G. Scarascia-Mugnozza ⁽¹⁾, G. Vox ⁽¹⁾, L. Stefani ^(2)
(1)  Dipartimento PROGESA - University of Bari - via Amendola 165/a - 70126 Bari - Italy
email: scarasci@agr.uniba.it
⁽²⁾  PATI S.p.A. - Via Beltramini 50/52, 31020, San Zenone degli Ezzelini, Treviso, Italy
email: infotec@pati.it

Keywords:  greenhouses, plastic films, degradation, pesticides

Abstract: The object of this research is to study of the effects of the pesticides, generally used in protected cultivation, on greenhouse plastic films.  Two different EVA plastic films, Patilux and Opalux, were produced by PATI each of them using three versions of different anti-UV additives. Experimental tests were carried out by means of six different little tunnels covered with the EVA films, in which was a system for spraying the pesticides. The pesticides were applied for 16 weeks, twice a week, and contained sulphur, chlorine and copper in order to evaluate the effects of these components on the materials in relation also with the climatic conditions of the site. The climatic parameters were gathered by means of electronic data-logger and sensors: particularly were recorded solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity in field.  Samples of the tested plastic materials were taken at fixed time intervals from the tunnels, in accordance with the observed degradation process; the physical and mechanical properties of the samples were examined by means of laboratory tests. Particularly the tensile strength was measured as mechanical property, solar and long wave infrared transmissivity as physical properties.  At the end of the field and laboratory tests a  comparison was carried out between the six materials in order to find innovative and more resistant films and additives.

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