Vegetable production under colored plastic mulches: A review

The development of polyethylene (PE) as a plastic film in 1938 and its introduction as a plastic mulch for vegetable crop production in the 1950s significantly enhanced commercial crop production of the vegetables. Coloured plastic mulches significantly affect light absorptivity, light reflectivity, soil water loss, soil temperature, plant morphology, and weed control. The purpose of variation of colours is to impact the absorption and reflection of FR: R (far-red to Red) ratios resulting in phytochrome regulation. Plants receiving high FR: R light responds in increased plant height and above-ground biomass. Apart from using high-yielding varieties and good agricultural practices, there is a need to utilize and improve crop microclimate for higher production. Plastic mulch controls the dynamics of incoming and outgoing radiation and thus changes the soil thermal properties and conserves soil moisture by checking evapotranspiration losses thereby increasing fertilizer use efficiency and reduce losses through leaching, runoff, and volatilization. Moreover, using polyethylene plastic mulch produced earlier seedling emergence, more vigorous plant, earlier and higher yield as compared to non-mulched treatment.