Plastic Ground Cover

Mulches in High Tunnel

SettingsJerry Untiedt

Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm, Inc.

Waverly, MN

jerry@untiedtswegrowforyou.com

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!

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

Polyethylene Mulches:

Considerations

• Costs

• Embossed vs. non-

embossed

• Roll Sizes

• Thicknesses of

mulches

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

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

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.

White on Black

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

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

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

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

Final Thoughts

• Recycling vs. Landfills • Growing is generally

more enjoyable than

selling- BE

CAREFUL!

QUESTIONS?