Eco-compatible plastic films for crop mulching and soil solarization in greenhouse

The study was conducted in 2002-2004 close to Experimental Farm "Pantanello" (Lat. 40 degrees 20' N; Long. 16 degrees 48' E) located in Southern Italy (Basilicata Region). Tomato mulching was studied by using several innovative films (three co-extruded and three biodegradable ones), compared with a traditional film (LDPE), and on soil solarization conducted from July to September 2002 and 2003 by using two different innovatory plastic films (a co-extruded and a biodegradable one) compared to LDPE and EVA. Moreover, in order to evaluate the efficiency of soil solarization, two vegetable crops were grown: melon after the first soil solarization and lettuce after the second one. For each vegetable crop, yield, quality traits, root-knot nematodes and weeds, were analysed. For mulching trials, co-extruded films, in the first trial, and the lactescent biodegradable one, in the second trial, increased soil temperatures and had better agronomic results, in terms of yield traits, respect to the other mulching films, both traditional (LDPE) and innovative ones. Weed control was performed by all the tested films except for the lactescent biodegradable one in the second trial. In soil solarization experiments, the two innovatory films had the same agronomic and nematological results (in melon crop) respect to LDPE and EVA. All the solarizing films controlled weeds reducing their number by 72% and 97% in melon and lettuce crop, respectively.