2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Developing high functioning degradable agricultural paper mulch has been a high research priority at Highmoor Farm. Previous work produced resulted in a commercially viable product that was eventually orphaned by the commercial partner. In 2016 initial tests were performed with new paper formulations. A randomized complete block experiment was conducted with four replications using eight paper mulch treatments and three crop subplots. The following eight mulch treatments were evaluated: Bare soil (no mulch), Planter’s Paper (Paris Farmers Union, Oxford, ME), WeedGuard (Sunshine Paper Co., Aurora, CO), black paper mulch (Verso Paper Corporation, Bucksport, ME a product remaining from earlier work), degradable plastic mulch (Paris Farmer’s Union, Oxford, ME), black plastic mulch (Pliant Corporation, Washington, GA), CP577, CP581, CP588. The CP series are paper mulches developed at the University of Maine and produced by Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. (Bennington, NH).

Application of the CP paper mulch was straightforward and uncomplicated with only minor adjustments needed to the mulch layer. The roll was placed in the roller cradle closest to the tractor and the roller tension set as loose as possible. The tension wheels were held off the mulch by tying them up to the mulch layer frame. The Planter’s paper and WeedGuard papers could only be applied by hand. The plastic mulch showed no signs of degradation through the growing season. The degradable plastic mulch had slight degradation by the end of the growing season. CP588 showed only slight degradation through the growing season. The Verso Planter’s paper and WeedGuard paper mulches had rapid degradation of the buried portion soon after application. On 7 August, winds tore large sections of CP577, WeedGuard, Planter’s paper and CP581 mulches. The overall performance of the paper mulches was very promising. The paper mulches produced yields in this experiment similar to both standard plastic mulch and degradable plastic mulch. The experimental CP paper mulches are superior to the commercially available papers in that they are able to be applied using stand agricultural mulch laying equipment. Of the papers tested CP 588 was considered superior. The paper remained intact through the entire season and produce yields of the three crops evaluated comparable to the standard production practice of black plastic mulch.