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New technological innovations in Mulch Films aim at enhancing growth of agricultural produ ...
 

Mulch film generally used to eliminate weeds around plants has been predominantly in black colour. Coextruded white (for exterior) and black (for interior) mulch films have been in use for the last 2-3 decades, to prevent burning of plants due to excessive heat absorption through black colour. Israel, was the first in developing coloured mulch films for modification of light energy to achieve higher yields. Infact, Israel made the desert bloom with the coloured mulch films. Experimental work, that has been going for the last 1-2 decades, with different colours for different products has shown that tomatoes grow more with red colour, while green produces similar results with melons and green chillies. Apparently, blue film improves productivity of brinjal. Metallized silver colour film seems to improve growth of strawberries. Interestingly, colored mulch films have better impact on productivity in colder climates as compared to tropical regions. Research is being conducted to develop photo-selective films that preferentially absorb or reflect different wavelengths of light energy. These photo-selective mulch films are designed for specific crops, climatic conditions etc. New developments on mulch film include barrier films that are impervious to Methyl Bromide used as fumigant to kill bacteria, such films helps in retaining Methyl Bromide under the cover. Infact, "VIF" (known as Virtually Impermeable Film) is now commercially used in Europe. Such films have multiple layers, including a Polyamide barrier layer.

Continuing developments in mulch films could bring about radical changes in the future from the pioneering concept of black film to only kill weeds and thereby achieve higher growth of agricultural products.

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