Estudo da gestão eficiente da água na cultura do pimento com filmes de cobertura do solo

Mestrado em Engenharia do Ambiente - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe use of plastic films in agriculture is expanding worldwide over the last decades because of their benefits on crop growth and yield, increasing economic benefit. However, its utilization causes a serious disadvantage with massive quantities of waste. The introduction of biodegradable films, which can be disposed directly into the soil, can be one possible solution to this problem. Biodegradable plastics for mulching practices appeared on the market and now they are considered an appropriate solution for such a problem. In the present research results of experimental tests carried out on biodegradable films used in Bell-pepper protected cultivation are presented. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the performance of biodegradable mulch films with the conventional polyethylene ones in relation to water use efficiency. The water vapour permeability was also evaluated in laboratorial experiments with both kinds of films. Water supply is a major constraint to crop production in the Mediterranean region. Efficient use of water by irrigation is becoming increasingly important and so the objective of this study was to evaluate the water use efficiency by using biodegradable mulches in horticultur