Abstract
Polyethylene mulch is widely used for vegetable production in the United States as a tool to conserve water, control weeds, and produce earlier and cleaner products (i.e., less attached soil). However, the increasing labor costs for mulch removal and disposal after harvest and soil environmental pollution are major concerns. The objective of this study was to assess fruit yield and quality, mulch deterioration, soil microbial activity, and nutrient changes in ‘Stargazer’ watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) grown with degradable plastic mulch. The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field. However, the extra difference in using degradable mulch was calculated as $58.6/acre (polyethylene $600.9/acre vs. degradable $659.5/acre), including all costs associated with laying and disposing. One year after placing mulch in the field, the nitrate content and total and active fungi numerically increased ( P = 0.08) in soils with the degradable mulch compared with polyethylene mulch. However, there were no statistical differences in soil phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and total and active bacteria. Extra-large fruit size yield (category >24.0 lb) from the polyethylene mulch treatment was higher than that from degradable mulch, whereas the 18.0- to 24.0-lb category was lower than that with degradable mulch. However, total yield and total soluble solids from both mulches were statistically similar. Considering the complete deterioration (less waste), mulch removal cost (not required), microbial associations (higher fungi abundance and activity), and similar yield and fruit quality of degradable mulch compared with polyethylene, the implementation of degradable mulches in commercial watermelon field practices is promising.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
Degradable mulch deterioration was 7% after 120 days.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatust0 - Outcome
- deterioration ratese0
- Value
- 7%e0
- Qualifier
- after 120e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Degradable mulch deterioration was 37% after 210 days.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- deterioration ratese0
- Value
- 37%e0
- Qualifier
- 210e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Degradable mulch deterioration was 57% after 300 days.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- deterioration ratese0
- Value
- 57%e0
- Qualifier
- 300e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Degradable mulch deterioration was 92% after 365 days.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- deterioration ratese0
- Value
- 92%e0
- Qualifier
- 365e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The deterioration rates of degradable mulch were 7%, 37%, 57%, and 92% after 120, 210, 300, and 365 days, respectively, of placing the mulch in the field.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Degradable mulch added $58.6 per acre in calculated cost over polyethylene.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- extra differencee0
- Value
- $58.6/acree0
- Comparator
- polyethylenee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the extra difference in using degradable mulch was calculated as $58.6/acre (polyethylene $600.9/acre vs. degradable $659.5/acre)”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil nitrate content numerically increased with degradable mulch compared with polyethylene.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- degradable mulche0
- Outcome
- nitrate contente0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- polyethylene mulche0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the nitrate content and total and active fungi numerically increased ( P = 0.08) in soils with the degradable mulch compared with polyethylene mulch.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Total and active soil fungi numerically increased with degradable mulch.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- degradable mulche0
- Outcome
- total and active fungie0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- polyethylene mulche0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the nitrate content and total and active fungi numerically increased ( P = 0.08) in soils with the degradable mulch compared with polyethylene mulch.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon and bacteria did not differ statistically between mulches.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- soil phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and total and active bacteriae0
- Direction
- no statistical differencese0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“there were no statistical differences in soil phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and total and active bacteria.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyethylene mulch had higher extra large fruit yield than degradable mulch.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- polyethylene mulch treatmente0
- Outcome
- Extra-large fruit size yielde0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- category >24.0 lbe0
- Comparator
- degradable mulche0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Extra-large fruit size yield (category >24.0 lb) from the polyethylene mulch treatment was higher than that from degradable mulch”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyethylene mulch had lower 18 to 24 lb fruit yield than degradable mulch.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- 18.0- to 24.0-lb categorye0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Comparator
- degradable mulche0
Not reportedTreatment
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the 18.0- to 24.0-lb category was lower than that with degradable mulch.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
Total yield and soluble solids were statistically similar across mulches.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- total yield and total soluble solidse0
- Direction
- statistically similare0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total yield and total soluble solids from both mulches were statistically similar.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors considered degradable mulch promising for commercial watermelon fields.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- implementation of degradable mulchese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the implementation of degradable mulches in commercial watermelon field practices is promising.”
t0“Watermelon Production”
The same questions in other papers
mulching · yield · Citrullus lanatus (watermelon)Results differ
35 papers in the same direction as this paper · 8 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- no effect
- negative
40 papers more in this group
See all 44 papers →mulching · nutrient: content · Citrullus lanatus (watermelon)Results agree
3 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
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.