El 8-Grower & Marketer, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 1,2003 Strawberry Plasticulture Offers Sweet Rewards PIKETON, Ohio Excess rainfall last spring worked to the disadvantage of many Ohio farmers, with the exception of a few unique strawberry produc ers. Despite the rain, strawberry research plots at the Ohio State University Extension South Centers sat high and dry on a bed of plastic mulch, said Brad Bergefurd, an Ohio State Ex tension horticulture agent. “Plasticulture production may be a good option for Ohio strawberry growers to increase their yields on small-acreage farms,” Bergefurd said. Ohio State researchers have been working with North Carolina extension agents and specialists to test plasticulture methods for strawberries, which produce earlier and higher, more consis tent yields for North Carolina growers. “If we can get strawberries to harvest two to three weeks earlier, that will get fanners in the markets earlier and possibly increase their income,” Berge furd said. “The potential is there to double yields on a more consistent basis than with the matted row system.” The plasticulture method could increase the typical 5,000 to 6,000 pounds per acre to 10,000 to 12,000. At this point, the smallest yield for the re search trials was 11,000 pounds per acre, Bergefurd said. “The work done so far looks really promising, but we only have one year under our belt and a long way to go,” he said. 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At the same time, the sheet of mulch con serves moisture, reduces weed growth by blocking out the sun, and keeps the strawberries cleaner by keeping them out of the mud. The black mulch also absorbs heat so that the soil stays warmer to increase plant growth, Bergefurd said. Heat absorption warms the soil earlier in the spring and later in the fall, benefiting yields. “More and more Ohio vege tables growers, especially fresh market, are using black plastic mulch because of its benefits,” he said. “ The biggest drawback in plasticulture is the cost,” Berge furd -said. “Over $lO,OOO an acre is invested in plasticulture strawberries before you ever pick your first strawberry. In addition, another $3,000 is needed to take the crop through harvest.” These costs, figured by North Carolina agents and specialists, include every ex pense from a computer to In ternet connection to a mulcher. The plasticulture strawberry growers in North Carolina re plant every season to maintain high yields. Ohio matted row growers typically replant every three to four years, Bergefurd said. Despite the annual $lO,OOO-per-acre investment, the higher, more consistent yields in plasticulture strawber ries result in more income for growers than matted row acres. Ohio State researchers are comparing notes with Mary land researchers on a two-year system that could eventually be an option. "If we could use a two-year system, it would stretch the $lO,OOO over a long er time period,” he said. Only a few growers have made the switch to plasticul ture, which is more commonly used in vegetable production, Bergefurd. “I could see matted row growers planting an acre or two of plasticulture strawber ries to kick off their season earlier and stretch their income a little longer. “If this system takes off, we could start a whole other busi ness,” Bergefurd said. 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