Summary for: Physical characteristics of mulches and their impact on crop response and profitability in muskmelon production. Lynn Brandenberger and Bob Wiedenfeld. 1997. HortTechnology, Vol. 7(2):165-169. Reprints available upon request from authors.
Key words include: Durability, mulch, plastic film, polyethylene, removal time, soil temperature, strength.
Report includes three tables & one figure: Tables list treatment descriptions, crop responses to treatments, condition ratings of polyethylene films, relative strength data, removal times and cost. The figure compares different mulch treatments for soil temperatures over time.
Summation: Utilization of polyethylene mulches in melon production provides several advantages for production including earliness, less disease and cleaner higher quality fruit. Two disadvantages are inherent to polyethylene mulch use, removal of used film after the cropping season and cost of removal for used mulch. Results of the study indicate that polyethylene mulches differ considerably in the amount of time required for removal from the field and the associated costs of removal.