Juan Carlos Diaz-Perez, Dean Batal, Denne Bertrand and David Giddings.
Department of Horticulture, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University of Georgia.Tifton, Georgia, United States 31794.

Keywords: heat stress, plasticulture

Abstract:  The objective was to determine the effect of colored plastic films on soil temperature, and the relationship of soil temperature with tomato plant growth and yield.  The experimental design was a randomized complete block with ten replications and five treatments (colored plastic mulches).  The mulches used were gray on black, aluminum on black, white on black, black mulch painted with white latex paint (referred to as “white-painted”) and bare soil.   The type of plastic mulch used affected plant establishment, plant weight and yield.  During the first 30 days after transplanting, stem diameter and plant leaf area decreased linearly with increases in soil temperature. The maximum growth rate occurred when soil temperature was about 30 C.  In mature plants, as soil temperature increased there was also a linear reduction in the final plant weight, number of fruit per plant and total fruit weight per plant.  The effect of soil temperature on marketable yield was not determined because marketable yield was severely reduced in all treatments due to a high incidence of TYLCV.  Plants grown on silver mulch and bare soil were the largest, followed by plants on white mulch, black mulch painted white, and gray mulch.  The number of fruits per plant was highest on plants grown on silver mulch and lowest on plants on gray mulch.  In conclusion, plastic mulches modified soil temperature where plants were grown.  Soil temperatures modified by the colored plastic mulches directly influenced observed differences in plant growth and total fruit yield among various mulch treatments.

PDF Order Form
Secure Server Order Form