The Use of Hydromulching as an Alternative to Plastic Films in an Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus cv. Symphony) Crop: A Study of the Economic Viability

Josefa López-Marín,Francisco Moisés del Amor,Miriam Romero,Maria Carmen Piñero,José Manuel Brotons-Martínez,Amparo Gálvez

doi:10.3390/su13095313

Abstract

The use of mulching in agriculture suppresses the weeds around crop plants, enhances the nutrients status of soil, controls the soil structure and temperature, and reduces soil water evaporation. Excessive use of low-density polyethylene mulches is contributing to the accumulation of high amounts of plastic wastes, an environmental problem for agricultural ecosystems. Fragments of plastic from such wastes can be found in soils, in water resources, and in organisms, including humans. The objective of this work was to study the economic viability of the use of different hydromulches in an artichoke crop. Three blends were prepared by mixing paper pulp (recycled from used paper) and cardboard (from paper mills) with different additives: wheat straw (WS), rice hulls (RH), and substrate used for mushroom cultivation (MS). These were compared with low-density polyethylene (Pe), a treatment without mulching on bare soil where hand weeding was performed (HW), and a treatment without mulching on bare soil where herbicide was applied (H). The results indicate that the use of hydromulch in an artichoke crop represents a good alternative for reducing plastic waste in agriculture. The net profits of the hydromulch treatments (MS, WS, RH) were higher than for HW and H, and slightly lower than for Pe. The most profitable treatment was Pe (€0.69 m−3), followed by RH (€0.59 m−3), WS (€0.58 m−3), MS (€0.47 m−3), HW (€0.36 m−3), and H (€0.32 m−3). A sensitivity analysis showed a probability of negative results of 0.04 in Pe, 0.13 in SM, 0.08 in WS, and 0.07 in RH, so the probability that the grower will make a profit is greater than 0.9 with the use of mulch (except mushroom substrate) or polyethylene.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilOne of the great advances with regard to improving agronomic yields in crops in areas where water and the environmental conditions are limiting has been the use of plastic films for mulching [1,2,3]
Week: number of weeks since the beginning of the year, Pe: polyethylene, hand weeding was performed (HW): hand weeding, H: herbicide, MS: substrate used for mushroom cultivation, WS: wheat straw, RH: rice hulls
Week: number of weeks since the beginning of the year Pe: polyethylene, HW: hand weeding, H: herbicide, MS: substrate used for mushroom cultivation, WS: wheat straw, RH: rice hulls

Summary

Introduction

One of the great advances with regard to improving agronomic yields in crops in areas where water and the environmental conditions are limiting has been the use of plastic films for mulching [1,2,3]. Mulches, by influencing the temperature and improving the physical structure of the soil, produce a microclimate that improves the productivity in the use of water and fertilizers [9] and modifies the energy balance of the soil [10]. The most used mulching material is low-density polyethylene (LDPe) since, among its physical properties, it exhibits good impact resistance, very good processability, thermal and chemical resistance, flexibility, and impermeability to water, in addition to being a cheap material [6]. The use of LDPe provokes serious environmental concerns, iations

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