Mechanical characterization of plastic nets for protected cultivation

Plastic nets are widely used for different purposes in the agricultural sector: nets for the protection from hail and wind in fruit-farming; shading nets for greenhouses; biological nets for the protection against virus-vector insects. They are spread all over Europe, especially in Italy, where they cover many thousands of hectares. Unlike plastic film, the mechanical characteristics of nets used for protected cultivation were not adequately investigated so far. Main objective of the present paper has been to investigate the mechanical properties of some plastic nets diffused in the Italian market for wind-break and anti-insect application, in order to compare their minimum requisites according to their agricultural employment. The results would facilitate their choice for a sound application in the agricultural sector.