Plasticulture is the art of using plastic materials to modify the production environment in crop production. It has developed into management systems that allow growers to achieve higher quality produce, superior yields and extended production cycles. Production of vegetables under protected structures such as low tunnel provides the best way to increase the productivity and quality of vegetables, especially cucurbits. The low tunnels represent the standard method for using plastics to enhance the growth of most vegetable crops. A low arch (typically less than 0.75 m centre height) of perforated clear polyethylene or non-woven fibre is supported above the crop using wire hoops. Typically, a single row of the crop is protected by each cover. By increasing air and soil temperatures, reducing wind damage and by providing a degree of frost protection, the low tunnels accelerate crop development and extend the growing season.
The low tunnel can be used round the year for cultivation and vegetables seedling growing by providing suitable environments using different cladding materials. The cladding material which can be used to cover the wire hoops are UV stabilized plastic film (50 micron), insect net proof material (40 mesh) and shade net material (Green & 50%). The most important parameters which affect the crop yield & its quality are soil & air temperature, light intensity and it does vary round the year. During winter season the soil & air temperature is low, so the UV stabilized plastic film (up to 50 micron) alone or both plastic film & insect net proof material (40 mesh) can be used to increase the soil temperature and air temperature. But during summer season the soil & air temperature and light intensity are very high, so shade net material (Green & 50%) alone or both the shade net material & insect net proof material (40 mesh) can be used to reduce soil & air temperature and light intensity. In rainy season soil temperature, air temperature & light intensity are more or less under suitable range but there is need to protect the crops from high rainfall, so plastic film & insect net proof material can be used.
The low tunnels technology is mainly suitable for off season cultivation of cucurbits like muskmelon, round melon, long melon, bitter grand, bottle gourd and summer squash etc. Apart from off season cultivation of cucurbits it can be also be used for cultivation of cabbage/cauliflower during summer, leafy vegetables such as coriander/ spinach etc. during rainy season.
Plastic mulch is a protective cover placed over the soil, primarily to modify the effects of local climate. The plastic mulch and low tunnel with cladding of transparent plastic film can be used to make the environmental condition (soil & air temperature) conducive for seed sowing of cucurbits during fag end of winter season to cultivate off season cucurbits. The black plastic mulch (25 micron) for winter & rainy season and silver-black/white-black plastic (25 micron) mulch for summer season can be used to enhance and reduce the soil temperature respectively. This plastic mulch is usually used in combination with plastic low tunnel.
Direct seeding: The low tunnel (with drip/without drip) and plastic mulch (silver-black) with low tunnel (with drip only) can be used for direct sowing of cucurbits, it helps to regulate the low soil & air temperature, hence better germination and protects from low temperature during growth period.
Seedling raising followed by transplanting: The seedlings of cucurbits can raised under plastic low tunnel with plastic protray. The seedlings of raised cucurbits can be transplanted under low tunnel (with drip/without drip), plastic mulch (silver-black) with drip and plastic mulch (silver-black) with low tunnel (with drip only).
21 июн 2020
