USE OF LIGHT REFLECTIVE MULCH TO AFFECT YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY

A reflecting mulch patented in New Zealand (Extenday®) was tested on a ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit vineyard to enhance light reflection and to study the effect of the mulch on gas exchange, yield and fruit quality.
The mulch was positioned in one section of 3 alley-rows, so that it surrounded 2 rows on both sides and the results were compared with those obtained on uncovered row sections serving as the control. The mulch was laid down at shoot emergence and left up to a month after harvest.
Data on vegetative and fruiting performance were collected throughout the vegetative season and at harvest.
Whole-vine gas-exchanges were continuously monitored for two weeks during the summer using an original device.
At harvest fruits were weighed, the average fruit weight determined and the main quality traits were assessed for the control- and the mulched-vine fruits.
The reflecting mulch promoted higher photosynthesis during the day; with transpiration being higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon in the mulched vines as compared to the control.
Yield and average fruit weight were positively affected by the mulch.

V International Symposium on Kiwifruit

G. Costa

photosynthesis, PN, transpiration, light, NIR, whole canopy system

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.610.17