what is horticultural plastics | Full review

what is horticultural plastics | Full review

Maintaining the quality of products is one of the critical issues that farmers should pay much attention to. In addition to the effect it will have on farmers’ profit, producing high-quality products also affects consumers’ health. One of the necessary measures to increase the quality and yield of crops as much as possible is to prepare horticultural plastic. This plastic type of wide nylon based on polyethylene can be used in all agriculture, horticulture, and greenhouses matters. To learn more about plastics needed in agriculture and horticulture, stay with us until the end of the article.

What is horticultural plastic?

From the past until today, farmers and gardeners used horticultural plastic. They spread natural materials such as fodder, straw, bark, chopped wood, leaves of trees and plants, sawdust, and other easily decomposed materials around their fields.

In recent years, with the emergence of polymer materials, extensive research has been conducted to apply new technologies to produce low-cost and environmentally friendly mulches. The result was the production of light-degradable mulches and colored mulches. Based on this, plastic is made of sheets, reducing soil temperature in scorching weather and maintaining soil moisture.

Investigating types of horticultural plastic

The polyethylene film used in this product has different types, each used for a specific purpose.

Black: Black mulch film is the best choice for eliminating weeds, warming the soil in the cold season, and maintaining soil moisture.

Transparent: Another standard inorganic mulch is a fine film. These films transmit sunlight to the soil and simulate a small greenhouse. The main advantage of using this film is increasing the agricultural production growth rate.

Color: Today, color films are used for different purposes. Blue, silver, white, red, orange, yellow, etc., film is suitable for a type of Agricultural plastic product. For example, red mulch increases the yield of tomatoes by 20%.

Anti-UV: Mulches with this feature filter out the sun’s harmful rays and increase agricultural land’s productivity. These films are produced by adding unique materials to the production process of polyethylene.

How to use horticultural plastic

These plastics are placed parallel to the soil’s surface and then secured by a heavy object on the side edges of the ground. Mulch must stick firmly to the earth to prevent it from being released and moved by the wind and transfer heat well.

Types of horticultural plastics

Plastics are inorganic or chemical mulches, usually made of plastic or polyethylene. Depending on the product type and geographical area, a specific type of plastic is used.

Plastic mulches are divided into three types: transparent, colored, and black. Fine mulch prevents the soil from heating up, but it causes weeds to grow. While black mulches avoid the growth of weeds, they heat the ground.

And finally, the use of horticultural plastics, in addition to the advantages we have mentioned, is considered a suitable solution to deal with dehydration and drought to the extent that it will reduce water consumption by 50%. Using mulch along with drip irrigation and successive crops will increase their efficiency.

Advantages of using horticultural plastic

1- Improving soil structure

Using plastic helps to prevent the soil from collecting and compacting. This material traps moisture and heat and limits the loss of plant nutrients. Plastic mulch is the most restrictive of all the mulching materials on the market, so it adapts well to drip irrigation. In addition, the plastic layer prevents people and pets from walking in the area, further strengthening the soil structure.

2- Soil insulation

Most plants are sensitive to temperature, especially vegetables; they cannot tolerate winter cold. Farmers use horticultural plastic to help the soil retain heat as the cold months begin. Inorganic mulch, like plastic mulch, warms the ground up to 5°F (3°C). Plastic film regulates soil temperature evenly and insulates temperature-sensitive plants during cooler months. Fruit trees and sensitive perennial plants are likelier to come out of their winter sleep using plastic mulch. Horticultural plastic is also effective in protecting trees and shrubs from winter damage.

3- Effective control of weeds

Weeds are one of the biggest threats to agricultural land. If we don’t remove them quickly, they will take over the whole garden, and the earth will be destroyed. Plastic mulch, especially its black color, effectively suppresses the growth of weeds and prevents them from growing. When horticultural plastic is installed in the garden, it prevents weeds from receiving the sunlight they need for photosynthesis. When the weeds are deprived of sunlight, they die, saving you the trouble of weeding them individually by hand.

4- Increasing the growth rate of products

Using plastic allows you to grow your crops early in the season. Because mulching warms the soil, you can plant warm-season crops up to three weeks before the growing season. Of course, this situation is not valid for organic mulches. Plastic mulch better absorbs heat in the soil; the soil heats up quickly and provides the best-growing conditions for hot-season vegetables.

5- Higher product quality

Using horticultural plastic is vital to better quality fruits and vegetables. The plastic film acts as a barrier protecting the fruit from soil contact. This prevents the growth and spread of diseases and rot, and since the fruits are not in direct contact with the ground, they grow much cleaner.

6- Reducing the risk of root damage

Using plastic eliminates the need for continuous cultivation except between plastic rows. Because the soil is undisturbed, plant roots can grow deep and efficiently and extend into the ground. The fact is that cultivation is one of the leading causes of root damage. But you must cultivate the soil if your garden is prone to weeds.

The end

If you have agricultural land and are worried about the soil’s condition and health, the time of harvest, and its quality, consider the information we have mentioned about the use of horticultural plastic in agriculture and prepare one of the types of plastic mulch. All plastic mulches of our company are produced with first-class raw materials. To inquire about the daily price of horticultural plastic and advice on purchasing the product, our experts are ready to answer your questions to provide free consultation services. They will be with you from placing the order to delivering the product.