Strawberry autumn production with biodegradable mulch films - results from 1 st year of AGROBIOFILM project

The development of conventional mulch films made from polyethylene (PE) really enhanced the commercial production of horticultural systems. However its utilisation derives significant environmental impacts due to the problems associated with its management at the end of the crop cycle. The process of PE removal always produces small fragments, caused by structural fragility at the end of the crop cycle, due to continued exposure to environmental conditions. A solution to reduce the environmental impacts related with this practice should include the development of economically competitive biodegradable plastics, which at the end of the campaign can be plough into the soil to naturally degrade there. The aim of this study was to compare the field performance of a biodegradable mulch film (agrobiofilm) against PE, in the production of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) during the autumn production cycle, both in greenhouses and open field conditions. The field trial was established in a 715m2 plot in Azeitada (Portugal). Three completely randomised blocks of 25 plants per mulch were selected, on which some parameters such as temperature and soil moisture, productivity and fruit quality were evaluated. The results obtained in greenhouse and open field conditions, as regards the quality of the fruits, do not reveal any significant differences. Regarding the fruit yield there were significant differences only in greenhouse production, with agrobiofilm showing a higher fruit yield (35,2 tons/ha) compared to PE (31,0 ton/ha). Soil probes showed that to a depth of 20cm the temperature was on average 1ºC higher under PE mulch. However, at 30cm the soil conditions changed, being 1ºC higher under agrobiofilm. During the first year of AGROBIOFILM project, the tested biodegradable mulch film showed to be a sustainable option to the replacement of PE based mulches, since it finely adapted to the climatic conditions and conventional agricultural practice