While most parts of Tennessee receive adequate rainfall for production of vegetable crops, the amounts and incidence of natural rainfall may not coincide with water needs of produce-bearing plants. Drought stress at specific times during the growing season can severely reduce crop yields as well as crop quality. Sprinklers wet the plant foliage and may induce disease problems that are more serious than water deficiency to a plant. Timing of irrigation and application amounts are also critical to optimum crop production. Evaluating plastic mulches.
Several advantages are inherent with use of plastic mulch for vegetable production.
Better weed control and moisture management are possible with plastic, and soil temperatures can be controlled to some degree. Soil fumigants can be used under plastic to control weeds and diseases. To some extent, excess rainfall can be diverted to prevent over saturation of the soil under the plastic. In general, higher yields and higher quality products can be accomplished with plastic. Research with different colors of mulch the last two years indicate that yields can be increased, soil temperatures can be predicted, and insects and weeds can be controlled by selecting a particular color of plastic mulch depending on the needs of the farmer with respect to different crops.