Rosario Quezada, Juan Munguía and R. Hugo Lira-Saldivar
Gerencia de Agroplásticos-Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA)
Saltillo, Coahuila,
México 25000.
E mail: rquezada@polimex.ciqa.mx

Keywords: photodegradable plastic mulches, cropping system, muskmelon

Abstract: During the last decade, photo, bio and photobiodegradable plastic mulches have become commercially available and have been processed with good mechanical properties. Also they are becoming more popular because conventional plastic mulches use a great deal of energy and working hours in order to be removed from the field for disposal or recycling. A study was conducted to determine crop system effect on degradation of photodegradable black and clear plastic mulches formulated in CIQA and on quality and yield of muskmelon (cv.Cruiser).These films were compared versus conventional black and clear plastic mulches.  Photodegradable clear film showed a premature degradation, because in the crop system treatments at 35 days after planting the plastic mulch had lost 91 % of tensile properties compared with 12% of the control; however in the same treatment photodegradable black films lasted until the end of season showing only a 70 % degradation versus 12 % of conventional black film. Total soluble solids were not affected by color film, type of plastic mulch or cropping system. Fruit yield was significantly greater in all cases with photodegradable plastic mulches, especially black plastic mulch. Yield showed a tendency to be increased in all treatments with no cropping system. Highest yield of 73.5 ton/ha was obtained with photodegradable black plastic mulch without cropping system.

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