Plastic mulch is used in crop production and landscaping to suppress weeds and conserve water. The history of plastic mulch dates back to the 1950s when polyethylene film began being used as mulch. Using plastic mulch involves costs for equipment, the plastic film itself, specialized planters for plastic beds, and labor for installation and removal. Planting through plastic mulch requires equipment like waterwheel transplanters that utilize rotating drums with plant spikes.

2. Plastic Mulch
A Presentation By
Mr. Allah dad Khan
Visiting Professor the
University of Agriculture
Peshawar
allahdad52@gmail.com

3. Plastic mulch
History
Cost
Planting

4. Plastic mulch is a product used, in a
similar fashion to mulch, to suppress
weeds and conserve water in crop
production and landscaping.
The red color actually increases
stem strength

5. History
The idea of using polyethylene film as
mulch in plant production saw it’s
beginnings in the mid 1950’s.

6. Cost
These costs include equipment, the
plastic film used as the mulch,
transplanters designed for plastic
beds, and additional labor during
installation and removal of mulch films.
Hoophouses used for growing of
transplants

7. Planting
Planting also requires specialized planting equipment.
The most common planting equipment is a
waterwheel type transplanter. The waterwheel
transplanter utilizes a rotating drum or drums with
spikes at set intervals.
Plastic mulch-layer and cultivation
equipment are important components of the
Upper Forty farm machinery.

8. Potatoes coming up through a black plastic mulch. The plastic
keeps the ground warm, and it keeps the moisture in, and the
weeds at bay.

9. What is a High Tunnel
A high tunnel is a solar heated,
manually vented, plastic-
covered cold frame that is
used to lengthen the
traditional growing season for
many horticulture crops.

10. Tomatoes are most commonly established in the
high tunnel by transplants.
Staking and
stringing of
tomato plants
will improve fruit
quality and early
marketable
yield.
Pruning tomato plants

11. Panda plastic mulch clear
top with black sides.
Organic strawberry field:
variable plant vigour due to no
fumigation. Yields less than 1/
2 conventional.

12. Sweet, sweet potato
success for northern
growers!

13. Plastics used in agriculture can be recycled through:
• Mechanical recycling - for agriculture materials that are
still in relatively good condition

14. • Incineration/ Energy Recovery Processes - because plastic
has a high calorific value (i.e. polyethylene films from
greenhouses) this can be an excellent option in many
communities.

15. To preserve food
for a very long period