Application of Biodegradable

Plastic Mulches in Tissue Culture Red

Raspberry Huan Zhang MS student

Advisor: Lisa DeVetter

Co-advisor: Carol Miles

Washington State University Northwestern Research and Extension Center

Team

Lisa DeVetter

CarolMiles

ChrisBenedict

Me

IngaZasada

ShureshGhimire

Rationale

• Tissue culture plug establishment

• Biodegradable plastic mulches

• Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans)

• Overall on-farm profitability

Tissue CultureNumber of Plants

Clean MaterialEstablishment DifficultyWeak Weed Competitors

http://kryptokoryne.aquaticscape.com/

Rationale

• Tissue culture plug establishment

• Biodegradable plastic mulches

• Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans)

• Overall on-farm profitability

Mulch in AgricultureMaterials

PolyethyleneFunctions

Biodegradable Plastic MulchBiodegradable Materials

Comparable to PolyethyleneFew Studies in Perennial Systems

Reduce Labor & Plastic Waste GenerationOn-farm Efficiency

Rationale

• Tissue culture plug establishment

• Biodegradable plastic mulches

• Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans)

• Overall on-farm profitability

Root Lesion NematodeMajor Pest

ActivityNo Previous Studies

https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/nematodes

Rationale

• Tissue culture plug establishment

• Biodegradable plastic mulches

• Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus penetrans)

• Overall on-farm profitability

Spring-planted trial, May 18, 2017 Fall-planted trial, August 9, 2017

Study Establishment

Objectives

1. Plant growth

2. Fruit yield

3. Weed incidence

4. Soil temperature and moisture

5. Root lesion nematode populations

6. Surface and in-soil mulch degradation

Spring TrialExperimental Design

Trial Spring-planted

Fall-planted

Size 0.8 acres 2 acres

Design Randomized Complete Block

Replications 5

Plot Length 120 ft 210 ft

Block Across Row Along Row

Fumigation Broadcast; Sept. 2016

Bed; June 2017

Cultivar WakeField WakeHaven

Spring trial Fall trial

MulchesTreatment Code Thickness Manufacturer

Organix 0.5 A 0.5 mil Organix Solutions; Maple Grove, MN

Organix 0.6 B 0.6 mil Organix Solutions; Maple Grove, MN

Bio360 0.5 C 0.5 mil Dubois Agrinovation; Saint Remi, Quebec, Canada

Bio360 0.6 D 0.6 mil Dubois Agrinovation; Saint Remi, Quebec, Canada

Polyethylene (PE) E 1.0 mil FilmTech, LLC., Stanley, WI

No mulch (control) F -- --

BDMs

Methods - Mulch Application

• Mulch Application

Mechanized Plug Planting

Example: Rain-Flo Model #1600 Series II Water Wheel punches planting holes and inserts plugs in one pass.

Methods - Mechanical Planting

Leslie Hancoop

Lisa DeVetter

May 18, 2017

July 6, 2017

Lisa DeVetter

July 27, 2017

Lisa DeVetter

Aug. 30, 2017

Lisa DeVetter

Sept. 15, 2017

Sept. 29, 2017

Oct. 15, 2017

Oct. 27, 2017

Data Collection

Soil temperature Soil moisture – volumetric and gravimetric Soil nutrient status

Primocane number and height Leaf water potential Photosynthetic rate Plant nutrient status Yield – starting 2018 Fruit quality (%SSC and pH) – starting 2018

Percent soil exposure (PSE) In-soil degradation – starting 2018

Weed number Weed shoot fresh and dry weight RLN root and soil densities

Pests

Mulch

Soils

PlantResponse

Data Collection

Sept. 29, 2017

WeixinGan

WeixinGan

Oct. 27, 2017

https://www.redbubble.com/people/peppermintpopuk/works/14817037-cute-potato?p=sticker

WeixinGan

Primocane Height (in.)

0102030405060708090

100

25-MAY 30-JUN 28-JUL 30-AUG 29-SEP 27-OCT

Prim

ocan

e he

ight

(in.

