Articles
EFFECTS OF PLASTIC MULCH ON GROWTH AND SEX EXPRESSION OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.)
Article number
9_37
Pages
221 – 230
Language
Abstract
It has often been shown that plastic film mulching is effective in producing increased and earlier crops of certain vegetables (2, 5, 8, 11, 12). What factors these effects depend on has been less clearly illustrated.
Indeed, whereas it seems obvious that mulching is able to act mostly by modifying the hydric and thermic conditions of the ground and of the layer of air immediately below and above the plastic sheet (3, 15), very little is known about the extent of these modifications.
The research reported here was planned to go more deeply into this subject.
To this aim the experiment was organized on the one hand to examine the thermic and hydric components of the micro-environment that could be influenced by the mulching and on the other hand to observe the way the plants reacted to the different conditions induced by the covering.
The species Cucumis sativus L. was considered particularly suitable for this investigation owing to various reasons.
Indeed, whereas it seems obvious that mulching is able to act mostly by modifying the hydric and thermic conditions of the ground and of the layer of air immediately below and above the plastic sheet (3, 15), very little is known about the extent of these modifications.
The research reported here was planned to go more deeply into this subject.
To this aim the experiment was organized on the one hand to examine the thermic and hydric components of the micro-environment that could be influenced by the mulching and on the other hand to observe the way the plants reacted to the different conditions induced by the covering.
The species Cucumis sativus L. was considered particularly suitable for this investigation owing to various reasons.
Authors
L. Quagliotti
Keywords
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