Mechanical properties of silage covering fabrics as agrotextiles

Abstract

The woven agrotextiles used in a wide variety of agricultural applications in the product cultivation and protection activities, horticulture and floriculture, aquaculture, forestry as well as animal husbandry activities have an important role to protect silages from bird/insect attacks or damages related to environmental conditions. In this study, nine different woven silage covering fabrics made of polyethylene monofilaments were designed according to desired areal porosity ratio. Afterwards, the effect of weave type and weft setting on mechanical and air permeability properties of the produced agrotextiles were investigated. The obtained results were discussed statistically. The highest values for bursting and shear strength were measured as 2.60 kN and 0.25 kN for P1 plain fabric, respectively. Twill and mat fabric structures did not burst during testing. Highlights Woven silage covering fabrics made of polyethylene monofilaments were produced according to desired areal porosity ratio. The effect of weave type and weft setting on mechanical and air permeability properties of the produced agrotextiles were investigated. The highest values for bursting and shear strength were measured as 2.60 kN and 0.25 kN for P1 plain fabric, respectively. Besides, no bursting was observed in mat and twill fabrics.