Figures (2)  Tables (2)
    • Figure 1. 

      Relationship between mean daily root zone temperature (RZT) and black plastic film mulch degradation rating during the first 42 d after transplanting (DAT). Transplanting was on 24 Aug. Film degradation rating was evaluated visually on a scale of 0 to 5 (0 = 0% degradation; 1 = 1% to 5% degradation; 2 = 6% to 10% degradation; 3 = 11% to 20% degradation; 4 = 21% to 50% degradation; 5 = > 50% degradation). Tifton, GA, USA.

    • Figure 2. 

      Eggplant marketable yield as a function of the mean daily root zone temperature (RZT) under colored plastic mulches during the first 42 d after transplanting. Transplanting was on 24 Aug Tifton, GA, USA.

    • MulchMulch color23 June25 July5 Aug24 Aug8 Sept
      4566ABlack0.000.00 dz,y0.5 f0.25 e0.75 f
      4603MBlack0.000.25 cd0.75 ef0.75 cde0.50 f
      4603PBlack0.000.75 cd0.75 ef0.50 de0.75 f
      4603QBlack0.001.00 c0.75 ef1.00 cd1.75 def
      4611JBlack0.000.50 cd2.5 c3.50 b4.25 abc
      4611LBlack0.002.00 b4 b4.50 a5.00 a
      4636ABlack0.000.25 cd0.25 f1.00 cd2.75 cde
      4636BBlack0.000.50cd0.75 ef0.50 de1.75 def
      4636CBlack0.000.50 cd0.75 ef0.75 cde0.75 f
      4637BBlack0.002.25 b4.25 ab4.75 a4.75 ab
      4637CBlack0.000.25 cd0 f0.75 cde1.50 def
      4637DBlack0.004.25 a5 a5.00 a5.00 a
      4637EBlack0.000.75 cd2.25 cd3.50 b4.25 abc
      4625ATransparent0.005.00 a5 a5.00 a5.00 a
      4625DTransparent0.000.75 cd0.5 f1.00 cd3.00 bcd
      4626CTransparent0.000.00 d0 f0.50 de0.50 f
      4637ATransparent0.000.75 cd0.75 ef0.50 de1.00 ef
      4636LWhite0.001.00 c1.75 cd1.25 c1.50 def
      4636MWhite0.000.00 d0.75 ef0.75 cde0.75 f
      4636NWhite0.000.75 cd1.5 de1.00 cd2.00 def
      p<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001<0.0001
      z Values that are followed by different letters in the same column are significantly different by Fischer's Protected Least Significant Difference test at p ≤ 0.05.
      y Film degradation was evaluated visually on a scale of 0 to 5 (0 = 0% degradation; 1 = 1% to 5% degradation; 2 = 6% to 10% degradation; 3 = 11% to 20% degradation; 4 = 21% to 50% degradation; 5 = > 50% degradation).

      Table 1. 

      Visual degradation of plastic film mulches under field conditions during the eggplant growing season. Plastic film mulches varied in color and chemical composition (laid on 23 June 2005). Tifton, GA, USA.

    • Mulch filmFilm colorSeasonal RZT
      (°C)
      Early marketable (t/ha)Total marketable (t/ha)Fruit weight
      (g)
      4566ABlack28.19 dz4.02 cde14.6 ab373 abc
      4603MBlack29.31 b4.11 cde16.7 ab355 bc
      4603PBlack28.27 d4.62 bcde16.4 ab360 bc
      4603QBlack27.71 e4.29 cde15.2 ab347 bc
      4611JBlack27.73 e5.07 bcd15.3 ab345 bc
      4611LBlack25.97 i4.20 cde16.4 ab346 bc
      4636ABlack28.81 c2.77 e10.4 c430 a
      4636BBlack28.86 c3.61 cde14.5 abc365 bc
      4636CBlack27.60 e4.84 bcde14.7 abc376 ab
      4637BBlack26.79 g4.58 bcde12.8 bc330 bc
      4637CBlack28.65 c4.39 cde17.2 ab352 bc
      4637DBlack26.46 h4.80 bcde15.3 abc352 bc
      4637EBlack27.78 e4.85 bcde13.4 abc325 bc
      4625ATransparent26.98 fg4.30 cde16.3 ab327 bc
      4625DTransparent29.93 a3.64 cde14.1 abc351 bc
      4626CTransparent29.24 b3.12 de14.7 abc328 bc
      4637ATransparent29.27 b2.86 de17.0 ab320 bc
      4636LWhite27.14 f6.79 ab16.5 abc335 bc
      4636MWhite26.92 fg7.50 a17.5 a341 bc
      4636NWhite26.36 h5.52 abc16.1 ab313 c
      p<0.00010.0180.04310.046
      LSD0.512.284.660
      z Values that are followed by different letters in the same column are significantly different by Fischer's Protected Least Significant Difference test at p ≤ 0.05.

      Table 2. 

      Seasonal root zone temperature (RZT) and cumulative fruit yields of eggplant grown on various plastic film mulches. Tifton, GA, USA Fall of 2005.