Julio E. Hasing and Carl E. Motsenbocker*,
Department of Horticulture, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803

Keywords:  soil temperatures, clear and black plastic mulch, yield and economic analysis

Abstract:  Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of summer soil solarization on soil temperatures and the yield and economics of fall-planted lettuce in Southern Louisiana. Solarization treatments were designed to test summer solarization (clear and black polyethylene films) compared with bare ground and fall-installed standard mulch (black film) combined with the application of soil pesticides. Four lettuce cultivars were evaluated with all treatments. During August minimum soil temperatures of 114ºF were maintained at least one hour at a 4-inch depth on all summer solarization plots, while on bare ground soil temperatures were below 95º F.  Temperatures under clear plastic were statistically higher (< 1 ºF) to those under black mulch during the solarization period.  Lettuce plant weight was affected by cultivar and solarization treatment: plant weight was 2.2 oz higher in plastic mulch plots, and summer solarization increased plant weight 0.6 oz compared to fall-installed plastic mulches.

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