The photometric properties of different colored plastic mulches used for soil solarization

Abstract

An experiment was carried out both in the field and laboratory in order to test the validity of different colors of plastic polyethylene (PE) sheets (black, blue, green, yellow and red) for soil mulching. Photometric properties measurements (absorptance, transmittance and reflectance in the ultraviolet-visible and infrared regions of the radiation spectrum) of the PE mulches were made during July 1987. The transmittance of colored PE sheets, to global solar radiation is arranged in the order of: black < blue < yellow < green < red ⩽ transparent (control). Red and transparent PE mulches have an even transmittance to global solar radiation and to IR radiation. Whereas the absorptance to global solar radiation of the red PE mulch was more than the transparent one. Thus red PE mulch could be utilized for soil mulching rather than the transparent PE.