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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151219
Title: FIELD EVALUATION OF WATERMELON GROWN ON PAPER/POLYMERIZED VEGETABLE OIL MULCHES

Author
item Shogren, Randal
item HOCHMUTH, ROBERT - UNIV OF FL

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Shogren, R.L., Hochmuth, R.C. 2004. Field evaluation of watermelon grown on paper/polymerized vegetable oil mulches. HortScience. p. 1588-1591.

Interpretive Summary: Mulch films made from polyethylene are used extensively to control weeds, increase soil temperatures and increase the yields of fruits and vegetables. Removal of the mulch from the field at the end of the season is, however, difficult and expensive and so a biodegradable alternative which could be tilled into the soil would be desirable. It was found that kraft paper coated with soybean or linseed oil and a catalyst to cure (harden) the oil was as effective as standard black polyethylene in giving high yields of watemelon in Florida. Degradation of the paper/oil mulch occurred in earnest after the crop was harvested (2 1/2 months). In addition, the paper/oil mulch blocked the growth of nutsedge while the plastic mulch did not. These results are important to growers as they offer a viable alternative to polyethylene mulch which is becoming increasingly difficult to dispose of and the need for fumigants such as methyl bromide to kill nutsedge is decreased. This application also offers farmers a new potential market for soybean oil and thereby lessen the country's dependence on imported petroleum.

Technical Abstract: Biodegradable mulches made from kraft paper coated with polymerized (cured) vegetable oils were compared to black polyethylene mulches for promoting the growth of watermelon in north Florida. Data from 3 spring growing seasons have been collected. Yields of watermelon planted on paper/soy oil and paper/linseed oil mulches were similar to those obtained for the control polyethylene mulches. This was the case where the paper/oil was cured before field application as well as when the paper/oil was applied to the field "wet" and curing tool place in situ. Paper/oil mulches containing carbon black effectively blocked nutsedge growth while nutsedge pierced and grew through the black polyethylene mulch. Degradation of the buried tucks were more rapid initially for paper/soy oil than paper/linseed oil mulch, but both lasted long enough to hold the mulch in place until spring harvest (less than 2 1/2 months). In conclusion, paper coated with polymerized vegetable oil appears to be an effective substitute for polyethylene mulch for growing watermelon in Florida, although drawbacks include messiness in handling oily paper, slower application speeds, higher initial costs than polyethylene and variability in rates of curing and degradation depending on soil and weather conditions.