interest in using biodegradable mulch films to provide greater agricultural sustainability. In this review, we interpret evidence about the potential of polysaccharide-based bio-composite mulch films as a possible replacement of traditional low-density polyethylene films as well as their commercial barriers and evolution of intellectual property rights. We identified that: (1) mulch films improve their mechanical properties through the formulation of multiphase materials, reaching international standards; (2) biodegradability of bio-composite mulch films can be adjusted according to crop season; (3) bio-composite mulch films provide high yields for different crops; and (4) they are promising for the management of pests and weeds. Due to these traits, biodegradable mulch films have reported a significant increase in the number of patent protections lately. However, to the present day the lack of knowledge about bio-composite mulch films and their high costs are the main commercial limitations to their adoption for crop production systems in the field. KeywordsAgriculture . Biodegradable mulch films . Polysaccharides . Composites . Intellectual property Abbreviations AL Alkaline kraft lignin BDM Biodegradable mulch film Bent Bentonine clay Bent-CS Chitosan-modified bentonine CRU Controlled-release urea ε Elongation at break (%) EU European Union EPS Exopolysaccharides IP Intellectual property * Matías Menossi

show abstract

Section: Crop Productionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Current and emerging biodegradable mulch films based on polysaccharide bio-composites. A review

Menossi

Cisneros

Álvarez

et al. 2021

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…L opez et al (2007) found that the use of biodegradable materials produced similar 'Nicolas F1' melon yields (compared with polyethylene), that the film materials had disappeared 5 to 6 months after being placed in the field, and that polyethylene remained in the ground. However, Helios and Tendral melon cultivars grown in polyethylene mulch had higher early and total marketable yields compared with those grown in biodegradable mulch (Vetrano et al, 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Degradable Mulch as an Alternative to Polyethylene for Watermelon Production

Othman

Leskovar

2022

hortte

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polyethylene mulch is widely used for vegetable production in the United States as a tool to conserve water, control weeds, and produce earlier and cleaner products (i.e., less attached soil). However, the increasing labor costs for mulch removal and disposal after harvest and soil environmental pollution are major concerns. The objective of this study was to assess fruit yield and quality, mulch deterioration, soil microbial activity, and nutrient changes in ‘Stargazer’ watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) grown with degradable plastic mulch. The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field. However, the extra difference in using degradable mulch was calculated as $58.6/acre (polyethylene $600.9/acre vs. degradable $659.5/acre), including all costs associated with laying and disposing. One year after placing mulch in the field, the nitrate content and total and active fungi numerically increased (P = 0.08) in soils with the degradable mulch compared with polyethylene mulch. However, there were no statistical differences in soil phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and total and active bacteria. Extra-large fruit size yield (category >24.0 lb) from the polyethylene mulch treatment was higher than that from degradable mulch, whereas the 18.0- to 24.0-lb category was lower than that with degradable mulch. However, total yield and total soluble solids from both mulches were statistically similar. Considering the complete deterioration (less waste), mulch removal cost (not required), microbial associations (higher fungi abundance and activity), and similar yield and fruit quality of degradable mulch compared with polyethylene, the implementation of degradable mulches in commercial watermelon field practices is promising.

show abstract

“…Mulching was highly effective in increasing plant yield by 29% and 30.8% for D4 and H respectively. The effects of plastic mulching on plant vigor and earliness have been studied on many vegetable crops [55][56][57][58][59][60]. Borage plants benefited of mulching in terms of higher vigor, earliness, fresh biomass production and water retention.…”

Section: Effect Of Mulching On Yield Minimal Processing and Cold Stomentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Agronomic Practices on Yield and Quality of Borage at Harvest and During Storage as Minimally-Processed Produce

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a hairy pubescent herb known throughout the world for its folk medicinal uses, as well as for many culinary uses. There is still little information on the cultivation needs of this species, especially for its use as vegetable crop and as fresh-cut produce. Hence, the aim of the research was to study the effects of agronomic practices on yield and quality of borage and on the storability as minimally-processed product. Two experiments were carried out in two consecutive years in order to evaluate the effect of plant density and plastic mulching on yield and quality of two borage accessions at harvest and during storage as minimally-processed produce for 14 days at 4 °C. The highest plant density (8 plants m2) determined the highest yield of plants and minimally-processed leaves with good quality retention during storage. Mulching had a positive effect on earliness, yield, and shelf life of minimally-processed leaves but also increased nitrate accumulation and reduced ascorbic acid content. Borage plants with lower spacing grown on mulched soil showed the best yield of plants and minimally-processed leaves irrespective of the borage accession tested. Borage plants can be used to produce minimally-processed entire leaves with good quality characteristics.

show abstract

Response of Melon Genotypes to Polyethylene and Biodegradable Starch-Based Mulching Films Used for Fruit Production in the Western Coast of Sicily

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Current and emerging biodegradable mulch films based on polysaccharide bio-composites. A review

Current and emerging biodegradable mulch films based on polysaccharide bio-composites. A review

Degradable Mulch as an Alternative to Polyethylene for Watermelon Production

Effect of Agronomic Practices on Yield and Quality of Borage at Harvest and During Storage as Minimally-Processed Produce

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About