)

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5 Bio360 0.6 PE Bare Ground

NS**

***

***

*** ***

NS: nonsignificant *** : P ≤ 0.05*** : P ≤ 0.01*** : P ≤ 0.0001

02468

101214161820

28-JUL 30-AUG 29-SEP 27-OCT

Prim

ocan

e nu

mbe

rs (N

o./h

ill)

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5 Bio360 0.6 PE Bare Ground

Primocane Numbers (per hill)

NS

***

***

***

Primocane Growth –July 6, 2017

Bare Ground Mulched

Plant Growth – July 6, 2017

3 in. – 150%

Data Collection

Soil temperature Soil moisture – volumetric and gravimetric Soil nutrient status

Primocane number and height Leaf water potential Photosynthetic rate Plant nutrient status Yield – starting 2018 Fruit quality (%SSC and pH) – starting 2018

Percent soil exposure (PSE) In-soil degradation – starting 2018

Weed number Weed shoot fresh and dry weight RLN root and soil densities

Pests

Mulch

Soils

PlantResponse

Data Collection

012345678

30-JUN 28-JUL 30-AUG 29-SEP 27-OCT

Wee

ds c

ount

(num

ber/1

1 ft2

)

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5 Bio360 0.6 PE BG

Weed Numbers

*

**

*

NS

Root Lesion Nematode Densities(Sampled Oct. 11, 2017)

0

50

100

150

200

250

RLN

(g/ro

ot)

020406080

100120140

Organix0.5

Organix0.6

Bio3600.5

Bio3600.6

PE BG

RLN

/100

g s

oil

Treatment

Photo by R. Rudolph

Root Lesion Nematode (10 Oct. 2017)

Photo by L. DeVetter

Data Collection

Soil temperature Soil moisture – volumetric and gravimetric Soil nutrient status

Primocane number and height Leaf water potential Photosynthetic rate Plant nutrient status Yield – starting 2018 Fruit quality (%SSC and pH) – starting 2018

Percent soil exposure (PSE) In-soil degradation – starting 2018

Weed number Weed shoot fresh and dry weight RLN root and soil densities

Pests

Mulch

Soils

PlantResponse

Data Collection

Weekly Soil Temperature (4 inch depth)

55

60

65

70

75

80

2-JU

N

9-JU

N

16-J

UN

23-J

UN

30-J

UN

7-JU

L

14-J

UL

21-J

UL

28-J

UL

4-A

UG

11-A

UG

18-A

UG

25-A

UG

30-A

UG

TEM

PER

ATU

RE

(°F)

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5 Bio360 0.6 PE Bare Ground

Moved sensor in Organix 0.6 treatment

0.000.050.100.150.200.250.300.350.40

2-JU

N

9-JU

N

16-J

UN

23-J

UN

30-J

UN

7-JU

L

14-J

UL

21-J

UL

28-J

UL

4-A

UG

11-A

UG

18-A

UG

25-A

UG

30-A

UG

Volu

me

soil

wat

er c

onte

nt

(m³/m

³ )

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5

Weekly Volumetric Soil Water Content(4 inch depth)

Moved sensor in Organix 0.6 treatment

Data Collection

Soil temperature Soil moisture – volumetric and gravimetric Soil nutrient status

Primocane number and height Leaf water potential Photosynthetic rate Plant nutrient status Yield – starting 2018 Fruit quality (%SSC and pH) – starting 2018

Percent soil exposure (PSE) In-soil degradation – starting 2018

Weed number Weed shoot fresh and dry weight RLN root and soil densities

Pests

Mulch

Soils

PlantResponse

Data Collection

02468

101214

26-M

AY

15-J

UN

30-J

UN

14-J

UL

27-J

UL

15-A

UG

30-A

UG

15-S

EP

30-S

EPPS

E (%

) / 1

1 ft2

Organix 0.5 Organix 0.6 Bio360 0.5 Bio360 0.6 PE

NS

Percent Soil Exposure (%)

NS NS * **

*

**

Questions Asked During Research

1. Can I apply BDMs as part of my soil fumigation operation?

2. What materials can I apply during soil fumigation?3. Are there any regulations or limitations for adding

BDMs to my soil?

Lisa DeVetter

Lisa DeVetter

Take-home Notes

Known things Exploring things

Great weed management RLNImproved primocane growth Yield

Modification of soil moisture and temperature

On-farm profitability

Survival in wind

• Small Fruit Horticulture website: http://smallfruits.wsu.edu/

• Factsheets (BDM cost & Mechanical laying mulch)

• Biodegradable Mulch: www.biodegradablemulch.org

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Lisa Wasko DeVetter, PhDAssistant Professor of Small Fruit HorticultureWashington State University NWRECEmail: lisa.devetter@wsu.edu

Carol Miles, PhDProfessor of Vegetable HorticultureWashington State University NWRECEmail: milesc@wsu.edu

Huan ZhangMS Student of Horticulture Washington State University NWRECEmail: huan.zhang@wsu.edu

Left to right, top to bottom: Sean Watkinson, Ed Scheenstra, Matt Arrington, Weixin Gan, Clara TeVelde, and Washington raspberry growers.

Additional Team Members and Thanks

Funding:

Materials:

Funding and Material Support

Thank You