Soil solarization in greenhouse by using ecocompatible plastic films

Amongst the different eco-compatible techniques, the soil solarization using plastic films, in temperate regions and in greenhouses, represents one of the better alternatives to the use of methyl bromide in order to contain soil borne diseases. On the other hand, it must be noted that a high employment of plastic materials in agriculture causes the production of enormous quantities of waste, whose inappropriate management might have negative effects on the whole agro-ecosystem. This problem can be partly solved by using both co-extrused ultrathin films, which are able to reduce the plastic quantity to be managed, and biodegradable films, which will spontaneously start up a degradation process, after a first usage. This paper reports the results of a research, carried out in Southern Italy close to “Pantanello” experimental farm (40°20’N; 16°48’E) in Metaponto area, with the aim to evaluate mechanical and spectroradiometrical characteristics as well as soil solarization aptitude of 2 eco-compatible plastic films, compared to 2 traditional films. Moreover, after the solarization treatment, carried out in greenhouse from 13th July to 16th September 2002. In the same soil, a melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud. cv. Drake F1) crop was grown, during spring-summer period in 2003, to analyse yield, quality of fruits, percentage of melon plants infested by root-knot nematodes and weed control.