Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments
Plastic mulches made from nonbiodegradable polyethylene (i.e., “PE mulch”) are an integral tool for organic and conventional strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production due to their ability to optimize soil and crop microclimates, suppress weeds, and promote overall yield and fruit quality. Unfortuna...
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American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)
2024-12-01
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| Series: | HortScience |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/1/article-p111.xml |
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| author | Ben Weiss Waqas Ahmad Brian Maupin Dakota McFadden Dilpreet S. Bajwa Andrew Durado Sharon Weyers Suzette P. Galinato Greta Gramig Lisa Wasko DeVetter |
| author_facet | Ben Weiss Waqas Ahmad Brian Maupin Dakota McFadden Dilpreet S. Bajwa Andrew Durado Sharon Weyers Suzette P. Galinato Greta Gramig Lisa Wasko DeVetter |
| author_sort | Ben Weiss |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic mulches made from nonbiodegradable polyethylene (i.e., “PE mulch”) are an integral tool for organic and conventional strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production due to their ability to optimize soil and crop microclimates, suppress weeds, and promote overall yield and fruit quality. Unfortunately, PE mulch is primarily single-use and seldom recycled, leading to large volumes of plastic waste, with some of the plastic mulch fragments residing in the soil or polluting the surrounding agroecosystem. Although soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are a promising mulch technology that aims to reduce waste generation, no commercial products are available that meet the National Organic Program’s requirements. Hydromulches are an alternative mulch technology that is sprayable and can be formulated to meet organic requirements, but they have undergone limited testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various hydromulch formulations on yield, fruit quality, and tissue nutrient status of day-neutral strawberries grown in two diverse environments. Hydromulches made with various formulations of paper, guar gum, or psyllium tackifiers were compared with PE mulch in Northwest Washington and North Dakota in 2022. Few treatment effects were observed throughout the experiment, and both strawberry yield and fruit quality were maintained. Slight variations in tissue nutrient concentrations were observed but not attributed to hydromulch treatments. Information resulting from this project demonstrates hydromulches maintain crop productivity and quality. Future research should evaluate the ability of hydromulches to suppress a spectrum of weed species, impacts on soil health, and economic viability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-799d02f4fb0747669aae0fb1095adf80 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2327-9834 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HortScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-799d02f4fb0747669aae0fb1095adf802025-08-20T02:34:46ZengAmerican Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)HortScience2327-98342024-12-01601https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18224-24Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting EnvironmentsBen Weiss0Waqas Ahmad1Brian Maupin2Dakota McFadden3Dilpreet S. Bajwa4Andrew Durado5Sharon Weyers6Suzette P. Galinato7Greta Gramig8Lisa Wasko DeVetter9Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1360 Albrecht Blvd., Fargo, ND 58102, USADepartment of Horticulture, Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273, USADepartment of Horticulture, Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273, USAMechanical & Industrial Engineering Department, Montana State University, 220 Roberts Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USAMechanical & Industrial Engineering Department, Montana State University, 220 Roberts Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, USAUSDA-ARS North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, 803 Iowa Ave, Morris, MN 56267, USAAgriculture and Natural Resources, WSU Extension, Washington State University, 417 Hulbert St, Pullman, WA 99164, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, 1360 Albrecht Blvd., Fargo, ND 58102, USADepartment of Horticulture, Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273, USAPlastic mulches made from nonbiodegradable polyethylene (i.e., “PE mulch”) are an integral tool for organic and conventional strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production due to their ability to optimize soil and crop microclimates, suppress weeds, and promote overall yield and fruit quality. Unfortunately, PE mulch is primarily single-use and seldom recycled, leading to large volumes of plastic waste, with some of the plastic mulch fragments residing in the soil or polluting the surrounding agroecosystem. Although soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are a promising mulch technology that aims to reduce waste generation, no commercial products are available that meet the National Organic Program’s requirements. Hydromulches are an alternative mulch technology that is sprayable and can be formulated to meet organic requirements, but they have undergone limited testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various hydromulch formulations on yield, fruit quality, and tissue nutrient status of day-neutral strawberries grown in two diverse environments. Hydromulches made with various formulations of paper, guar gum, or psyllium tackifiers were compared with PE mulch in Northwest Washington and North Dakota in 2022. Few treatment effects were observed throughout the experiment, and both strawberry yield and fruit quality were maintained. Slight variations in tissue nutrient concentrations were observed but not attributed to hydromulch treatments. Information resulting from this project demonstrates hydromulches maintain crop productivity and quality. Future research should evaluate the ability of hydromulches to suppress a spectrum of weed species, impacts on soil health, and economic viability.https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/1/article-p111.xmlbiobasedhydramulchpaper mulchsprayable mulchsoil-biodegradable mulchregenerative agriculture |
| spellingShingle | Ben Weiss Waqas Ahmad Brian Maupin Dakota McFadden Dilpreet S. Bajwa Andrew Durado Sharon Weyers Suzette P. Galinato Greta Gramig Lisa Wasko DeVetter Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments HortScience biobased hydramulch paper mulch sprayable mulch soil-biodegradable mulch regenerative agriculture |
| title | Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments |
| title_full | Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments |
| title_fullStr | Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments |
| title_short | Hydromulch Maintains Strawberry Yield, Fruit Quality, and Plant Nutrition across Two Contrasting Environments |
| title_sort | hydromulch maintains strawberry yield fruit quality and plant nutrition across two contrasting environments |
| topic | biobased hydramulch paper mulch sprayable mulch soil-biodegradable mulch regenerative agriculture |
| url | https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/1/article-p111.xml |
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