Planting maize under plastic

WIZZO · Apr 26, 2015

I don't know if you guys plant Maize {or potatoes} under perforated plastic sheeting? Its done here to encourage the seeds to germinate faster.

The rear paddles kick soil over the cut ends of the plastic sheet to hold it into the soil.

The side mounted discs & blades pile soil onto the edges of the sheet.

The sheet is perforated with tiny holes to allow the soil to breath.

Dieselrider · Apr 26, 2015

I have heard of people doing this with corn to get the seed in the ground earlier and it warms the soil to encourage germination. Does this really pencil out with the added cost of the plastic? Is the plastic of the biodegradable type or do you need to go back in and lift it after the maize is harvested? Do you also need to go through after germination and slice the plastic to allow it to continue to grow? Nice pics.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 26, 2015

I saw on the news in California they are using plastic on some crops to conserve water.

Bruce from Can. · Apr 26, 2015

It is done here in south western Ontario with sweet corn. They can bring the crop to market weeks earlier.
The plastic is made from Biodegradable corn, looks like a real mess when the crop gets about two feet
high,all this plastic flapping in the wind. But then the corn grows taller, and the cover starts to rot, and
disappear.

john in la · Apr 26, 2015

100% of strawberries around here are grown on black plastic mulch.
It is used for weed control but mostly to keep the berries off the ground.

Other vegetable crops are grown on plastic but not exclusively.

Louisiana State University has done mega research on using plastic mulch.
From what color plastic works best with what crop and time of year;
to picking up the used plastic with round hay balers.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 26, 2015

Its amazing how you plant maize.

I enjoy all your pictures, keep them coming.

SweetFeet · Apr 26, 2015

WIZZO,

Really interesting photos. I didn't even know such a planting practice existed.

RodinNS · Apr 27, 2015

When you factor in the increased tonnage from longer season varieties and increased starch values in the feed it pencils... It's really more about growing corn on the fringes of it's climatic zone. We've been using that system here for close to 10 years now.

Rod

Planting maize under plastic

WIZZO

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Dieselrider

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Geo-TH,In

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Bruce from Can.

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john in la

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Anonymous-0

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SweetFeet

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RodinNS

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