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Plastic Ground Cover
Mulches in High Tunnel
SettingsJerry Untiedt
Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm, Inc.
Waverly, MN
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Plasticulture: “The Future of
Farming”
How can you get 2-3x
more crop per acre
using half as much
water as conventional
farming methods?
NRCS Data Sheet
• If the government says it,
it must be true
• Short history of plastic
mulches
• Growth pattern of the
practice
• Where in the world the
growth has occurredPlasticulture-That’s
How!
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Why to consider
plastic
mulches?• $$- Earlier production
• $$- Reduction or
elimination of weeding
• Cleaner Fruit- no soil
to fruit contact
• More efficient water
and fertilizer usages
• More effective soil
wetting on lighter soils
• Control of many soil
born disease
pathogens
• Reduction of soil
erosion- water and
wind
• Possible double and
triple cropping
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Polyethylene Mulches:
Considerations
• Costs
• Embossed vs. non-
embossed
• Roll Sizes
• Thicknesses of
mulches
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Personalities of Various Plastic
Films
• Clear Embossed Film
– First to arrive on the
production scene
– Warmest of all
mulches
– Poor weed barrier
– Least expensive
– Will present some
evaporation
• Black Embossed Film
– Second to arrive in the
industry
– Relatively low cost
– Excellent in blocking
weed growth
– Slows evaporation
substantially
– Does warm soil
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Personalities of Various Plastic
Films
• Red Embossed Film
– Warms faster than
black
– Some trials indicate
yield increases in
tomatoes and peppers
– Perhaps glossier fruit?
– Cost is about 50%
over black
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Personalities of Various Plastic
Films
• White on Black
– Maintains a cooler soil
for cool soil loving
crops (lettuces and
strawberries)
– Excellent reflectivity
– Excellent weed barrier
– Cost is higher, 30-40%
over standard black.
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White on Black
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Personalities of Various Plastic
Films
• Green Embossed
Film
– Heats soils faster than
black and red
– Good weed barrier
– Said to maintain more
heat at night (lower
radiation)
– Best used on early
crops to avoid scalding
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Photo Degradable Embossed
Films
• Black and clear
available
• Variable degradation
time frames
• Subsoil film must be
brought to surface to
degrade
• No mfg. guarantees
breakdown periods
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Biodegradable Films
• Mostly available in
black
• Leaves no residues or
toxicities
• Substantial labor
savings as no lifting
and retrieval
• No recycling or landfill
dilemma
• Newer brand, “Bio
360” is both
biodegradable and
compostable
• Bio 360 approved by
USDA National
Organic Program
• Must be tilled into
soils to biodegrade
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Groundcover Thoughts
• Not a polyethylene
film, but necessary in
tunnel settings.
– Dust preventer
– Weed barrier
– In case of SWD,
allows floor to be
cleaned
– Costs about $.05/ft
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Final Thoughts
• Recycling vs. Landfills • Growing is generally
more enjoyable than
selling- BE
CAREFUL!
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QUESTIONS?