Mulch Nylon

Mulching with plastic mulch involves covering the soil surface with mulch film to protect plant roots and soil from undesirable environmental factors, keep fruit clean, increase early yields and overall production, and improve quality. Various types of mulch films are used, including black, transparent, white, gray, red, yellow, brown, blue, and various color combinations, for tomatoes, watermelons, and strawberries.

Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil. Mulch film, such as greenhouse covering, can reduce water evaporation by 10-50% or more. It also decreases the need for irrigation. Mulch films prevent water loss through evaporation, resulting in increased plant growth. This growth is due to larger plants and increased water usage through reduced transpiration.

Mulching is effective for weed control. Mulch films can prevent weed growth, thereby reducing competition for light, water, and nutrients between the crop and weeds.

Mulch films can either decrease or increase soil temperature. Transparent mulch films allow most short-wavelength solar radiation to pass through to the soil, converting this light into heat energy in the soil. It is known that transparent mulch films can increase soil temperature by 8°C or more. Black and gray mulch films, on the other hand, increase soil temperature by 2-3°C. This is due to their inability to transmit sunlight and their minimal heat absorption. Many mulch film trials have confirmed these results. Mulch films with infrared permeability are selective in wavelength, allowing appropriate transmission of rays, controlling weed development, and preventing excessive soil heating. Typically brown in color, these mulch films are effective in heating the soil and controlling weeds.

Using mulch films reduces labor-intensive tasks such as irrigation and weed control.

By achieving higher quality products through mulching, revenue increases and this helps reduce a significant portion of input costs.

Mulch films protect the soil from the strong effects of irrigation or rainwater, preventing the formation of crust, compaction, and erosion. Additionally, the need for soil cultivation is reduced with mulch film usage.

Mulching prevents the loss of water and nutrients through runoff and leaching.

Since fruits and vegetables do not come into contact with the soil due to mulch film, soil-related contamination from rain or irrigation is prevented.

While mulch films do not eliminate plant diseases, they prevent contamination that could occur from contact between fruit and soil in diseased areas. Mulch films also reduce fruit rot and damage. Mulching retains soil moisture, especially in greenhouses, preventing the spread of fungal and bacterial diseases related to moisture.

Research has shown that mulching has a positive effect on earliness. For certain vegetables like melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, mulching leads to earlier ripening. This early harvesting allows for higher selling prices and offers an advantage.