What to Do When Plastic Mulch Burns Vegetables? Here Are the Latest Prevention and Control Methods
In recent years, plastic mulch has often been used in vegetable production. Adopting plastic mulch technology can not only raise soil temperature, reduce water evaporation and prevent soil surface compaction, but also lower the humidity in greenhouses and reduce the occurrence and spread of diseases. However, if used improperly, it can very easily cause burns to vegetables and affect their normal growth. So what should be done when plastic mulch burns vegetables? Let's take a look together.
1. Symptoms and causes
In clear, high-temperature weather, because the plastic mulch openings are not sealed tightly, vegetables can very easily be burned. This situation mainly occurs because the plastic mulch transmits light and increases temperature, causing surface moisture to evaporate, which then forms water droplets under the film. When the planting holes are exposed, the hot air under the film rushes out from the holes, and under the high temperatures at noon, this causes burns to the vegetables. It often also causes heat damage to the root and stem area of vegetables, which not only affects their normal growth, but also gives pathogens an opportunity to invade, causing diseases such as stem rot, resulting in missing plants and broken rows, and in severe cases reducing yield. In addition, when temperatures are high at noon, vegetable leaves directly touching the plastic mulch can also be burned, and this situation is more common when the plastic mulch is black.
2. Preventive measures
After covering vegetables with plastic mulch, fine soil or clods of earth can be used to press down the mulch and seal the planting holes tightly, which can prevent the hot air under the mulch from burning the vegetables. At the same time, pay attention to weather changes. If high-temperature and strong-light weather occurs, shade nets should be covered in time to prevent the temperature inside the greenhouse from becoming too high.
3. Emergency measures
After finding that plants have been burned, fine soil should be used promptly to firm up the area around the plastic mulch and seal the gaps between the mulch and the plants to prevent high temperatures from continuing to cause damage. If the burn is mild, sprays such as brassinolide and gibberellin can be applied to regulate plant growth, while strengthening fertilizer and water management so the plants quickly recover their growth. If seedlings are burned, protective fungicides can be sprayed to prevent stem rot. If the burn is relatively severe, the plants should be pulled out promptly and replaced with new plants to reduce losses as much as possible.
The above is an introduction to what to do when plastic mulch burns vegetables. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.