Abstract
Polyethylene mulches are widely used in vegetable production. Advantages include improving yields, controlling weeds, and enhancing quality. However, the removal and disposal of plastic mulch used for vegetable production represents a significant financial cost for farmers and can be detrimental to the environment. A study was conducted in Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera ) ‘Conqueror III’. Four paper mulches, 50-lb kraft paper, 50-lb polyethylene-coated kraft paper, 40-lb white butcher paper, and 30-lb waxed paper were compared with 1-mil black polyethylene mulch, bare-ground hand-weeded, and bare-ground nonweeded treatments. Mulches were placed using a traditional plastic mulch layer and seedlings were transplanted using a water wheel transplanter. Crop yield and quality, weed biomass, soil temperatures under the mulch (Spring 2008 only), and mulch degradation were evaluated. Most paper mulches were able to be placed with a mulch layer, but were not well suited for use with a water wheel transplanter. In Fall 2007, butcher paper and polyethylene-coated kraft paper controlled weeds as well as black plastic mulch. However, in Spring 2008, black plastic mulch provided superior weed control compared with other mulches. Yields among waxed, butcher, and polyethylene-coated kraft papers were similar to black plastic mulch in 2007, though yields in paper mulch plots were significantly less than plastic mulch in Spring 2008. The results of this study suggest that although paper mulches can be effective, cropping conditions and the environment will influence effectiveness.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Most paper mulches could be placed with a mulch layer but were not well suited to a water wheel transplanter.
- Taxon
- summer squashe0
- Treatment
- paper mulchese1
- Outcome
- not well suited for use with a water wheel transplantere1
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e1“Most paper mulches were able to be placed with a mulch layer, but were not well suited for use with a water wheel transplanter”
Claim · model-written summary
Butcher paper controlled weeds in squash in Fall 2007 as well as black plastic mulch.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e2“In Fall 2007, butcher paper and polyethylene-coated kraft paper controlled weeds as well as black plastic mulch”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyethylene-coated kraft paper controlled weeds in squash in Fall 2007 as well as black plastic mulch.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e2“In Fall 2007, butcher paper and polyethylene-coated kraft paper controlled weeds as well as black plastic mulch”
Claim · model-written summary
Black plastic mulch gave superior weed control in squash in Spring 2008 compared with other mulches.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e3“in Spring 2008, black plastic mulch provided superior weed control compared with other mulches”
Claim · model-written summary
Waxed paper gave squash yields similar to black plastic mulch in 2007.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e4“Yields among waxed, butcher, and polyethylene-coated kraft papers were similar to black plastic mulch in 2007”
Claim · model-written summary
Butcher paper gave squash yields similar to black plastic mulch in 2007.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e4“Yields among waxed, butcher, and polyethylene-coated kraft papers were similar to black plastic mulch in 2007”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyethylene-coated kraft paper gave squash yields similar to black plastic mulch in 2007.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e4“Yields among waxed, butcher, and polyethylene-coated kraft papers were similar to black plastic mulch in 2007”
Claim · model-written summary
Paper mulch plots gave significantly lower squash yields than plastic mulch in Spring 2008.
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e5“yields in paper mulch plots were significantly less than plastic mulch in Spring 2008”
Claim · model-written summary
Paper mulches can be effective, but cropping conditions and the environment will influence their effectiveness.
- Taxon
- summer squashe0
- Treatment
- paper mulchese6
- Outcome
- effectivenesse6
- Qualifier
- cropping conditions and the environment will influence effectivenesse6
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“evaluating the performance of paper mulches for the production of summer squash ( Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera )”
e6“The results of this study suggest that although paper mulches can be effective, cropping conditions and the environment will influence effectiveness”
The same questions in other papers
mulching · yield · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Results differ
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- positive
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1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.