Re:CULT:colors/thickness plastic films solarization

In a message dated 6/29/2002 5:22:03 PM Central Daylight Time, 
lmann@volfirst.net writes:

<< Soil temperatures under black plastic mulch during the daytime
 are generally 5°F higher at a 2 inch depth and 3°F higher at a 4 inch
 depth compared to that of bare soil. Daytime soil temperatures under
 clear plastic mulch during the daytime are generally 8° to 14°F higher
 at a 2 inch depth and 6° to 9°F higher at a 4 inch depth compared to
 that of bare soil. >>

I subscribed to Organic Gardening for years.  Read everything I could get my 
hands on about Gardening in general & organic in particular.  In 1986 I had a 
lot of iris to transplant and didn't want to use round up to prepare the 
soil.  The area was approximately 50" X 50."  

I believe I bought both black & clear plastic in 10" X 50" foot rolls.  
Anyway, come mid-July & early August I'm out there laying down plastic.  Oh, 
did I mention it was an old garden/pasture/whatever spot?  

 Both killed the grass. But my best memory comes from the clear plastic. I 
was constantly walking the perimeter of the plastic checkin in on things.  
One day I saw smoke coming off the burned grass under the plastic!  It was a 
very hot summer!  I wouldn't have had that great experience with black 
plastic.  

Solarization--you need to seal the edges of the plastic. It should be done 
after the soil is tilled and then the surface shouldn't be broken . . . like 
pre-emergents.  It's supposed to work for two inches down.  Once it's stirred 
again more seed are brought back up.  

Temps.  under black plastic.  One spring, I ran my own soil temperature 
checks.  Checked bare soil and soil with black plastic over it.  Used one of 
those temp gauges on a stake.  Ran tests daily for two or three weeks in 
March.  Checked the top two inches and in this case I got a consistent 2 
degree difference.  

Night All.  It's been a long day!

Betty Wilkerson Zone 7 south-central Kentucky

American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
iris-talk/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
iris-photos/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>

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