Plasticulture
Associated Documents:
Plasticulture
Question:
I would like to get information concerning plasticulture. Specifically, names of manufactures that make the equipment to lay down the plastic on flat beds and for row tunnels. Is there a typical width or is it based more on the type of crop and the farmer's wishes?
Response:
I'm still waiting to hear from our horticulture experts, however, in the mean time I found a company that sells Polyethylene film out of India. Here is their contact info:
http://www.pefilms-tarps-ropes.com/
Arun Manufacturing Services Pvt. Ltd.
Contact Person : Mr. H.P. Agarwal
Address : B-53, FF complex, Rani Jhansi Road, Jhandewalan,
New Delhi - 110 055 INDIA
Phone no : +(91)-(11)-23544555/23551699
Mobile : +(91)-9350107214
Fax : +(91)-(11)-23638587
Email : amspoly@vsnl.com ,amsdelhi@yahoo.co.in
I've also attached a .pdf file from Hawaii Extension Service about Plasticulture. Manufacturers can be found on page 7.
There is a company in Sibley, Louisiana (1-800-SAY RAIN) that has two agricultural engineers working for the Irrigation MartSupply, Inc. Mr. Robbins and his son can send you catalogs and facts sheets on mulch laying machines, plastic mulches (UV degradeable, biological degradeable, set month longevitiy, diffirent mils, different colors: silver, black, stripped, white, gray--inprinted, extra strength). Machines can be single row or up to many multiple rows. Bed shapers and drip irrigation applicators can be on the mulching machines or fixed seperately. I have a single row mulch machine that lays 8, 10 or 12 mil drip tape (T-tape is a brand name).
White plastic works best for strawberries, reflecting plastics best for peppers, canteloupes, eggplants, red stripped mulches are now used for tomatoes and red peppers.
If I can consult on a salaried basis please let me know. I work through Texas A&M International Agriculture Porgrams and completed an educational assistance program in fruit and vegetable harvesting and shipping
chilled food crops for growers and university professors in Bahli, Indonesia. We also assisted growers in the volcano lake regions on growing drip irrigated strawberries on black plastic raised mulch beds.
Please find The following:
The recommended width for the Greenhouse is 8m, and for the length 30m this is optimal to get best performance by the evaporative cooling system but you may go up to 40m which is more economic to the coverd area available, and for the height of the Greenhouse depends on the plant canopy height which we can clasified walk greenhouse (2.6m H, standard 3.2m H,and higher than depend on the crop type you intend to plant under like Bananas etc. Here under please find addresses but I do stress that you to give more attention for the manufactures in Jurdan & Turkey because its much worth to save from the cost of freight. If you want to go into more details concerning estimate cost & suppliers and design for:
1-Structure type & frame materials, concrete beam, Wind break.
2-Covering system type.
3-Evaporative cooling system.
4-Heating system
5-Shading system
6-Irrigation system type !!,Drainage system is needed fore sure to prevent from acsses water.
7-Site selection for Soilbed structure will be used, or in pots on tables then (soil sterilizer is needed)
8-Ventilators is badly needed.
9-Electricity &water supply good for IRR &human use.
Will be ready to response to any queries ,more details concerning design,installation,operation and maintenance in future.