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HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of...

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HANDLE WITH CARE: HANDLE WITH CARE: BIODEGRADABLE MULCH BIODEGRADABLE MULCH HANDLING AND CLEANING HANDLING AND CLEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
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Page 1: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

HANDLE WITH CARE:HANDLE WITH CARE:BIODEGRADABLE BIODEGRADABLE

MULCH HANDLING MULCH HANDLING AND CLEANING AND CLEANING

Jeremy S. CowanDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington

State University, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA

98273

Page 2: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Mount Vernon, Washington field site, July 23, 2010

Page 3: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Evaluating Biodegradable Plastic Evaluating Biodegradable Plastic Mulches for Use in High Tunnel Mulches for Use in High Tunnel Tomato Production in Western Tomato Production in Western

WashingtonWashington Effects of BDM on tomato yield and fruit

quality oBrix, Acidity, pH, Firmness, *Ascorbic Acid,

*Lycopene

Visual ratings of BDM degradation and image analysis Calibrate visual assessments w/ image analysis and

compare with physical properties to determine efficacy for measuring loss of BDM integrity

Potential Barriers to Adoption Demonstration plots, field days, focus groups,

surveys

Page 4: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Crop Yield & Fruit Quality Assessments

Marketable fruit (USDA grading) for fresh tomato: average weight and total fruit count

Unmarketable fruit categorized by predominantdisorder or disease

Fruit quality assessments include: Juice content Soluble solids (Brix) pH & titratable acidity Lycopene and β-carotene Ascorbic acid

Page 5: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Table 1. Comparison of tomato yield in each field location (HT and OF) in Washington in 2010.

Table 2. Comparison of tomato yield by mulch treatment in Washington in 2010

Page 6: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Notice the tenting of SB PLA mulch and edge degradation of cellulose mulch at soil interface.

SB PLA

Cellulose

Page 7: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Table 3. Comparison of area under mulch degradation progress curve (AUDPC) values amongmulch treatments by field location (HT and OF) in Washington in 2010

Page 8: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Digital imaging of mulch samplesTransformation to monochromatic

imagesHistogram of luminosity is obtainedCompare area under histogram curves

of BDM samples at Times 1 – 3 with visual assessments and physical properties data to establish correlation coefficients

Image-based Analysis of BDM Degradation

Page 9: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

BDM samples collected & analyzed upon receipt from manufacturer (Time 0), at mulch laying (Time 1), at first flower (Time 2), and at final harvest (Time 3)

Evaluating primary physical/structural characteristics by measuring: Thickness Weight Tensile strength Elongation Tearing strength

Mulch Treatment Degradation & Biodegradation Assessments

Page 10: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

The QuestionIf biodegradable plastic mulches

provide both environmental benefits (no landfilling or burning) and

economic benefits (one study reports a 25% cost savings) then why are

farmers slow to adopt in the United States, specifically Western

Washington? And, how might an opportunity to see degrading mulches

affect growers perceptions?

Page 11: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Theoretical FrameworkNeoclassical Economic Theory

Diffusion of Innovations

Bourdieu’s Theory of CapitalForms of Cultural Capital

Epistemic Barriers

Page 12: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Current Status Year 1 complete Year 2

Tunnels are upBDM’s are laid Inside tomatoes planted

Protocols for image analysis being developed

Light box designed and under construction Experimental design for adoption study

under development Demonstration plots are being planned

Page 13: HANDLE WITH CARE: B IODEGRADABLE M ULCH H ANDLING AND C LEANING Jeremy S. Cowan Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State.

Many Thanks to:Carol MilesKaren LeonasDebbie Inglis & Babette

GundersonJonathan Roozen, Karen

Hasenoehrl, and the MV Veg Hort Team and Grad Students

Hang Liu and the Leonas’ Lab


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