Y ou won't see colored strips of plastic in the fields of Tennessee vegetable producers just because they look nice. Plastic is an expensive item producers will buy only if it earns its keep. But plasticulture is a proven way to boost both yield and quality, control certain insects and diseases, and help moderate soil temperatures and soil moisture. Now UT researchers are evaluating the effects of color on plant growth, soil temperatures, irrigation, weed control, and insect control.
Colors used in the study include red, black, yellow, clear, silver, and brown plastic.
If we choose a darker color plastic, we're going to get more heating, which can turn water into vapor. That vapor is going to escape. When you consider costs of buying water and the energy to pump it, you might be able to save money there. But unfortunately, none of the plastics degrades during a growing season and must be manually removed, which can be expensive. So textile researchers from the UT Agricultural Experiment Station are helping to evaluate the plastics, including a new one that is cornstarch based-a plastic film made from residue of corn after you can't do anything else with it.