Biodegradable paper/polymerized vegetable oil mulches for tomato and pepper production

Abstract

This project was undertaken to compare the efficacy of a biodegradable paper/cured vegetable oil mulch with newspaper/straw and bare soil for reducing weed growth and promoting vegetable yields. There were no significant differences in total tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) or pepper (Capsicum annum) yields between the different mulch types. The coated paper and newspaper/straw mulches were effective in preventing weed growth around the plants while hand weeding was required for the bare soil plots. After 3 months, there was slight degradation (a few cracks, holes) of the coated paper mulches but not enough to allow noticeable weed penetration or detachment of the buried edge. Paper/cured oil mulch rolls appear to be a convenient and effective alternative to laborious hand weeding or spreading of newspaper and straw for vegetable gardening.