Project Description
This transdisciplinary research and extension project on Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced Under Protective Covers (Reference No: 2009-02484; funded by NIFA’s SCRI program) investigated whether experimental and leading commercially-available biodegradable mulches are comparable to conventional black plastic in both high tunnel and open field crop production. During 2010–2012, a team of 17 scientists evaluated biodegradable mulches in a tomato production system in three diverse regions of the U.S.: eastern Tennessee, central Texas, and western Washington. In addition, the team evaluated the adaptability of six lettuce, strawberry and tomato cultivars to high tunnel production in these contrasting environments.
Publications
Acknowledgement
(View acknowledgement in Powerpoint)
Project Team Members
- Eric Belasco, Economist, Montana State University
- Marion Brodhagen, Cellular and Molecular Biologist, Western Washington University
- Andrew Corbin, Ecologist and WSU/Snohomish Co. Extension
- Suzette Galinato, Economist, WSU Pullman
- Doug Hayes, Biosystems Engineer, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Debbie Inglis, Plant Pathologist, WSU NWREC
- Jaehoon Lee, Environmental and Soil Physicist, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Karen Leonas, Textile Scientist, WSU Pullman
- Hang Liu, Research Intern and Textile Scientist, WSU Pullman
- Tom Marsh, Economist, WSU Pullman
- Carol Miles, Vegetable Horticulturist, WSU NWREC
- Jennifer Moore-Kucera, Soil and Environmental Microbiologist, Texas Tech University
- Srinivasa Ponnaluru, Economist, WSU Pullman
- Larry Wadsworth, Nonwoven Textiles Scientist, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Russ Wallace, Horticulturist, Texas Agri-Life REC
- Tom Walters, Small Fruit Horticulturist, WSU NWREC
- Annette Wszelaki, Horticulturist, University of Tennessee-Knoxville