First results of biodegradable mulching on small berries fruits

A key purpose of the technique of mulching is the maintenance and proper management of soil fertility, considered in its multiple aspects (organic matter, nutrients, microbial activity, soil structure, water retention) in order to ensure a stable level of productivity to minimize agronomic inputs (fertilizers, irrigation, processing) and costs. Plastic films of different chemical nature (PE, PVC, EVA) and thickness cover more than 150.000 ha of cultivable area in Italy. There are numerous references to relevant results from research on the most suitable materials for this application, both in terms of the constitution and of the thickness and length of employment as well as studies to assess the effect of different colors on the characteristics of growth plants. The most commonly used plastic films in agriculture while meeting the needs of this very practice, present a greater problem for their disposal at the end of cultivation, and their recovery. The availability of new materials such as the biodegradable and compostable materials sold under the trade name Mater-Bi (produced using vegetable components such as starches vegetable oils) that show mechanical properties similar to those of traditional plastics are an interesting solution. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of a biodegradable Mater-Bi mulch film on multi-annual crops such as raspberry and highbush blueberry, concerning the maintenance of the water content of soil determined both instrumentally and through gravimetric measures, to measure the height and the number of suckers and finally to evaluate the quality of fruits.