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\title{A STUDY ON PLASTIC MULCH AND ITS COLOR AFFECTING PLANT GROWTH
}
\author{Alvaro Justin, Gonzales William,Du Angsong}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section{Statement of the problem}
The objective is to see the plant
growth with or without the provision of
plastic mulches by using garden pot instead
of field. The researchers aim to answer
the question: The objective is to see the plant
growth with or without the provision of
plastic mulches by using garden pot instead
of field. The researchers aim to answer
the question
\section{Hypotheses}
\subsection{Null Hypothesis}
Plastic mulch and its color may not affect plant growth.
\subsection{Alternative Hypothesis/es}
Plastic mulch and its color may affect plant growth
\section{Significance of the Study}
This study will give information to the
agriculturists, farmers, plant grower and students about
the difference of plant growth with or
without using plastic mulch. This study will
help them know the benefits of plastic
mulch and will give them the idea
of what color of plastic mulch will
suit tomatoes, eggplant and okra using garden
pot. For those who lives in the cities,
they will know that they can grow
plants on their concrete floors
\section{Review of Related Literature}
Plant growth is often measured as a
change in area, length, volume, height, wet
or dry weight. These methods may not
always be a satisfactory measure of growth
at a particular stage of plant development,
such as a germinating seed may show
an overall loss in dry weight due
to the utilization of food reserves during
respiration, although the seed is definitely growing
as evidenced by its emerging roots and shoots
The relative growth rate (RGR) which is
the size increase per unit interval of
time has two components: the net assimilation
rate (NAR) and the leaf area ratio (LAR).
The NAR is the rate of increase
of dry weight per unit time per
unit of leaf surface which is a
measure of the amount of photosynthetic product
going into plant material. The LAR is
the ratio of leaf area to dry
weight which is the measure of the
proportion of the plant that is engaged
in photosynthesis. Combined they give a relative
description of growth over time based upon
plant characteristics. 4
According to Dr. Ngouajio , whose work is funded
in part by Michigan State University AgBioResearch,
A loose plastic is a serious threat
to the crop, especially to young transplants
because they are fragile. As indicated earlier,
black mulches allow little light to pass
through. They first absorb the light, which
is then converted into heat. The heat
is finally transferred to the soil. For
greatest efficiency, it is critical to have
close contact between plastic and soilOn a clear and sunny day, Crop injury can also occur
even if the crop is not in direct
contact with hot plastic mulch. During a
sunny day, hot air builds up between
the plastic and the soil. Therefore, if
the plastic is loose, its flapping (even
under a light wind) creates movement of
hot air and funnels it through crop
holes. This causes stem girdling and transplant
desiccation, a problem commonly observed with young
pepper transplants. Such plants become very susceptible
to wind damage and should be staked
and tied as early as possible. To
avoid all those problems keep your plastic
mulch tight on the bed. 5 A two year study in Iowa State
Research Farm on March 26, 2012 and March 27, 2013, tomato
seeds (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Mt. Spring’) were seeded into
a soilless greenhouse medium (Sunshine LC1 Mix) .
On May 3, 2012 and May 10, 2013, tomato plants were
transplanted into raised beds. Each treatment had
a single bed with a total of
10 plants. In-row spacing between plants was 18 in. (46 cm).
Treatments included: 1) bare ground, 2) black plastic, 3) blue plastic 4) olive plastic, and 5) red plastic .Tomatoes were
harvested six times in 2012 starting July 17,
and eight times in 2013 starting July 23,
at weekly intervals. Both years, four fruits
were randomly collected from the fourth harvests.
The study did not reveal any statistically
significant difference using different colored mulch. Both
fruit numbers and marketable yields were statistically
similar among treatments in both years. 6
The research was conducted at the E.V. Smith
Research Experiment Station in Shorter, AL. The soil
type is an Orangeburg sandy loam (fine-loamy
siliceous thermic Typic Kandiudult). Field plots to
evaluate the effects of colored plastic mulches
and row covers on the growth and
production of ‘Clemson Spineless’ okra were established
in May 2003 and Apr. 2004. The blue, silver,
red, white, and black plastic mulch are
used. Significant differences between treatments were found
for mulch color.
The combined total yields
(marketable yield plus cull) were greater with
row covers than without. Significantly lower yields
were produced with bare soil than with
any colored mulches used. Blue plastic mulch
resulted in the highest early yield and
maintained its productivity through harvest yielding the
second highest combined total yield. At harvest,
black plastic mulch resulted in the highest
combined total yield. In our study the
results were inconsistent on this point. Bare
soil always produced the lowest early yield;
however, the difference was only significant in 2004.
Early yield was generally greatest with dark
mulch colors and the combined total yield
greatest with black and blue plastic mulch.7
Research continues, most notably at the Pennsylvania
State University Plasticulture Center; In asummary
they set forth in 2000, Red, metalized Silver,
Dark Blue and Green IRT are used.
They noted that though many vegetables can
be grown successfully using plastic mulches, cucumbers,
eggplant, muskmelons, okra peppers, squash, tomatoes, and
watermelons showed the most significant responses.
Eggplant- this crop appears to respond better
to red mulch (as compared to black),
with an average 12% increase in marketable fruit
yield over a 2-year period. The greatest response
of eggplant to red mulch was observed
when plants were growing under stress conditions
of temperature and water). There may be
varietal differences of response in eggplant to
the use of plastic mulch.
Tomato- this crop appears to respond more
to red mulch compared to black with
an average 12% increase in marketable fruit yield
over a 3 year period. There appears to
be a reduction in the incidence of
early blight in plants grown on red
mulch compared to plants grown on black
mulch. When environmental conditions for plant growth
are ideal, tomato response to red mulch is minimal. 8
\section{Statement of the Research Question}
Can plastic mulch and its color affect plant growth?
.
\section{References}
Gordon, Garry G., Foshee, Wheeler G., III, Reed, Stewart T., Brown, James E., Vinson, Edgar L., III.The Effects of Colored Plastic Mulches and Row Covers on the Growth and Yield of Okra.HortTechnology, 2010 20: 224-233.
2 Grubinger,V.”Plastic Mulch Primer.”The University of Vermont Extension.
http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/plasticprimer.html
3 Balabo, D. “Bulacan farmers benefit from modern farm technology.”Philippine EnviroNews. 7 August 2013. http://environews.ph/food-agriculture/bulacan-farmers-benefit-from-modern-farm-technology/
4 Johnson, W., Ames, M., “A Review of Factors Affecting Plant Growth. http://agrikhalsa.bizhat.com/plantgrowth.htm
5 American Society for Horticultural Science. "Black or blue? Mulch color affects okra growth, yield."ScienceDaily, 19 April 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100419173008.htm>.
7 Gordon, G. et al.”The Effects of Colored Plastic Mulches and Row Covers on the Growth and Yield of Okra”. http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/20/1/224.full)
8 Color Effect (2000). http://growingtaste.com/mulches.shtml
\end{document}